McDaniels v. Robinson

26 Vt. 316

Opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Redeield, Cii. J.

The first question arising in this case is in regard to the plaintiff being a guest of defendant, at the time he deposited the $4,000 in gold with him to keep. The plaintiff’s testimony tended to show he came to Bennington, on business, on the 26th of February, and put his horse into defendant’s stable, he being a common innkeeper, leaving his wagon, harness, and buffalo skins in defendant’s custody, where they remained without interruption till the 6th of March, the money being lost on the night of the 5th of March. The plaintiff took a room, became a guest in the strictest sense, and continued to lodge and board constantly at defendant’s inn till Saturday the 1st day of March, after breakfast, when he went to his brother’s in the vicinity, and remained over Sunday. On Monday he returned to the inn, and dined there, occupying the same room as before. Monday night he took tea, lodged with his brother, and took breakfast the next morning. The plaintiff then returned to defendant’s inn, occupying the same room continuously, night and day, till Wednesday evening, about half past five o’clock. In the course of the day, Wednesday, he received the $4,000 in gold, being 200 double eagles, and delivered them to the defendant, in a shot-bag, in plaintiff’s room. Defendant said, at the time of receiving the money, he did not like to be accountable for so much money. Thereupon plaintiff took it, -wrapped it in a newspaper and handed it back to defendant, saying, there was no danger, and requesting him at the time to put it in the tick of the straw bed in which he, defendant slept, and there to keep it through the night, and not to let any one know it, plaintiff saying lie was going to his brother’s, and should not be back until the next morning, when he did, in fact, return, and remained in defendant’s inn through the day, taking dinner and tea. Nothing was said about plaintiff giving up the room, which the plaintiff continued to occupy every day, more or less, during the whole time, except Sunday) and had fires built by defendant. Just before plaintiff left defendant’s inn, on the evening of the 5th of March, and after he had delivered the money to defendant, and told him to keep it, he called defendant, and told ■him his house was more exposed to fire than that of Dr. Swift’s which was near. “He wished.him to take the money over to Dr. Swift, and let him keep it through the night,” which defendant promised to do “ right away,” or “ presently.” The money was not then in the immediate view of the parties, but in an adjoining room, some ten feet distant, where defendant had placed it. About nine o’clock in the evening, defendant took the money to Dr. Swift’s house, but seeing no signs of the Doctor being up, or at home, and c supposing he might have been called away, carried the money back to his own house. There was no evidence tending to show that defendant or plaintiff expected anything was to be paid for keeping the money, or carrying it to Dr. S. The defendant’s testimony tended to show that plaintiff stayed less at defendant’s house than above stated, and that on Sunday, he wrote defendant to bring his clothes and papers at the room, the next morning, to plaintiff’s brother, which defendant did accordingly. The defendant notified the plaintiff, early on the morning of the 6th, of the loss of the money, and that it had been stolen, and gave evidence, tending to show that it was lost by a burglarious entry of the house from without, but what such evidence was, is not stated. There were a number of boarders and lodgers in the defendant’s house at the time. Nothing is stated in the case, to show that any one in particular knew the time or the manner of the money being taken, or that any one heard any disturbance about the house during the night, or that any marks of violence were found upon the house. This is a brief statement of the leading facts; others will appear more fully in the course of the opinion.

