Crozer v. New Chester Water Co.

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Crozer v. New Chester Water Co., 148 Pa. 130 (Pa. 1892)
23 A. 1123; 1892 Pa. LEXIS 926
Green, Heydrick, McCollum, Mitchell, Paxson, Sterrett

Crozer v. New Chester Water Co.

Opinion of the Court

Per Curiam,

We cannot sustain any of the specifications of error. The best evidence in the possession of the plaintiff was -submitted to the jury. It was not his duty to incur the expense of digging a trench in the mere hope of finding better evidence. He might have succeeded or he might not. By digging a trench to the reservoir, one foot wide and two feet deep, as suggested by the learned court below, the plaintiff might have come to flowing water, and thus have ascertained with more accuracy from whence it came. It was alleged that the leak which caused the injury came from the reservoir. A trench might possibly have demonstrated this, but the fact could have been shown in other ways.

Judgment affirmed.

Reference

Cited By
2 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
Evidence — Buie requiring best evidence. The rule which requires that the “best evidence” shall be produced, means merely the best evidence within the reach of the party. The mere fact that more conclusive evidence might possibly be obtained does not preclude the party from offering such testimony as is available.