Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

1 Yeates 347

Ducoign v. Schreppel

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Decided April 15, 1794

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania · decided 1794-04-15

Indebitatus assumpsit for cooper’s work done in St. Domingo for the defendant; the balance claimed being 490 dollars. Pleas, non assumpsit and payment. The plaintiff was sworn to the original entries in his day book; and a contest arose, whether these entries were any evidence of the prices of the work.

Cited by 1 later decisions (1 by the Supreme Court) — most recently March 1788

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1794-04-15

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

Per Cur.

¶1We have often heard this point agitated at the bar, and we think with little reason.

¶2We are of opinion that day books are not only evidence of the delivery of goods, but of their prices also, prima facie. How else could the prices of broad cloths, linen, cambric, &c. of different degrees of fineness be ascertained, after a length of time? A contrary doctrine would render our usage of small advantage to the mercantile or mechanical part of the community.

¶3But the evidence arising from the books, does not preclude either party from going into other proof. The matter as to prices is left fully open to disquisition, and the judgment of the jury is to be formed on the whole.

¶4The necessity of the case however, which gave birth to our practice in this particular, by no means warrants that entries in .day books should be considered as evidence of money lent or cash paid. I11 those instances the necessity does not exist; for the party has it in his power to take notes or receipts, in the ordinary course of dealing.

¶5Verdict for the plaintiff for 490 dollars, and 6 cents costs.

/1/yeates/347 · .json · Public domain