# Halsey v. Brown

> Supreme Court of Connecticut · June 15, 1809 · 3 Day 346

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/8222000

## Case

- **Full name:** Silas P. Halsey against Jesse Brown, Jesse Brown, jun. Zebulon P. Burnham, and Dyer Perkins
- **Court:** Supreme Court of Connecticut
- **Decided:** June 15, 1809
- **Citations:** 3 Day 346
- **Precedential status:** Published
- **Opinion:** Opinion of the court by Tif
- **Judges:** Tif
- **Cited by:** 12 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

## Citator (automated)

- No negative treatment found by the automated citator. That is not the same as a confirmation that the case is good law; read the citing cases.
- Full citator and citing cases: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/8222000

## Opinion text

tif the Court.
The question in this ease is, whether evidence of a particular custom or usage can he given in evidence to control a general law.
The general law applicable to the commercial world, ‘ that owners of vessels are answerable for the contracts and conduct of their masters, when acting whir,., -he Scope of their authority, must be admitted. I But as it is a principie, that the general common law may be, and in many instances is, controlled by special custom; so the general commercial law may, by the same reason, be controlled by a special local usas» . so far as that usage extends; which, will operate upon all contracts of this nature, made in view of, or with reference to, such usage. \
We are, therefore, of opinion, that the evidence offered to prove the particular usage in this case was ad» missible.
New trial not to be granted.

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/8222000. Public record. Not legal advice.