Edelsohn v. Singer Mfg. Co.

Full title: EDELSOHN v . SINGER MFG. CO

Court: New York Common Pleas — General Term

Date published: Nov 1, 1892

1 Misc. 166 (N.Y. Misc. 1892)

20 N.Y.S. 655

Opinion

November, 1892.

Samuel I. Frankenstein, for plaintiff (respondent).

Booraem, Hamilton Beckett, for defendant (appellant).

BISCHOFF, J.

The evidence adduced for plaintiff on the trial did not authorize his recovery, and the judgment should be reversed.

It appears that on January 14, 1892, plaintiff entered defendant's service as "collecting salesman," at which time, as a condition of his employment, he deposited with defendant $100, to secure the faithful performance of his duties; which sum was to be returned to him, pursuant to the terms of the certificate of deposit issued to him by defendant, sixty days after the "termination of his employment." He continued as such collecting salesman until the succeeding April twelfth, when he was appointed its canvassing agent, and remained in the latter capacity until June twenty-fifth, when he quit defendant's further service. This action was commenced within less than sixty days thereafter.

That the security deposited was intended by both parties to extend to the performance of plaintiff's duties other than those of a "collecting salesman," is apparent from the language "to secure the honest and faithful performance of his duties as collecting salesman, or otherwise," which occurs in the certificate of deposit introduced in evidence for plaintiff; and, though the duties at first assigned were changed on April twelfth, the employment, from plaintiff's admission, was continuous and without interruption until June twenty-fifth. True, plaintiff testified that he quit the service on April twelfth, and at once re-entered it as canvassing agent, but this involves no more than his own interpretation of the effect of the change in the character of his employment, with which we do not agree.

Upon the facts, therefore, plaintiff can in no event succeed in this action, and a new trial would be a useless formality. The judgment is reversed, and judgment absolute for dismissal of the complaint rendered, with costs below, and of this appeal, to defendant.

PRYOR, J., concurs.

Judgment accordingly.