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103 Mass. 65

Springer v. Crowell

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Decided October 15, 1869

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · decided 1869-10-15

Tort. The declaration alleged that the defendant sold to the plaintiff one half of a schooner; that the plaintiff was induced to buy the schooner by representations of the defendant that she was sound, and not rotten, and all right so far as he knew; and that the defendant, at the time of the representations, knew that the schooner was badly rotten and unsound.

Decided 1869-10-15

Colt, J.

¶1The defendant’s first request for instructions was not insisted on at the argument. The instructions given on that head stated the true rule.

¶2The second request was rightly refused. The action is for damages occasioned by the false representations of the defendant in the sale of one half of a certain vessel. The gist of the action is the fraud practised. The ownership of the defendant is not an essential element. If he was acting merely as agent of others, he would be liable. The false affirmation of the defendant, made knowingly, to the plaintiff’s loss or his own gain, is enough. Randall v. Hazelton, 12 Allen, 412. But, under the instructions given, the jury have found that the defendant sold and the plaintiff bought one half the vessel.

¶3As to the last request, there was abundant evidence to go to the jury that the sale was at least of one half the ship. The agreement produced is an agreement for himself and owners to cell the whole to the plaintiff’ and Hunt.

¶4Exceptions overruled.

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