Walsh v. Porterfield
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Error to the Court of Common Pleas, No. 1, of Allegheny county: Of October and November Term 1878, No. 2. Case by John C. Porterfield, against Walsh & Anderson, to recover damages for the loss of certain property stolen from the plaintiff while a guest in defendants’ hotel.
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Error to the Court of Common Pleas, No. 1, of Allegheny county: Of October and November Term 1878, No. 2. Case by John C. Porterfield, against Walsh & Anderson, to recover damages for the loss of certain property stolen from the plaintiff while a guest in defendants’ hotel. On the trial, it appeared from the evidence of plaintiff that he came to the hotel of defendants on Saturday, and remained there as a guest until Monday; that when he retired on Sunday evening he had about his clothes his watch, which cost $325, a valuable diamond pin, which cost $600, and which he was in the habit of…
1Opinion of the Court
The judgment of the Supreme Court was entered,
2Per curiam
We adhere to the statement of the law as laid down by our late brother Williams, in Houser v. Tully, 12 P. F. Smith 92, as to the extent and character of the liability of innkeepers for the goods of their guests. An innkeeper is bound to pay for goods stolen in his house from a guest, unless stolen by the servant or companion of the guest. It is his duty to provide honest servants and to exercise an exact vigilance over all persons coming into his house as guests or otherwise. The learned judge below, in his charge to the jury, evidently adopted…
3Cited by5 opinions
- Shultz v. WallSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1890
- Buck v. HANKINSuperior Court of Pennsylvania · 1970
- Turner v. WhitakerSuperior Court of Pennsylvania · 1898
- Nicholaides v. University Hotel AssociatesSuperior Court of Pennsylvania · 1990
- Nicholaides v. University Hotel Associates, Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County1989