I. In regard to the question, how far the plaintiff can be regarded as a guest of defendant, at the time the money was put into the defendant’s hands, and up to the time of the loss, the eases are not very clear. The case of York v. Grindstone, 1 Salkeld. 388, has been understood by most of the elementary writers, as deciding, by a divided court, that one by leaving his horse at an inn becomes a guest. And such is virtually this decision, inasmuch as defendant’s lien as innkeeper is recognized, in regard to a horse left at his stable by a traveler who did not himself put ujd at the inn. And such lien does not exist as to horses put at the stable of an innkeeper, even by those who are not travelers and guests. And so this' case is perhaps justly regarded, by judges and elementary writers, as settling the point that one becomes a guest, as; to all the property which the innkeeper consents to take into his keeping, by leaving his horse, from which profit is derived, although the same relation is not created by leaving a dead thing, as a trunk from which no profit arises, as is intimated, although not decided, in Gelley v. Clark, Cro. Jac. 188. But that point has since been regarded as settled by this case, although the case was adjourned ° for advisement, “ being a new case.” In 1 Smith’s Lead. Cases 50, in the note of that learned and accurate writer to Calye’s case,o (8 Coke’s Rep. 32,) it is said: “If a traveler leaves his horse at an inn, and lodge elsewhere, he is, for the purpose of this rule, to be deemed a guest.” And 3 Bac. Ab. Tit. Inns and Innkeepers, c. 5, p. 666, takes the same view of the law, referring to this and other cases. And Mr. Chitty, in his treatise upon contracts, p. 476, says: “ A person may be a guest, though he merely leave a horse at the inn, and himself lodge elsewhere.” And I cannot find that the doctrine of this case of York v. Grindstone, to the extent above laid down, has ever been questioned in England. It is equally well settled, too, that one becomes a guest by going to an inn for ■mere temporary refreshment, either food or drink. (Bennet v. Mellor, 5 T. R. 273.) This last case is certainly going the full length of the most temporary stay, and must still be regarded as altogether sound. So too, the length of time one remains at the inn is not important, if he remain there in the transitory character of a guest. (3 Bac. Ab. ubi supra, Chit, on contracts 476, and notes.) It is unquestionable that an innkeeper may receive goods as a common bailee, to keep with or without reward, and thus stipulate to be excused from the increased responsibility of an innkeeper, or he may consent to assume this increased responsibility toward one who is not strictly a guest, for things deposited with him. (Williams v. Green, 3 Eng. Com. Law Rep. 353.) In other words he may increase or restrict his general responsibility by special contract, as is held in regard to common carriers. (Farmers’ and M. Bank v. Ch. Transportation Co., 23 Vt. 186.) But a mere notice to guests, that the innkeeper will not hold himself responsible for goods, unless expressly assented to by guests, will probably not have this effect, except, perhaps under special circumstances, as in regard to being notified of extraordinary amounts of money, and other valuable goods, so that they may be kept with proportionate care, as is held in regard to carriers, in the last case, and for similar reasons. The same rule in regard to what is necessary to create the relation of guest, has been adopted in some well considered cases in this country: Mason v. Thompson, 9 Pick. 280, where it is held that an innkeeper becomes liable for .the safe keeping and return of a chaise and harness, left in hisftstody by a traveler who put his horse at the inn, and himself put up with a friend. And to the extent of the horse and equipage certainly, we think, it must be regarded as fully settled by authority, both in England and this country, that the innkeeper is liable as such where the horse of a traveler is put at the inn, although the owner or traveler himself puts up at another place. (Peet v. McGraw, 25 Wendell 653.) And the cases of Grinnell v. Cook, 3 Hill 486; Thickstun v. Howard, 8 Black. 535; Hickman v. Thomas, 16 Alabama 666, which are often referred to as denying that the relation of guest is thereby created, so as to impose the increased responsibility of innkeeper, certainly do not decide that -point, since it was not involved in the cases, although such an opinion is there intimated. All that is there decided is, that the horse of one, not a traveler, put at an inn, created only the ordinary liability of a bailee, for compensation, on the part of the innkeeper. And this is altogether consistent with the cases of Mason v. Thompson, and York v. Grindstone.

It is observable that no case has yet arisen where a traveler, putting his horse at an inn, has left other goods than such as pertain to the horse and carriage. But upon principle, if the relation of guest is thereby created, and the host consents to take other portions of the traveler’s necessary luggage, like his overcoat, which it is most'common to leave with the horse, but usually within the inn, or even one’s trunk or money, if put into the custody of the proper servant or agent, at the bar, while the innkeeper retains the horse, from which he derives profit, it is difficult to see why he should not be held liable to the full extent, as innkeeper, for all that he thus accepts. And many judges thus lay down the rule, which seems but a fair corollary from the cases. But as no case has gone that length, and this case does not now seem to involve that naked point, we do not intend here to decide it.

