Hutchings v. Stilwell , 57 Ky. 776 ( 1858 )

Judge Duvall

delivered the opinion of the court.

Stilwell alleges, in his petition, that in October lasl he made a bet of $500 with one Gwinn, on the result of the presidential election which took place in November; that the parties attempted to reduce to writing the terms of their bet, but by mistake the writing did not conform to the verbal agreement or understanding between them; that they each deposited $500 with Hutchings & Co., as stake-holders, which money was alleged to be in their hands at the time of the filing of the petition; “that the plaintiff, ‘ because of said error or mistake, at the office of ‘ defendants in Louisville, on the 2d day of Decem- ‘ ber, 1856, demanded from the defendants the said ‘ $500 so deposited by him, but they refused to pay ‘it, &c.,” and that “ they now have possession of the same, without right,” &c.

Hutchings & Co. admit, in their answer, the bet, and the deposit with them of the money as alleged, but they deny that there was any mistake in the writing; they say “ said money is notin the hands ‘ of defendants—they paid it over to Gwinn before ‘they knew of plaintiff's suit.." Plaintiff did demand said $500, and defendants refused to give it to him because Gwinn.had won the bet.

A demurrer to the answer was sustained, and Hutchings & Co. have appealed.

We think the answer was properly adjudged insufficient on the demurrer. The issue in regard to the alleged mistake in the writing was wholly immaterial; and the demand of the money was not conditional, as is assumed in argument. The allegation is, in effect, that the plaintiff demanded back his money because of the alleged mistake in the writing—not upon condition that the mistake should be shown to exist. But the answer itself obviates all difficulty on this point.' The appellants admit that Stilwell did demand the money, and that they refused to pay it, not because the demand was equivocal, or conditional, or contingent, but simply because “ Gwinn had won the bet."

The right of the appellee to recover in this action is unquestionable. The 5th section of the chapter on gaming, Rev. Stat. page 368, is as follows:

The 5th sec. of the Stutule ore Gaming, Revised Slat p 368, applies to money 6ct and staked on an election;, and any stakeholder of money bet on an election is bound to return it when requested to do so by any one who has deposited it, and on failure to do so, it may be recovered of him by the party ag. grieved.

“The stake-holder of any money or thing that * may be staked on any bet or wager, shall, when 'thereto notified, return the same to the person ma* ‘ king the stake or deposit, and for failing to do so, ‘ the amount or value of the ¡stake may be recovered ‘ from him by the party aggrieved.”

It is surely unnecessary to argue that a-bet on an election is within the letter as well as within the obvious intent and meaning of this statute. The principle settled in the case of Love vs. Harris, (June Term, 1857.) has no application sto this case. It was then decided, that under the act of 1854 the right of action to recover from the winner, money or property lost on an election, was in the commonwealth and not in the part}7 losing. And the court expressed a doubt whether an election could be considered a “game,” within the meaning of the 1st section bf the chapter on gaming, supra. It will be seen, at once, that, no such question arises in the case before us. This is a proceeding to recover, not against the winner, but kgainst the stake-holder, under the provision of the section quoted. The act of 1854 has nothing to do with the ease.

The appellants, having been duly notified of the intention of Stihveli to reclaim the money in contest, by a proper demand, before it was paid to the winner, are unqestionably liable for the amount, to the latter.

The judgment is therefore affirmed.