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16 Jones & S. 513

Gruman v. Smith

The Superior Court of New York City

Decided December 12, 1881

The Superior Court of New York City · decided 1881-12-12

Appeal by defendant from judgment entered on verdict in favor of plaintiff. The action was on the following pleading, viz.: That there was due and owing from, the above named defendant to a certain firm, of which the plaintiff was assignee in bankruptcy, $1,596.29, on account of moneys advanced and services rendered by them as stockbrokers to him, at his request, in “purchasing, carrying and selling” certain shares of stock.

Decided 1881-12-12

¶1The court at General Term, held: “ That this charge would have been a practical aid to the jury in determining what the fact was upon the testimony that was not explicit or full. It would have prevented the jury from thinking that it was enough if it did not appear that the brokers had failed in their duty. The plaintiff was bound affirmatively to prove what the contract was, and that the brokers had fulfilled their part of it.

¶2“As the answer stood, it did not permit proof of the counter-claim as presented by defendant’s evidence. The breach alleged by the answer was, that the brokers did not account for the money of defendant, alleged to have been received by them. The proof was, that they expended the money on certain North Carolina bonds. The defendant had ordered the money to be expended *515on North Carolina bonds. He was informed that the brokers had bought the bonds, and they were delivered to him. His allegation was that the bonds were nob valid. The answer was not sustained.”

George Putnam Smith, for appellant.Jacob S. Van Wyck, for respondent.

¶3Opinion by Sedgwick, Oh. J.; Freedman, J., concurred.

¶4For the error in refusing to charge as requested, the judgment was reversed, and a new trial ordered, with cost of appeal to appellant to abide event of the action.

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