This case, on the evidence put in by the plaintiff, seems to present, in the first instance, the relation of guest, in the strictest sense. And we do not think it necessary to continue that relation, that the plaintiff should have continued his dwelling, for the time even, within the inn. The relation of guest was clearly created by putting the horse at the inn, and it was undeniably extended to all the plaintiff’s goods left at the inn by his taking a room, and taking som<Uof his meals at the inn, and lodging there a portion of the time. This matter seems to be perfectly settled by the custom in the cities. It is there considered that taking a room is the decisive act to create the relation. That being done, the guest is charged, as such, for his meals and lodging, whether he take them at the inn or with his friends, as any one may know who has had experience in such matters. And this seems to us well enough. One in so extensive a city as New York, might find it convenient to have a room for his parcels, and to take his dinner at a downtown hotel, while he might choose to have his lodging, and most of his personal apparel and baggage at an up-town house. And it would certainly be unreasonable, if one chose to be at this expense that he should not have the same security for his goods left at the one hotel as the other. Or if one took lodgings at -a hotel, and should subsequently find it more comfortable to lodge with a friend, and for any reason should not choose at once to give up his room, and break up his connection with the hotel, it would certainly sound very strange that he should not have the same security for his goods as if he made the hotel his constant abiding-place for the time. He would certainly be bound, ordinarily, to pay till he gave up his room, and in all the books, pay, or the right to charge, is made the criterion of the innkeeper’s liability. But after one has given up his room, and closed his connection with the hotel, then, indeed, it is generally understood, and no doubt correctly, that for any baggage left at the inn the landlord is only liable as a common bailee. ■ And it was toward this point that the defendant’s testimony was addressed, and which, if made out, would probably have been sufficient to excuse the defendant as to his increased responsibility for the personal goods of the plaintiff; certainly unless this responsibility can be predicated merely of the horse remaining at the inn, which^has not yet been regarded as settled. This is not the view taken of the law upon this point by the court below, and in that there was error.

In the view we here take of the case, the testimony of the plaintiff to his purpose of returning to defendant’s house on the morning of the 6th was important, and should have been received. The parties being made witnesses, as the law now stands, are witnesses to every point material to the determination of the case. And the plaintiff saying to defendant, when he left the evening before, he should not return till morning, was equivalent to saying he should then return, and his bona fide purpose of then returning seems to be very significant upon the point of the continuance of the relation of guest, , so far as it depended upon the intention and expectation of the plaintiff.

II. In regard to .the general liability of an innkeeper, it is surprising that the law should still be so indeterminate. But the cases are fewer and less decisive upon this important subject than might have been expected. Even the absurd dictum in Newton v. Trigg, 1 Shower’s 269, where Eyres, J., says, “ They (innkeepers) may detain the person of the guest who eats,” has been constantly quoted to establish the existence of such a right in the landlord, and without much examination, (although the point decided in the case is, whether an innkeeper may become a bankrupt,) until the comparatively recent case of Sunbolf v. Alford, 3 M. & W. 247, where Lord Abinger says, “ I would be sorry to have it thought I entertain any doubt in this case, or required any authority to support the j udgment I propose to give,” — that no such-right to detain the person of the guest can be for a moment tolerated in a free country. So, too, we find numerous creditable judges, and some decisions, carrying the liability of an innkeeper to the full extent of a common carrier, and thus making him an insurer against all losses not caused by the act of God or the public enemy. But such is clearly not the general course of the decisions in Westminster Hall, and that extreme responsibility was expressly repudiated by this court. (Merritt v. Claghorn, 23 Vt. 177.)

