Nowack v. Metropolitan Street Railway Co.

60 N.E. 32, 166 N.Y. 433, 1901 N.Y. LEXIS 1292

• Court: New York Court of Appeals
• Decided: April 16, 1901
• Status: Published

Opinions

Vann, J.

Evidence tending to show that a party to an action tried to bribe a witness to give false testimony in his favor, although collateral to the issues, is competent as an admission by acts and conduct that his case is weak and his evidence dishonest. It is' somewhat like an attempt by a prisoner to escape before trial, or to prove a false alibi, or by a merchant to make way with his books of account, except that it goes farther than some of these instances, for in addition to reflecting on the case, it reflects upon the evidence on that side of the controversy. “ Where it appears that on one side there has been forgery or fraud in some material parts of the evidence, and they are discovered to be the contrivance of a party to the proceeding, it affords a presumption against the whole of the evidence on that side of the question, and has the effect of gaining a more ready admission to the evidence of the other party.” (1 Phillips on Ev. [C. & II. Botes] 627.) It is not conclusive, even when believed by the jury, because a jjarty may think he has a bad case when in fact he has a good one, but it tends to discredit his witnesses and to cast doubt upon his position. It is for the consideration of the jury, after ample opportunity for explanation and denial, under proper instructions to prevent them from giving undue attention to the collateral matter to the detriment of the main issue.

The leading authority in support of such evidence is an English case, decided after careful argument by counsel and upon full discussion by the judges. (Moriarty v. London, C. & D. Ry. Co., L. R. [5 Q. B.] 314.) It is also sustained by the cases in this state relating to the subject, some with and some without discussion. (Cruikshank v. Gordon, 118 N. Y. 178, 187; Gray v. Met. St. Ry. Co., 165 N. Y. 457, 459; Mather v. Parsons, 32 Hun, 338; Gulerette v. McKinley, 27 Hun, 320; Adams v. People, 9 Hun, 89.) It is received even in criminal actions. (People v. Rathbun, 21 Wend. 509; Gardiner v. People, 6 Parker Cr. Rep. 155, 205; Donohue v. People, 56 N. Y. 208.) The' same rule prevails in other states, without exception, so far as we have been able to discover. (Egan v. Bowker, 5 Allen, 449; State v. Nocton, 121 Mo. 537, 551; Heslop v. Heslop, 82 Pa. St. 537, 539; Snell v. Bray, 56 Wis. 156, 162; Lyons v. Lawrence, 12 Ill. App. 531; People v. Marion, 29 Mich. 31; Commonwealth v. Webster, 5 Cush. 295, 316.) The elementary writers sanction it, some notwithstanding they concede it to be collateral and others upon the ground that as it relates to good faith or the intent of a party, it is a material fact and has a direct bearing on the issue. (1 Taylor on Ev. [9th ed.] 242; 1 Green-leaf’s Ev. [15th ed.] § 196; Wheaton on Ev. § 1265; 1 Starkie’s Ev. 437; 11 Amer. & Eng. Ency. of Law [2nd ed.] 503.)

It is claimed, however, that such evidence is not admissible against a corporation without proof of some corporate act expressly authorizing an agent to tamper with witnesses. This is equivalent to claiming that such evidence cannot be received against corporations at all, because in the nature of things proof of express authority would be impossible. A corporation can act only through agents,- and where a branch of its business, whether broad or narrow, is intrusted to an agent, without any restriction, whatever he does which directly relates to that part of the corporate business and tends to promote it, is binding upon the corporation. Under such circumstances ho has control of the method of action, and that which he does, whether morally right or wrong, within the general scope of the matter intrusted to him, in legal effect is done by the corporation itself. Having authority to accomplish a certain result, with no limitation as to the means to be employed, his acts, so far as they directly contribute to that result, even if unlawful, are corporate acts. They are done for the corporation by an agent clothed with general authority to effect a certain purpose, which they aid in attaining. Any admission made by him through acts done to carry on his branch of the business, and which reasonably tend to advance it, is regarded in law as made by the corporate body which authorized him to act for it with reference to the subject of his employment.

