105 F. 712 | U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Eastern Pennsylvania | 1901
Several questions of much interest have been raised in this case, and have been very ably argued by counsel. I, however, do not deem it necessary at this time to refer to all of .'them, or to discuss any of them at length. For the present purpose, it will suffice to state the conclusions I .have reached on the points upon which the defendant particularly relies in support of his motion •for new. trial. •
2. I doubted the sufficiency of the evidence respecting the plaintiff s qualification to testify as an expert, but solved that doubt by allowing him to so testify. I now think that the court’s discretion in this regard was not judiciously exercised.
3. Error was committed in submitting to the jury, without construction by the court, the ordinance of the borough of Yardley, “adopted by council, February 10, 1896.” The meaning of this ordi-i nance is, as to the point in question, not perfectly clear, but, as I now understand it, its effect was to grant to E. W. Maloney & Oo. the privilege of placing poles and stringing wires, and to operate the electric plant to which it refers, for a term of five years; provided that, if the plant should cease to be operated within that term, then and thereupon the grant would become null and void. The defendant’s motion for a new trial is granted.