It is there held that an innkeeper is not liable for loss of goods of the guest by fire from without, the probable act of an incendiary, and without any fault or negligence on his part, or on the part of any inmate of the house. But we have never intimated that we were prepared to put the liability of an innkeeper upon the same ground as that of other bailees, j On the contrary, we regard it as well settled that the liability of an innkeeper is more severe than that of any other bailee, with the single exception of common carriers. In Richmond v. Smith, 8 B. & C. 9, (15 Eng. Com. Law R. 144,) Lord Tenterden, says, in regard to goods stolen from the custody of an innkeeper, “ The situation of an innkeeper is precisely analogous to that of a carrier.” This may be too strongly expressed, if applied to all cases of goods taken from the custody of an innkeeper. For it may be done by superior force, and without his fault, and still not the force of a public enemy, which is necessary to be shown to excuse a carrier. But in regard to goods stolen from the custody of an innkeeper, and no evidence to show how it was done, or by whom, the liability is the same as that of the carrier. The innkeeper is bound to keep his house safe from the intrusion of thieves, day and night, and if they are allowed to gain access to the house, and esjiecially without the use of such force as will show its marks upon the house, it is fairly presumable that it was either by the negligence or connivance of the host, and such is the judgment of the law thereon.

Perhaps the rule of law as applicable to such a case is better expressed by Mr. Justice Bailey, in this same .cause: “It appears to me that an innkeeper’s liability very closely resembles that of a carrier. He is prima facie liable for any loss not occasioned by the act of God, or the king’s enemies.” And Mr. Justice Story, lays down the rule in regard to this liability as correctly as it can well be stated, in his work on Bailments, § 472: “ But innkeepers are not responsible to the same extent as common carriers. The loss of goods while at an inn will be presumptive evidence of negligence on the part of the innkeeper or his domestics. But he may, if he can, repel the presumption, and show that there has been no negligence whatever, or that the loss has been occasioned by inevitable casuality or superior force.” And in the case of Dawson v. Chamney, 5 Ad. & Ellis, N. S. 164, (48 Eng. Com. Law R. 164,) Queen’s Bench, 1843, Lord Denman, in giving judgment, quotes these words of Mr. J. Stort with approbation, and substantially bases the judgment of the court upon them. Pothier’s exposition of the civil law liability of this class of bailees is much the same. The Institutes of Justinian, lib. iv., tit. 6 § 3, thus lay down the rule : “ Item exercitor navis, aut cauponce, aut staubli, de damno, aut furto, quod in navi, in caupona aut stcibulo, factum erit, quasi maleficio teneri videtur.” The innkeeper, it seems, was thus made liable for all damage or theft, the same as if it arose from his positive wrong. If it happened, it was in law regarded as his wrong, quasi ex maleficio teneri videtur. And the perpetual edict of the praetor, which has formed the basis of the commentaries of most of the civil law writers upon this subject, is little more than an amplification of the text of the Institutes. The code Napoleon, book iii., tit. 2 § 5, 1953, is scarcely more than a translation of the Institutes: “ They (innkeepers) are responsible for the stealing or damage of the property of the traveler, whether the robbery were committed or the damage were caused by the domestics and officers of the establishment or by strangers going and coming within the inn: 1954, ib.: “ They are not responsible for robberies committed with armed force, or any other superior force.” These two maxims seem to embody the substance of our law upon the subject at the present time; in confirmation of which we would further refer to the following English and American cases: Clute v. Wiggins, 14 Johns. 475. In this case, a wagon loaded with bags of grain was put in a wagon house, which was broken open; “ from which,” say the court, “ it is to be inferred that the building was close, and the doors fastened in such a manner as to promise security.” Still the defendant was held liable. The innkeeper is liable for goods stolen from any part of his house, unless he expressly limit his responsibility, and this is assented to by the guest. (Richmond v. Smith, supra.) He is responsible for money belonging to his guests. (Kent v. Suchard, 2 Barn. & Ad. 803 — 22 E. C. L. R. 186.) And he is responsible for the acts of every one within his house, unless introduced by the guest, as all the cases agree. (Towson v. The Havre de Grace Bank, 6 Har. & Johnson 47.)