Itaufmann was employed to look up and “ see to ” witnesses for the defendant, so as to enable it to defeat the plaintiff’s claim, among others. He was to find witnesses, if possible, who would swear to such a state of facts as would prevent a recovery against the defendant. The method of doing this was left to his judgment and discretion. If he adopted a method not contemplated by the defendant, still it is responsible for what he did in the line of his employment to promote its interest. In order to promote its interest he saw fit, as we must now assume, to use the power intrusted to him by trying to bribe the most important witness for the plaintiff to testify falsely in favor of the defendant. He was employed “ to see to the witnesses,” and this was his manner of seeing to them. He was to procure evidence, the method not being specified, and he tried to get it by an unlawful method. The subject was left to his judgment and he acted according to his judgment. The scope' of the. business intrusted to him included whatever he thought best to do in order to get the right kind of witnesses. He was not working for himself, but for the defendant, and, as he represented it with reference to the subject of witnesses, his conduct not only tended to show that its case was weak, for witnesses are not bribed unless it is thought necessary, but to cast a doubt upon the testimony of the other witnesses who were looked up by him and sworn by the defendant. It indicated as the result of his investigation for the defendant that honest witnesses could not be procured who would swear to a defense. If he could not make a mere admission as such, he could do an act which had the effect of an admission. His declarations, dum fervet opus, were acts. Those acts, if shown, would have reflected upon the integrity of the defendant’s case as presented in court through the medium of witnesses, and would have tended to prevent the verdict which was rendered in its favor. They would have afforded “ a presumption against the whole of the evidence ” for the defendant, which has served it so well. It has had the benefit of what he did with reference to the other witnesses, unaffected by the cloud which the evidence offered would have cast upon them. He was acting in the course of his employment, for he was employed to procure witnesses. The power of tlie corporation was intrusted to him with reference to that subject, to be used as he saw fit. Ilis acts related solely to that subject and were done by him as its agent, wholly for its benefit.

If this evidence would have been admissible against an individual defendant, who had employed Kaufmann as he was employed, it is admissible against this corporate defendant. If an honest man by mistake employs a dishonest one to look up witnesses for him, and the latter, through excess of zeal, resorts to bribery, although it was never thought of by his employer, it is better for cleanliness and purity in the administration of justice, that the facts should be shown, with the fullest opportunity for explanation, than to exclude all evidence of the evil acts upon the ground that they were not authorized, because authority may properly be inferred from the nature of the employment. In such a case all doubt should be resolved, if possible, in the interest ,of clean evidence and the exposure of foul practices.

There are but few authorities which bear directly upon this branch of the subject. We have the general rule that a priu-" cipal is liable to a third person in a civil action for the fraud or other malfeasance of his agent, perpetrated by the latter in the course of his employment, although the act was ultra vires and the principal did' not authorize, justify or know of it. (Palmeri v. Manhattan Ry. Co., 133 N. Y. 261; Fifth Avenue Bank v. Forty-second Street & G. S. F. R. R. Co., 137 N. Y. 231; Jarvis v. Manhattan Beach Co., 148 N. Y. 652; New York & New Haven R. R. Co. v. Schuyler, 34 N. Y. 30; Stewart v. B. & C. R. R. Co., 90 N. Y. 588.) As was said in an important case in England: “ If the agents employed conduct themselves fraudulently, so that if they had been acting for private employers the persons for whom they were acting would have been affected by their fraud, the same principles must prevail where the principal under whom the agent acts is a corporation.” (Ranger v. Great Western Ry. Co., 5 H. L. Cases, 86, 87.) So this court has declared that “ where authority is conferred to act for another without special limitation, it carries with it by implication authority to do all things necessary to its execution; and when it involves the exercise of the discretion of the servant, or the use of force towards or against another, the use of such discretion or force is a part of the thing authorized, and when exercised becomes as to third persons the discretion and act of the master, and this although the servant departed from the private instructions of the master, provided he was engaged at the time in doing his master’s business and was acting within the general scope of his employment. * * * In most cases where the master has been held liable for the negligent or tortious act of the servant, the servant acted not only without express authority to do the wrong, but in violation of his duty to the master.” (Rounds v. D., L. & W. R. R. Co., 64 N. Y. 129, 133.) So far as this rule rests upon estoppel, it does not apply to the question before us, but so far as it rests upon public policy or convenience, it has some bearing, for the interest of the public is promoted by the exposure of corrupt acts intended to turn the course of justice.

