Pulver v. Burke

By the Court,

I think the learned judge was mistaken in supposing the transaction was a loan. It is true that in form the written agreement for the match ,was in the names of Taggert and Burke alone, and appeared to be for their individual benefit. I do not see, however, how that fact can determine the rights of either of them, as between themselves and third persons. T™It is doubtless true, and needs no authority to support it, that in respect to all lawful contracts, one made by an agent for another, *393in his own name, is available as the contract of his principal, although the other party to the contract be ignorant of the fact that the person with whom he makes it was acting merely as agent) The rule, by analogy, must be the same in regard to contracts which are prohibited by the statute; and whether valid or voidable, makes no difference, in determining whose contracts they really are. Besides, public policy requires that the rule, in that respect, should be the same in such a case as this; for only the party who actually pays, delivers or deposits the money upon the wager, can recover it back, and the nominal depositor cannot do so if the money paid, delivered or deposited be not his own. (Ruckman v. Pitcher, 20 N. Y. Rep. 11, 12.) If, therefore, the same rule does not apply to such contracts, the statute against betting could always be evaded by making the betting contract in the name of persons who had no real interest in the event.

It is a question of fact, then, whether as between the plaintiff and Taggert, the transaction was a loan, or whether the beneficial interest in the bet, to the extent of two-thirds thereof, belonged to the plaintiff, and whether the certificate of deposit for $66.66, which was delivered over by the stakeholder to the defendant was deposited for and belonged to the plaintiff. Upon that question there was no conflict in the evidence, and there was nothing to submit to the jury; for it all showed that the certificate of deposit was the property of the plaintiff, and was in fact deposited for his benefit.

Such being the fact, there can be no doubt that each of the parties depositing the $100 can recover against the defendant the amount which he deposited, and no more; and that separate actions can be brought by each for such amounts; and that the party in whose name the bet and deposit was made, for their benefit, cannot recover in his own name for them. These questions are settled by the case of Ruckman v. Pitcher, above referred to. In that *394case Ruckman made a bet, in bis own name, with one Conkling, of $3000 against $2500, upon a race to be run by their respective horses; the race was determined in favor of Conkling, and the defendant, who was the stakeholder, paid the $3000 to Conkling. Of the $3000 put up by the plaintiff, only $600 belonged to himself, and the residue to several other persons, in separate proportions. The plaintiff brought his action against the defendant to recover the $3000, and the court decided that he could recover only the amount which he furnished, and that the defendant was liable in separate actions for the portions belonging to the other depositors.

If this were an action upon the contract entered into between Taggert and Burke, and was brought to enforce it, there might be doubt whether the plaintiff who had deceived Burke into the making of it, by fraudulently concealing and misrepresenting the fact that it was for his benefit, could be permitted to maintain such action in his own name, and claim that Taggert was not acting for himself. Such, however, is not the case. The action is brought to compel the defendant to refund money which he has obtained illegally and against the positive enactment of the statute; and in my opinion the fact of his intending to make the bet with another person than the plaintiff', furnishes no reason why he should not be made to' refund the money which he has so illegally obtained.

I think the judgment should be reversed and a new trial granted, with costs to abide the event.

Foster, Mkllm and Morgan, Justices.]