It may be important to consider how far the defendant is here liable for a burglarious entry of his house from without, which the case says he claimed, and gave testimony tending to prove. The detail of the evidence not being given, it is impossible to determine whether the burglary was of a character, if proved, which should exonerate the defendant; for, although the authorities are not decisive, or altogether coincident upon this subject, it must be obvious to all that an ordinary burglary, such as might have been expected to happen, upon proper temptation, should have been provided against by the host, and the omission to do so is itself negligence. And the recent decisions seem rather to incline to the view that the host is liable for all losses of the goods of his guest, even by burglary or robbery, unless produced absolutely by superior force, the vis 'major of the schools. Ch. Kent, in Com. 2 vol., page 759, (593,) in William Kent’s ed., seems to incline to this view as the fair result of Mason v. Thompson and Richmond v. Smith. Mr. Jus. Story, in the later edition of his Bailments, seems to incline to the same view, page 309, 2d ed. And ordinarily an intrusion into a house by robbers from without, or burglars, must be attended with force and fracture, and more or less noise and alarm, no doubt; and in this peaceful portion of the country to have happened, and leave no vestige, would be fairly calculated to excite suspicion against the host, of negligence at least. And where marks of the intrusion are found, so as to leave no doubt of the mode of the loss, it must still be a question how far the house was properly fastened. And following the general rule of diligence, on the part of innkeepers, of “uncommon care,” as laid down by Lord Holt, or, as some of the books have it, “ the extremest care,” it would certainly be incumbent upon them so to fasten the inn itself, where their guests lodge, that it would not be liable to be broken by common force or art. But I can comprehend that money might be lost by a burglarious entry, under peculiar circumstances, without affording any just ground of imputing even negligence to the innkeeper; and in such a case notwithstanding some dicta to the contrary, I should myself incline to the opinion that the innkeeper is not upon principle, liolden.

But I do not think a jury could be allowed to exonerate an innkeeper from the loss of the goods of his guest upon presumption merely, or indeed without proof of some of the circumstances or dinarily attending the breaking of a house securely fastened. It is the distinctive peculiarity of this species of bailment that the host is prima facie holden for the restitution of the goods of his guests. And to make this rule of any practical utility, it is indispensable to hold the host to proof of the mode in which the goods were taken from him, and that it was without any fault or negligence on his part.

And if his house is properly secured, and the goods properly guarded, as such an amount of money would be likely to be by the owner, it is fairly supposable that some trace of its departure may ordinarily be found. And when a case occurs that possibly or probably professional robbers may have succeeded in eloining money or other goods without leaving foot-prints, it is better that the innkeeper should be held liable until he can prove the mode of the loss, than that so beneficial a rule of law, and one so indispensable to the quiet and comfort of travelers, should be virtually . demolished.

And with every disposition to' take a reasonably favorable view of the case for the defendant, it seems to us that if he really held the money, as innkeeper at the time, he should have shown something more definite as to the mode of the loss than any thing detailed in the bill of exceptions, to excuse himself from restoring it. On the bill of exceptions, it seems to be the common case of goods left at an inn and lost by theft of some unknown person, which is the common case of such loss. The manner of the loss should be stated, if known, in order to raise the proper question of law, as it regards this portion of the case, the law reversing its ordinary presumption of innocence in this case, and presuming the liability in the first instance; for if the fact of loss may be left to a jury, together with the ordinary negative evidence which may be supposed to attend such a case, as a sufficient ground upon which to excuse the innkeeper, the practical benefit of the rule of his presumptive liability is at once abandoned. A presumption which may be encountered and overcome by a counter presumption, without proof, is of no avail in its practical application to the business of life. It thus becomes neither an absolute or probable presumption, but a mere conjecture, good enough till some counter conjecture springs up, which is not what is meant, in law, by a “ presumptive liability.” It may more properly be likened to the presumptive bar of a debt, from lapse of time, or the legal bar of the statute of limitations, both of which are removed by a new promise, or the payment of interest, or part of the debt; but it cannot be left to a jury to raise such opposite evidence by mere conjecture or counter presumption. So, too, in the case of an innkeeper ; the mere fact of the loss of the goods, without any connivance or consent on his part, and in the common course of his business, with his doors fastened in the ordinary mode, is no sufficient ground from which to allow a jury to find no negligence on his part; for the law has attached an opposite, and to some extent an artificial presumption to these same facts; i. e., a presumption of negligence. And although this is not an absolute and conclusive presumption, like some in the law, it is nevertheless one of those presumptions which, to be of any avail practically, must be allowed to stand till encountered by some tangible and reasonable proof to the contrary, either positive or circumstantial. Le Blanc, J., says, in Burges v. Clement, 4 M. & S. 306, “ Negligence will be imputed to him (the innkeeper) where the loss is not to be ascribed to any other known cause.” This seems to us the true rule; and when some other cause is known and presented, it may then become a question whether it is sufficient in law. But to say that it was “ from a burglarious entry from without,” and that proof was given tending to show that, is not sufficient, inasmuch as the majority of such burglaries may be supposed fairly to result from negligence on the part of the innkeeper, or his servants, or the inmates of the house; and in such case the innkeeper is liable.

