Purvis v. . Coleman Stetson
New York Court of Appeals
Appeal from the Superior Court of .the city of Hew York. Action to recover money abstracted from the plaintiff’s trunk while a guest of the defendants. On the trial it was proved that the defendants were proprietors and keepers of an inn or hotel in the city of Hew York. On the 23d of January, 1856, they received the plaintiff as a guest.
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Appeal from the Superior Court of .the city of Hew York. Action to recover money abstracted from the plaintiff’s trunk while a guest of the defendants. On the trial it was proved that the defendants were proprietors and keepers of an inn or hotel in the city of Hew York. On the 23d of January, 1856, they received the plaintiff as a guest. He was assigned a room in the house, and was escorted to it, with his baggage, by a waiter or porter of the defendants, in the early part of the day. About 5 o’clock, on the day of his arrival, the plaintiff left his room for dinner, locking his door, and…
1Opinion of the CourtDavies, J.
At common law, the defendants were liable for all losses of the property of their guests infra hospitium. The ■legislature of this State, in 1855, for reasons which might easily be suggested, and which were satisfactory to them, modified'this strict0 liability of the common law, which had been uniformly enforced -by the courts with rigidity, and its application in many cases involved peculiar hardship.
The act of 1855 provides that whenever the proprietor of any hotel shall furnish a safe in the office of such .hotel, or other convenient place, for the safe keeping of any money, jewels, or…
2Cases cited5 opinions
- Tonawanda Rail-Road v. MungerNew York Supreme Court · 1848
- Cook v. Champlain Transportation Co.Court for the Trial of Impeachments and Correction of Errors · 1845
- Richard v. WaltonNew York Supreme Court · 1815
- Haring v. New-York & Erie RailroadNew York Supreme Court · 1852
- Piper v. MannyNew York Supreme Court · 1839
3Cited by20 opinions
- Hulett v. . SwiftNew York Court of Appeals · 1865
- Shiman Bros. v. Nebraska National Hotel Co.Nebraska Supreme Court · 1945
- Featherstone v. DessertWashington Supreme Court · 1933
- Bendetson v. . FrenchNew York Court of Appeals · 1871
- Lanier v. YoungbloodSupreme Court of Alabama · 1883
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