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25 Mass. 232

Dorr v. Pope

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · decided 1829-06-27

Assumpsit on a policy of insurance upon the ship Esther, at and from Boston to Valparaiso, and at and from thence to all ports and places to which she may proceed, backwards and forwards, until her return to her port of discharge in the United States, the risk commencing December 1.4, 1821, and being limited to two years from that time, against perils of the seas, fire, enemies, pirates, assailing thieves, restraints and detainments of princes, &c. The plaintiffs aver their…

Decided 1829-06-27

Per Curiam.

¶1The proof is, that the ship was seen in the possession of armed soldiers at Callao, and that she never returned. This was certainly sufficient, had not the witness who testified to the latter fact, stated that he had heard she had been tried at Callao, and that he had heard one of the plaintiffs say she had been condemned, but unjustly and irregularly. It is contended that this state of the evidence required that the plaintiffs should produce the record of trial and decree of condemnation, the same witness having seen documents relating to the trial in the plaintiffs’ possession. We do not think that this evidence imposes the duty on the,plaintiffs of producing those documents in support of their action, which was maintained without them. A condemnation was not alleged, nor was it necessary to be proved. It may be that the evidence called for would defeat their action, and it is quite enough for them to tender the documents to the other party.

¶2Motion to set aside the verdict overruled.

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