McBride v. De Cozen Motor Co.
McBride v. De Cozen Motor Co.
Opinion of the Court
Judgment was rendered for the defendant by the judge of the Second District Court of Newark, sitting without a jury, and from that judgment the plaintiff appeals.
Erom the state of the case agreed upon it appears that the plaintiff, Elsie M. McBride, owned an automobile which on May 37th, 1935, she placed in the defendant’s shop to be washed and adjusted. On the 30th of May, at seven o’clock in the evening, the defendant’s watchman returned and found the rear door open and the plaintiff’s car gone. This constituted the whole of the plaintiff’s case.
The defendant proved that on the morning of May 3Qth, at seven o’clock, all the doors and windows were locked;
The plaintiff then called one Kirby who testified that he went to the garage the third day after the theft and there was no evidence of a. forced entry.
The judgment should be affirmed. The transaction constituted a, bailment for mutual advantage and the failure of the defendant to return the car made a prima, facie case from which the trial judge could infer negligence. Kittay v. Cordasco, 4 N. J. Adv. R. 1631. He was, however, not obliged to so find. Hughes v. Atlantic City Railroad Co., 85 N. J. L. 212. The question presented was one of fact and from the conclusion of the trial judge no appeal will lie.
The judgment will be affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- ELSIE M. McBRIDE v. DE COZEN MOTOR COMPANY, A CORPORATION, DEFENDANT-RESPONDENT
- Cited By
- 7 cases
- Status
- Published