Collamer v. Day

The opinion of the Court was delivered by Hutchinson, J. — Nothing appears in this case, but that the action would be maintainable by the common law of England. The common law is adopted by our statute, so far, and so far only, as the same is applicable to our local situation and circumstances, and is not repugnant to the constitution, or to any act of the legislature, of this state. Whether applicable, or not, must necessarily be a question of judicial decision : and this is, probably, the first action, that has ever called upon a court in this state to sanction such a contract of betting. The Judges of the Courts in [146] England have expressed their regret, of late years, that such transactions ever received the sanction of a court of justice : but* they yield to the force of the law, which they consider settled by a train of decisions, extending down from remote antiquity. We feel no such embarrassment, nor are we willing to transmit any such embarrassment to our successors; nor diffuse into society the influence of a rule so demoralizing, as would be the sanction of such a contract. It is honorable to this state, that the industrious and moral habits of our citizens have furnished no occasion to litigate questions of this nature. It is honorable to the legislature, that they have interposed checks to such games and sports as they supposed were creeping into use. By the Statute of 1821, page 268, penalties are affixed to the winning or losing, or betting, in money, goods or chattels, on any game, or on any horse-race, or other sport, within this state. And said statute makes void any contracts and securities made and given for money won on such games. Marsh, for plaintiff. Everett, for defendant. The species of betting now in question may not come within that statute, giving it the strict construction of a penal statute : yet the good morals of society require, that no encouragement should be afforded to the acquisition of property, otherwise than by honest industry. Time might be occupied in seeking occasions to take advantage of the unwary, and acquiring a skill to take such advantage, which ought to be devoted to better purposes. In this case, according to the terms of the bet, the plaintiff had acquired a right to the possession of the watch, which the defendant had laid down in the bet, but the plaintiff had not acquired the actual possession, when the defendant resumed his possession. The plaintiff, therefore, had no complete right to the watch, without the sanction of such a contract of betting. That sanction is now withheld, and The judgment of the County Court is affirmed.