Wright v. Gussett
Wright v. Gussett
Opinion of the Court
—Gussett sued Wright for the payment
The jury rendered a verdict for the sum of $314, being $12 25 less than the sum sued for.
The only question, so far as relates to the plaintiff’s claim, is whether the fact that the account is in the name of H. Gussett & Co. raises the legal presumption that other parties than plaintiff must be presumed to be interested in the claim, in the absence of both allegation in the pleadings or any testimony to that effect.
We believe it to be a custom, especially in old-settled countries, for a house to transact business under a particular name, style, or designation, which has been used for generations, and which may not for years have contained the name of any one interested in it. It is not the name that appears over a store-door or on the bill-heads of a mercantile house that gives the names of the real owners. hT. Gussett & Co. might once have been the partnership name of more or less merchants and partners, and all may have sold their interest in the concern to hT. Gussett, who would in that case be the sole owner, and would still have the right to use the former property and name of hi. Gus-sett & Co. Defendant having failed to allege or plead that any one but the plaintiff was the owner of the goods sold, and being himself a general witness for plaintiff, could have made evident to the court and jury the fact, if such existed, that there were other parties plaintiff that should have joined in the suit.
It was also objected by the defense that plaintiff should produce his original book of entries as testimony. If plain
The rulings of the court were legal, and the verdict was in accordance with the testimony furnished by the appellant, and it is seldom we see a case where there is so little cause of reversal for injustice done.
Judgment aeeirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Henry C. Wright v. N. Gussett
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Where the suit was brought by N. G., and the defendant made no objection to the non-joinder of parties, the fact that the defendant, as a witness, swore, and the account showed, that the invoice was in the name of N. G. & Co., was no such variance as could benefit the defendant. If the plaintiff prove his account by the defendant, there is no reason why he should introduce his books of entry.