Alexander Marketing Co. v. Medford

170 S.W.2d 809, 1943 Tex. App. LEXIS 304
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMarch 25, 1943
DocketNo. 5986
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 170 S.W.2d 809 (Alexander Marketing Co. v. Medford) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Alexander Marketing Co. v. Medford, 170 S.W.2d 809, 1943 Tex. App. LEXIS 304 (Tex. Ct. App. 1943).

Opinion

HALL, Justice.

The following is the agreed statement of the case: “The appellant was sued by the appellee on a stated account alleging the liability therefor against appellant because of goods, wares and merchandise furnished one E. Cannon, as the agent of appellant; and, in the alternative sought to allege agency in the said E. Cannon by estoppel. The estoppel allegations were based on the similarity of operations by E. Cannon during the period the account accrued, to previous years operations by E. Cannon while he was the agent of the appellant. The appellant denied E. Cannon to be its agent during the period the account accrued, either in fact or by estoppel. The case was submitted to a jury on special issues and on the answers of these issues by the jury, the court rendered judgment in favor of the appellee on the 29th day of August, 1941, in the sum of Eleven Hundred, Twenty-Six & 07/100 Dollars ($1126.07).”

Appellant’s 10th and 11th points are:

“10. All the positive testimony showed conclusively that E. Cannon was a member of the partnership composed of himself and L. Cannon, operating under the firm name of Cannon & Cannon, and not as agent for Alexander Marketing Company. The court erred in submitting special issue No. 4.”

“11. The positive testimony showing E. Cannon’s employment with Alexander Marketing Company had terminated on or before June 6, 1940, the court erred in submitting special issue No. 5 to the jury.”

Special issue No. 4 is: “Do you find from a preponderance of the evidence that E. Cannon in purchasing said merchandise was acting as agent of the Alexander Marketing Company at the time plaintiff (appellee) sold and delivered said merchandise to E. Cannon during 1940?” Jury answer: “Yes.”

Special issue No. 5 is: “Do you find from a preponderance of the evidence that E. Cannon’s employment with Alexander Marketing Company terminated on or before June 6, 1940?” Jury answer: “No.”

These points present the controlling question in the case. The town of Avery, Red River County, Texas, and outlying communities such as Box Elder and Lydia, lie in a large tomato-growing section. The marketing season for tomatoes there begins June 10th to 15th, and continues until about July 1st. Large quantities of tomatoes are grown, wrapped, and packed in lugs or crates and shipped out in truck and carload lots. Appellant, with headquarters at San Benito, Texas, is a dealer in tomatoes and vegetables, and was engaged in buying tomatoes at Avery and surrounding territory during 1936, 1937, 1938 and 1939, with E. Cannon as its agent. Before shipment the tomatoes are inspected and wrapped under large sheds. An agent [811]*811representing both Federal and State Departments of Agriculture inspects all shipments and issues an “inspection certificate” showing the owner, brand or trade mark, grade and number of lugs. Appellee is engaged in the general mercantile business in Avery and the items of merchandise forming the basis of this suit were sold and delivered by him to E. Cannon as the alleged agent of appellant, and were used in preparing for shipment tomatoes bought by Cannon at Avery, Box Elder and Lydia during the last half of June, 1940. Appellant admitted the agency of Cannon during the tomato season at Avery for the years 1936 to 1939, both inclusive, but denied any connection with him during 1940. It is contended that during 1940 Cannon was buying tomatoes at Avery and surrounding communities on his own account; and appellant’s secretary testified that Cannon’s connection with appellant was severed June 6, 1940, although Cannon testified that his agency was terminated about May 15, 1940.

The correct rule to be applied when testing the probative force of testimony is stated by the late Chief Justice Brown in the case of Wininger v. Ft. Worth & D. C. Railway Co., 105 Tex. 56, 143 S.W. 1150: “If, discarding all adverse evidence, and giving credit to all evidence favorable to the plaintiff, and indulging every legitimate conclusion favorable to the plaintiff which might have been drawn from the facts proved, a jury might have found in favor of the plaintiff,” that the evidence is sufficient to support the verdict. See, also, Underwood v. Security Life & Annuity Co. of America, 108 Tex. 381, 194 S.W. 585; Pennsylvania Fire Ins. Co. v. W. T. Waggoner’s Estate, Tex.Civ.App., 41 S.W.2d 340, affirmed, Tex.Com.App., 39 S.W.2d 593. Guided by above rule we shall discuss the facts and circumstances in this record favorable to appellee and which support the verdict of the jury in his behalf. As said before, it is admitted that E. Cannon during the tomato season of 1936 to’ 1939, both inclusive, acted as agent of appellant in purchasing tomatoes at Avery and outlying communities, and that during said seasons he purchased for and on behalf of appellant certain items of merchandise similar in character to those forming the basis of this lawsuit. May 21, 1940, the following telegram was received by D. D. Burden at Avery:

“San Benito, Texas 4:28 P. M. 5/21st ’40

“D. D. Burden, Avery Texas

“Hold New Gin Company Shed For Me If Possible Get Rent Down To $125 Wire Confirmation

“Alexander Marketing Company, Tubby.”

The evidence shows that “Tubby” is the nickname for E. Cannon, and on the date this telegram was sent and received, E. Cannon, according to the testimony of appellant’s secretary, Bendixen, was the admitted agent of appellant. Appellee, Med-ford, saw the above telegram a short tim'e after it was received by Burden. The tomato shed was rented and used for the 1940 season and the name of Alexander Marketing Company was displayed thereon. The rent for this shed was paid by check drawn on the bank account of Cannon & Cannon. The tickets covering the items sold and delivered by appellee were made out to Alexander Marketing Company. Many of these tickets were o. lc.’d by E. Cannon. The inspection certificates issued by the inspector for the Federal and State Governments for the tomatoes bought by Cannon at Box Elder were in the name of Alexander Marketing Company. All carload lots of tomatoes, with the possible exception of one, were consigned by Alexander Marketing Company to Alexander Marketing Company as shown by the bills of lading issued by the railroad company, two of which were signed by E. Cannon, and the others by his brother, L. Cannon. The record further shows that every morning during the 1940 season E. Cannon called John Binson, an officer of appellant, by telephone, many times collect, making inquiry as to the price of tomatoes each day. Appellee sold a great number of lugs to E. Cannon and was required by E. Cannon to place on the lugs the labels of Alexander Marketing Company carrying its brand “Old Fiddler” before the lugs were delivered to the loading sheds. On or about June 17, 1940, Alexander Marketing Company advanced E. Cannon $1,700 with which to buy tomatoes. This loan was on open account without a note evidencing same. Herman Smith, who was employed by Cannon to buy tomatoes at Box Elder, testified that some of the checks given for tomatoes at that place bore the name of Alexander Marketing Company as well as Cannon & Cannon. Mr. Bendixen, secretary of Alexander Marketing Company, testified: “We disassociated ourselves [812]

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Nelson v. Jordan
663 S.W.2d 82 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1983)
Magic Carpet Co. v. Pharr
508 S.W.2d 696 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1974)
First Nat. Bank in Dalhart v. Flack
222 S.W.2d 455 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1949)
Commercial Standard Ins. Co. v. Gruver
217 S.W.2d 95 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1948)
McLean v. McCollum
209 S.W.2d 959 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1948)
Kolacny v. Pelech
201 S.W.2d 257 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1947)
Boston Ins. Co. v. Rainwater
197 S.W.2d 118 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1946)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
170 S.W.2d 809, 1943 Tex. App. LEXIS 304, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/alexander-marketing-co-v-medford-texapp-1943.