III. In regard to the agreement to deliver the money to Dr. Swift, it may be viewed in two lights: 1st. Was the promise upon sufficient consideration ? Of this we entertain no doubt. The delivery and acceptance of the goods are a sufficient consideration for any undertaking in regard to them, even where the service is merely gratuitous, as was held in Coggs v. Barnard, Ld. Raymond, 909, Com. 143, Salk. 26, and which has not been questioned since; and the goods being, at the time of the undertaking, in the power of the parties, is the same thing, since it is presumable that but for the promise the guest would have reclaimed his goods; he was therefore, -by the new promise, induced to forego an advantage, which is a sufficient consideration. 2nd. Was this promise reasonably performed ? Did the defendant do all he ought reasonably to have been expected to do in its performance ? If so, he afterward merely retained the goods as a depositary, without pay, and would, as the court below charged, be liable only for gross neglect. It ought, perhaps, in such a case, to be brought to the mind of a jury the question of neglect or diligence is very much affected by the quality of the business. A man is expected to use care and diligence proportioned to the importance and difficulty of the business intrusted to him; and from the great value of so large a sum of money, the ferocity of men’s appetites for money, and the consequent certainty of it being stolen, if exposed, one who should take the same care of such a bag of gold, which he might fairly be expected to, of other goods, might still be guilty of gross neglect as to this, and not as to other things kept with the same diligence. If the defendant failed reasonably to perform his contract in this respect, he ought probably to be held liable for the consequent loss to the plaintiff.

IY. If the defendant held the money, as innkeeper, and made this contract upon sufficient consideration to deliver to Dr. Swift, the inquiry will arise, what effect this contract will have upon his former obligation. That will depend upon the probable intent of the parties, which may ordinarily be gathered from the terms of the contract and attending circumstances. If the new contract was intended to supersede the former one, and come in its place, so as to have the defendant hold the money at once, in a new relation, then, of course, the former one will cease. As, for instance, if the plaintiff had consented to have defendant loan the money to some one, or had employed him to carry the money to Troy, or to New York, and he had entered upon this duty in either case, and had lost the money upon the road, or before it was actually loaned, or if in any other way the new contract was inconsistent with the continuance of the former one, the old contract is released by entering into the new, although of the same grade, and not creating a technical merger.

But when the new contract is consistent with the continuance of the former one, and only provides a n'ew mode of discharging the former one, it produces no effect upon it unless or until performed ; and this latter seems to have been the probable purpose of the parties in this case. It is hardly supposable that if defendant held the money, as innkeeper, the parties could have expected his duty, as such to be affected until lie performed the new contract, or, at least, entered upon its performance. And after tlie failure to perform by accident and without fault, it would be reasonable, perhaps, to conclude the parties expected the defendant’s obligation would remain the same it was at the time this new contract was entered into, unless there was something to show that the defendant declined keeping the money, as innkeeper, which he might do if he preferred to risk the consequences of such refusal, rather than to assume the responsibility; and this new contract was entered into to induce the defendant to consent to keep the money for that purpose ; i. e., the purpose of the new contract. In that case it would seem reasonable if the defendant failed to perform the new contract, without his fault that the money would remain in his hands, only in the capacity of an ordinary bailee at most. But as new facts in a future trial may be evolved, we have not examined the cases at length upon this subject, especially as they have not been brought to our notice by counsel, but they will be found to sustain the general views above stated. Chitty on contracts, 111, 113, and notes and cases referred to.

