Dewey v. Dolan

Decision Date21 September 1876
PartiesPatrick H. Dewey v. Thomas Dolan
CourtUnited States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Supreme Court

Franklin. Contract for the price of a quantity of hop beer sold bye the plaintiff to the defendant in 1875, before the enactment of the St. of 1875, c. 99, regulating the sale of intoxicating liquors. Writ dated September 9, 1875, which was after the above mentioned act took effect. Answer, a general denial, and that the beer was intoxicating, and the sale thereof unlawful.

The defendant also filed a declaration in set-off, to recover back the price paid by him for liquors alleged to be intoxicating bought of the plaintiff in 1875, and while the St. of 1869, c. 415, was in force.

At the trial in the Superior Court, before Dewey, J., the plaintiff requested the judge to rule that the St. of 1875, c. 99, repealed the St. of 1869, c. 415, and that the claim in set-off was barred thereby; but, it being admitted that the payments in the account in set-off were made prior to the passage of the St. of 1875, the judge ruled that the repeal was not a bar to the claim in set-off.

The jury found for the defendant on his account in set-off, and also upon the other part of the case; and the plaintiff alleged exceptions.

Exceptions overruled.

C. G. Delano, for the plaintiff.

F. G. Fessenden, for the defendant.

Colt & Morton, JJ., absent.

OPINION

By the Court.

The St. of 1869, c. 415, § 63, did not provide a remedy to recover a penalty or forfeiture, but prevented money paid for intoxicating liquors sold in violation of law from becoming the property of the seller. Such money therefore remained the property of the purchaser, his right to recover it depended upon the common law, and neither his property nor his right of action was affected by the repeal of the statute. The case is governed by Adams v. Goodnow, 101 Mass. 81.

Exceptions overruled.

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4 cases
  • McGray v. Hornblower
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Supreme Court
    • 20 Septiembre 1937
    ...on by the plaintiff legal or deprive the plaintiff of any right incident to the illegality. See Adams v. Goodnow, 101 Mass. 81;Dewey v. Dolan, 121 Mass. 9; See, also, National Underwriting Co. v. Simon (C.C.A.) 9 F.2d 920;Coe v. Portland Marmers' Elevator Co., 236 Mich. 34, 209 N.W. 829;Cha......
  • McGray v. Hornblower
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Supreme Court
    • 18 Septiembre 1937
    ... ... any right incident to the illegality. See Adams v ... Goodnow, 101 Mass. 81; Dewey v. Dolan, 121 ... Mass. 9 ... See also National Underwriting Co. v. Simon, 9 F.2d ... 920; Coe v. Portland Farmers' Elevator Co. 236 ... Mich. 34; ... ...
  • Morgan v. Beaumont
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Supreme Court
    • 21 Septiembre 1876
  • Gorman v. Keough
    • United States
    • Rhode Island Supreme Court
    • 13 Abril 1900
    ...to which, at common law, illegality would be a defense. See, also, Walan v. Kerby, 99 Mass. 1; Adams v. Goodnow, 101 Mass. 81; Dewey v. Dolan, 121 Mass. 9. The claim in set-off was not barred by illegality. It related to a sum liquidated, or capable of calculation, as it was for specific su......

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