Porter v. Gilkey

Adams, Judge, delivered the opinion of the court. This was -an action brought against the defendants as innkeepers, for the value of a gold watch, chain and charm, and fifteen dollars in current funds, alleged to have been stolen from the room of plaintiff, occupied by him as a guest. The defendants’ answer alleged that the plaintiff was not a guest, but an ordinary boarder; and this was the material question tried in the case, and was found for the plaintiff. The plaintiff’s testimony strongly tended to show that he was a transient guest, and not a permanent boarder. He registered his name, and a room Avas assigned to him, and nothing at all was said about the amount he was to pay or how long he would remain. On the night of the fifth day after he registered, his room was entered by a burglar and robbed while he was asleep. The door had been locked by the plaintiff; and the entry was made by boring a hole near the key and using nippers to turn it. After the robbery had been committed, the plaintiff called at the office to know how much his bill would be if he re [237] mained a week; and was told it would be $17.50. So lie concluded to stay two days longer, as bis bill for the time would be $15.00, and only $2.50 to stay the balance of the week. This was the first time he had learned the prices. All the testimony showed that when a guest remained a week, the bill would be $17.50; but if less than a week, the charges would be $3.00 per day. The defendants’ testimony tended to show that the plaintiff was a boarder, and not-a transient guest; and,that the board was to be $17.50 per week. The defendants, in addition to their other testimony, offered to prove by their clerk, that when the plaintiff -went to settle his bill, he made it out.and tendered it to plaintiff at $17.50. This evidence was excluded, and the defendants excepted. We see no good reason for excluding this evidence. But as the whole tenor of the testimony proved that $17.50 was what was due, its admission or exclusion could not have injured the defendants. The instructions on both sides fairly presented the only issue tried, and there seem to be no serious objections raised to any of the instructions. The defendants also relied in their answer on the defense that they kept in their inn an iron safe in good order, and suitable for the safe custody of mone_y, jewelry and articles of gold and silver manufacture and the like, as required by chapter 73, Wagn. Stat., 710; and that they kept a copy of this chapter printed in large plain English type, and framed, constantly and conspicuously suspended in the office and other public rooms,, and also a copy printed by itself in ordinary sized plain English type, posted on the inside of the entrance door of every sleeping room, as required by said chapter. To prove this defense the defendants offered a slip of paper containing a copy of the first section of the chapter, but not printed in such type as the law requires. It was printed in very small type ; and not in the large, plain English type, nor in ordinary sized plain English type, as required by the first section of the statute above referred to. The court excluded [238] this paper, as showing no compliance with the requisitions of * the law, and the defendants excepted. Ve see no error in this rating of the court. The paper produced was not a literal nor a substantial compliance with the law, and was therefore, properly excluded. There seems to be nothing in this record to warrant a reversal. Judgment affirmed; the other judges concur, except Judge Sherwood, who is absent.