Judgment reversed, and case remanded.

Note. — A more extended examination of the cases upon this subject, especially the American cases, develops nothing at variance, so far as the general course of decision is concerned, with the leading views put forth in the opinion in this case. And in some points where, at the time of writing the opinion, I was not aware of any express authority, I find almost precise coincidence and confirma tion. The case of Wintermute v. Clark, (5 Sandford’s Superior Court R. N. Y. city, 242,) seems a rather remarkable confirmation of our views upon the question of what is requisite to determine the relation of guest and host. Oakley, Ch. J says, “ It is plain that the liability of an innkeeper continues no longer than the continuance of the relation between him and the guest. That relation ceases when the guest pays his Kll, and leasees the h'ouse, with the declared intention of not returning. In this case the guest had carried his trunk to an inn, and taken a room, putting his trunk below, in some place pointed out by the servant as a safe and suitable place, and then had gone out to lodge with a friend. He returned in the morning and paid for the room, though somewhat objecting, and left the hotel . His trunk was never taken from the hotel by the guest. The testimony was conflicting whether it was lost before the guest settled his bill, or afterward, and Judge Oakley’s remarks had reference to this point chiefly. This case had not cometo my notice at the time of writing the opinion.

In a considerable number of the states, the courts have shown a disposition to put the liability of innkeepers upon the same high ground as that of common carriers. In Massachusetts the case of Mason v. Thompson, and some others per haps, contain such intimations, and therein are doubtless at variance with the English decisions. But that the case of Mason v. Thompson, upon the main ground is not sound, I entertain no question, notwithstanding the sharp criticism of Bronson, J., in Grinnell v. Cook, (3 Hill 486.) This last case is merely that of a townsman putting ahorse or horses, at livery at an inn. And Thickston v. Howard, (8 Blackford 535,) is the of same character. And Hickman v. Thomas, (16 Alabama 666,) is the case of a stage proprietor putting his horses at an inn on his route, and the court held, and correctly, no doubt, that the innkeeper had no lien upon the horses for their keep. These cases, with that of Peet v. McGaw, (25 Wendell 653,) which finally turned upon a question of pleading, are sometimes referred to as having shaken the case of Mason v. Thompson. But in the case of Peet v. McGaw, Ch. J. Nelson cites the case of Mason, v. Thompson, as to the main question determined, with approbation. Ahd although in some of the other cases, it seems to be questioned whether, if a traveler merely put his horse at an inn, and go somewhere else himself, the proper relation of guest is thereby created. Yet this question is in no sense involved in any of these cases; the plaintiffs in all the cases being inhabitants, and not travelers, could not become guests even if they resided personally at the inn, but would become boarders, and their horses, while they remained there, would be at livery merely. And upon the main point, whether, if a traveler leave his horse at an inn, and does not himself lodge at the inn, the innkeeper is liable as such, and for his keep holds a lien upon the animal, the decisions are all one way. It is not even a questionable point, in my judgment. We have nothing to oppose to that view but the dissent of Lord Holt, in York v. Grindstone, the principle of the decision of the majority of the court being firmly established in the English law ever since that date. That some of the dicta of Wilde, J., in the case of Mason v. Thompson, upon the general subject of the extent of an innkeeper’s liability, require qualii cation, few thorough lawyers at the present day would be inclined to' questioj But similar dogmas are found in many of the English cases, from different eminent judges, and in a very large proportion of the American eases of that date, and immediately subsequent. And although it is some years since I have gone thoroughly into the subject of the old English law, in regard to the comparative responsibility of innkeepers and carriers, for goods intrusted to them, it is certain there was an exact correspondence in the liability of these two classes of bailees, in the civil law, and I am convinced by the form of the early writs against such bailees in the JRegistrum Brevium, that the primitive liability was precisely the same in England. But it is the responsibility of the innkeeper whi has stood its ground, while that of common carriers has been constantly growi] more and more stringent. But it is not needful to say more. The difference the extent of responsibility in these two classes of bailees is now firmly esta lished, and these dicta of judges and elementary writers, declaring them iden; cal, must he regarded as apocryphal, or at least behind the times. And this is all which can be fairly objected perhaps, to Mason v. Thompson.