The authorities directly in point, so far as they have been called to our attention, with one exception support the theory that the evidence in question should have been received. In the leading case evidence was admitted to show that a clerk in the employ of the defendant, a railroad corporation, offered money to a witness for the plaintiff to influence his testimony in favor of the company. It was the duty of the clerk to look up and arrange the evidence in cases where the company had been sued by persons injured, without special directions and with general authority to use his own judgment. It expressly appeared that he had no authority “ to deal with a witness in any way,” and that if he had used money to suborn a witness he would have been instantly discharged. The court, referring to the authority of the clerk, said: “ He was empowered generally to perform that duty without special directions. That part of the business.of the company was placed in his charge with general authority to use his judgment in its performance. His acts, therefore, were the acts of the company within the scope of his employment. His legal authority, of course, but extended to lawful acts. So it is true of all agencies, as they are not appointed for the purpose of committing wrong or the performance of illegal acts except in rare cases. Few actions would be maintainable if a recovery could be had only in cases where express authority is given, or the agent is required to commit the wrong. * * * In this case the clerk was in the exercise of' a corporate power, engaged in the performance of a duty delegated to him by the company, and in the performance of that duty he attempted the use of illegal means for the accomplishment of a legal end and for the benefit of the company. He did not attempt to suborn the witness for the benefit of himself, but for the benefit of the company — not with the consent of his superior, but in the course of the legitimate and authorized business of the company. He was unquestionably employed by the company, was acting for it and did the act to promote its interest. He was engaged in the performance of a duty for the company — he did the act as a part of the duty, although unauthorized. We are, therefore, of the opinion that he performed the illegal and unauthorized act while acting in and as a part of his employment and we must hold the company is responsible for the act. For that reason we hold that the evidence was admissible.” (Chicago City Ry. Co. v. McMahon, 103 Ill. 485.)

In Snell v. Bray (56 Wis. 156) a man who expected to be sued requested a friend to write to an acquaintance, but did not authorize him to attempt to influence her testimony if she was called as a witness on the other side. The friend wrote to this person warning her not to aid the other party or testify in the action, and it was held that the letter Avas properly received in evidence, as an admission by conduct, although it was written before the action was commenced.

In Baltimore & Ohio R. R. Co. v. Rambo (59 Fed. Rep. 15) it was said that “ it was competent for the plaintiff to introduce evidence in rebuttal tending to shoAv that the authorized agent of the Baltimore & Ohio Eailroad Company had been engaged in suborning witnesses to testify falsely. Such evidence was relevant on the main issue as tending to show an admission by its conduct that it had a bad case, needing false and perjured evidence to support it.”

In Green v. Town of Woodbury (48 Vt. 5) it was held that' evidence was not admissible to show that a constable employed to subpoena witnesses and assist in the defense of a town, had offered inducements to one of the plaintiff’s witnesses to keep away from the trial, when it did not appear that any other officer or agent of the town was ' cognizant of, authorized or approved the act.

The rule laid down by the Supreme Court of Illinois in the case cited is the better calculated to advance justice by keeping its channels pure. It tends to prevent perjury and fraud and to strengthen the confidence of the people in the courts. Upon principle, as well as according to the weight of authority, proof of .Kaufmann’s attempt to bribe Klein to swear falsely for the defendant should have been received.

The judgment should be reversed and a new trial granted, with costs to abide the event.