Murray v. New Jersey Railroad & Transportation Co.

Green, C. J. A motion is made, on behalf of the defendants, to change the venue in this cause, on the ground that a fair and impartial trial cannot be had in the county of Hudson, where the venue is. laid. The action is brought to recover [64] damages for an injury sustained by the plaintiff in crossing the ferry from Jersey City to New York, by reason of the alleged carelessness and mismanagement of the defendants in conducting the ferry. The affidavits produced in support of the motion show— 1. The fact that a controversy is now depending between the defendants, who are the lessees of the ferry, and the board of chosen freeholders of Hudson county, respecting the right of the said freeholders to regulate the toils of the ferry. 2. The belief of the witness that, owing to the prevalence of excitement and hostile feelings against the owners of the ferry, a fair and impartial trial in this cause cannot be had before a jury of the county of Hudson. If the board of chosen freeholders or the inhabitants of the county of Hudson had a direct interest .in the result of this suit, it might afford good ground for a change of venue. Mayor of Poole v. Bennet, 2 Stran. 874. But the mere fact, that a controversy is pending respecting the right of' the freeholders to regulate the tolls upon a ferry of which the defendants are the lessees, can be of no importance upon this motion, except as it may tend to strengthen the belief that a fair and impartial trial ’ cannot be had in the county. The power of the court to change the venue, whenever it is necessary to secure a fair and impartial trial, cannot be doubted. The facts relied upon as the foundation for the exercise of the power should be clearly established. They should not rest upon the mere opinion or belief of witnesses. Rex v. Harris, 3 Burr. 1333; Meldrum v. Sarvis, Coxe 206; Den v. Evaul, Coxe 285. Nor will the power ordinarily be exercised upon proof of the prevalence of excitement in the county upon the subject matter of the suit. The court will not, from that fact alone, infer that a fair and impartial trial cannot be had. Reliance will •be placed upon the intelligence and integrity of jurors, and the venue will not be changed, unless it clearly appear to be essential to the ends of justice. Mylock v. Saladine, 3 Burr. 1564; Bowman v. Ely, 2 Wend. 250; Messenger v. Holmes, [65] 12 Wend. 203; Zabriskie v. Bauden, 1 Caines 487; New Windsor Turnpike Co. v. Wilson, 3 Caines 127. In the present case the alleged excitement does not relate to the subject matter of this suit, nor is it directed against these defendants, but against other parties, and relates to a subject matter not involved in this controversy. The belief of the witness, moreover, that a fair and impartial trial cannot be reasonably expected in the comity where the venue is laid, is met by the affidavits of two witnesses on the part of the plaintiff, who expressed their belief that no such excitement exists in the county of Hudson, either against the proprietors of the ferry or against these defendants, as would prevent a fair and impartial trial by a jury of that county. The motion is denied.