The right of a guest to maintain his relation to an inn, notwithstanding temporary absence, is very clearly recognized in Grinnell, v. Cook, by Bronson, J. “ If a traveler leave his horse at an inn, and then go out to dine or lodge with a friend, or if he leave the inn and go to another town, intending to be absent two or three days, the rights and liabilities of the parties remain the same as if the traveler bad not left the inn.” In Thickston v. Howard, Smith, J., speaking of the comparative responsibility of carriers and innkeepers, says: “ The rule oflaw is near ly or quite as rigid in the one ease as the other, although there may be some difference m the cases excepted from its operation.” In Hill v. Owen, (6 Blackford 323,) Dewey, X, says: “That the loss of the goods of the guest from a common tavern, is prima facie evidence of negligence on the part of the keeper, and, unexplained, sufficient to render him liable.” The case of Towson v. The Havre de Grace Bank, (Har. & Johns. 47,) puts the liability of the innkeeper on the ground of the agent of the bank being a guest, and paying, and though the bank paid nothing, and were not, in any sense, affected by the expenses of the agent, he acting only in the single transaction and that gratuitously, Buchanan, X, says: “ Innkeepers are answerable by reason of the profits arising either from the keeping of-the horses, etc., of their guests, or the keeping of the guests themselves, in the case of money, or other property, from the keeping of which no profit can arise.” P. 52. In the case of McDonald v. Egerton, (5 Barb. Sup. Ct. 560,) the general views above are affirmed. Mason, J., in the language of the reporter’s note, holds: “If a person, after becoming a guest at an inn, goes away for a brief period, leaving his property, intending still to return, he is to be considered as still oontinuing-to be a guest, and, and if his property is lost during his absence the innkeeper is liable.”

In the case of Shaw v. Berry, (31 Maine 478,) the rule laid down seems certain-i ly more stringent than the oases will justify. Tenney, J., says: “ He (the host) is bound to keep the goods and chattels, so that they shall be actually safe, inevitable accidents, the acts of public enemies, the owners of the goods and their servants excepted. Proof that there is no negligence in the' innkeeper or his servants, is not sufficient for his immunity.” If this were to be understood in its i. most extensive signification, it certainly conflicts with the view taken by this ■ court in Merritt v. Claghorn, (23 Vt. 177.) But the case of Shaw v. Berry, required no such extreme view. It was that of a traveler’s horse breaking a leg in defendant’s stable during the night, .in a manner unknown to any one. In principle, the ease was much the same with the present, and seems to have been tried, in the first instance, much as was this ease, with a similar result. And there can be no doubt of the tavernkeeper’s liability in such a case. And he could not ask a jury to exonerate him, upon the presumption of faithfulness, until he could show by evidence, either positive or circumstantial, how the injury did accrue, that the courband jury might determine whether it arose from any defect in the stable, or neglect of the innkeeper or his servants. Until that is made to appear, the law .«presumes, that it was the fault of the host, either mediately or immediately.

' The case of Berkstme Woolen Co. v. Proctor, (7 Cushing 417,) seems to be an . elaborate and satisfactory exposition of the law, but it does not come directly within the range of the present discussion. It is said in Jones v. Thurlow, (8 Mod. 1172,) that the innkeeper has a lien upon the horse of his guest “for the meat of the horse,“but not for tbe meat of the guest.” But this distinction seems not to have been preserved in tlie later cases. It seems now to be considered that this lien extends to all the goods put into the keeping of the host, or forming the proper ' luggage of the traveler and his family, and the equipage and accompaniments of the horse and carriage. The lien and the liability seem to be co-extensive. {Thompsons. Lacy, 3 B. & Aid. 288: Proctor v. Nicholson, 7 Car. & P.67.) It has recently been decided by the English courts (Law & Eq., Armistead v. Wilde, 17 Queen’s Bench R. 261,) that if a guest is grrossly negligent in exposing money, whereby it is stolen, he cannot recover for it. We have thus examined, in detail, almost every ease bearing upon the points involved in the present one.