Burch v. Hylton

16 S.E. 342, 89 Va. 441, 1892 Va. LEXIS 120
CourtSupreme Court of Virginia
DecidedDecember 7, 1892
StatusPublished

This text of 16 S.E. 342 (Burch v. Hylton) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Burch v. Hylton, 16 S.E. 342, 89 Va. 441, 1892 Va. LEXIS 120 (Va. 1892).

Opinion

Fauntleroy, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

A suit was instituted in the circuit court of Loudoun county, on the common law side thereof, on the 28th day of February, 1889, by Hylton, Dalton & Co. against the said petitioners, E. F. Burch & Co., wherein such proceedings were had that a final judgment in the said cause was rendered against the said E. F. Burch & Co., defendants in the said cause, on the 30th day of April, 1880, upon the verdict [442]*442of the jury, as follows : “ We, the jury, find for the plaintiffs the issues joined ; and we further find for them the sum of thirteen hundred and twenty-four dollars and twenty-nine cents, with interest thereon from [November 10th, 1888, until paid, the debt in the declaration mentioned, subject to a 'credit of $107.29, as of this date,” &c. Thereupon the said defendants moved the court to set aside the said verdict and grant to them a new trial, bn the ground that the said verdict was contrary to the law and the evidence, and was not sustained by the evidence, and was contrary to the weight of the evidence ; which said motion the court overruled, and entered the judgment complained of upon the verdict. It was proved that Hylton, Dalton & Co. were the owners, in Carroll county, of 208 head of cattle, which they agreed to sell to one James-Wilkinson for the sum of $5,324.29, to be delivered on the cars at Christian sburg at that sum ; but there was a conflict of evidence as to whether the said cattle were sold to said Wilkinson for himself, or as agent for E. F. Burch & Co., for whom he had been in the habit of purchasing cattle. The said cattle were not paid for, as agreed, upon their arrival at Christian sburg, and they were shipped on the Norfolk and Western railroad, in the name of Hylton, Dalton & Co., to themselves, at Berry ville, in Clarke county, Ya., and two of' the said firm of Hylton, Dalton & Co.—viz., Hylton and Webb—went in the cars with the said cattle to Berry ville, where they found E. B. Harrison, one of the firm of Burch & Co. ; that some conversation took place between said Harrison and said Hylton in regard to the cattle having been purchased by Wilkinson as the agent of Burch & Co., in which conversation Hylton stated that Wilkinson had represented that he was purchasing the cattle for them. Whereupon Wilkinson was called, and, in his presence, and in Harrison’s presence, Hylton made the statement he had made to Harrison, that Wilkinson had represented that he was pur[443]*443chasing the cattle for Burch & Co., and that Wilkinson did not deny Hylton’s statement.

There was evidence on the part of the plaintiffs to prove that E. B. Harrison, before the delivery of the cattle to him by Hylton, Dalton & Co., promised the plaintiffs to pay to them the price due for them at Christiansburg—viz., $5,324.29— within ten days; but there was a conflict of evidence as to the time when the said payment was to be made.

There was evidence to prove that Harrison told Hylton that he could go home, but if he would leave his partner, Webb, he (Harrison) would pay Webb for the cattle in ten days ; but as to this there was a conflict of evidence. It was proved, as a fact, that Hylton, of the Arm of the plaintiffs, did go home, and that his partner, Webb, did remain ; and that, on the 16th day of October, 1888, E. B. Harrison wrote, signed, and delivered to said Webb a paper as follows:

“Received of Hylton, Dalton & Company 208 head of cattle, bought by Jas. H. Wilkinson, at $5,324.29, to be sold by us, Burch & Co. As soon as they are sold, draft to be forwarded to Jas. H. Wilkinson, and the amount named above, the purchase, to be paid over to Hylton, Dalton & Co.

“ Burch & Co.

October 16th, 1888.”

There was evidence to prove that E. B. Harrison asked permission of Hylton, of the plaintiffs, to move the cattle to Bound Hill, in Loudoun county, as the pasturage was better, which permission he gave; but as to this point there was a conflict of evidence.

It w'as proved, and certified as a fact, that Webb, the junior member of the plaintiffs’ firm, after receiving the aforesaid receipt of the 16th of October, 1888, returned to Carroll county, and exhibited it to his partners, who were dissatisfied [444]*444with it, expecting fully the money from Burch & Co.; and that the other two members immediately visited Leesburg, and on the 19th of October 'had an interview with E. F. Burch and E. B. Harrison, of the firm of E. F. Burch & Co., which resulted in an interview between tbe said E. B. Harrison, of the said firm of Burch & Co., and Hylton and Dalton, of the firm of the plaintiffs, at night of that day, in the office of John H. Alexander, attorney-at-law; at which interview it was agreed by defendants, by E. B. Harrison, of their firm, to pay to the plaintiffs $4,000, and to give a note of Burch & Co., payable to the said plaintiffs in twenty days, for the balance of the $5,324.29, with the endorsement thereon that it was not to be paid until the plaintiffs presented an order from Wilkinson, on the defendants, for $5,324.29. And on the next day, October 20th, E. F. Burch & Co. gave to the plaintiffs the check of the firm of E. F. Burch & Co. for $4,000, and also signed and delivered to them the following note—viz.:

“ $1,324.29. ' October 20th, 1888.

“Twenty days after date we promise to pay to Hylton, Dalton & Co., or order, thirteen hundred twenty-four 29-100ths dollars, for value received. Homestead exemption waived.

“ E. F. Bubch & Co.”

On which was endorsed :

This note is not to be paid until the obligees deliver to said E- F. Burch & Co., James Wilkinson’s-order on them, in favor of said Hylton, Dalton & Co., for the sum of $5,324.29.

“ Hylton, Dalton & Co.

October 20th, 1888.”

It was proved that in November, 1888, tbe plaintiffs, by [445]*445their attorney, Henry Heaton, presented to the defendants the. following order:

Mr. F. F. Burch & Co.:

“ Yon will settle with Hylton, Dalton & Co., in place of me,, for the cattle—this November 20th, 1888.

“James "Wilkinson.”

—and demanded of the said Burch & Co. payment of their said note for $1,324.29, according to its terms; which payment they refused to make, but offering to settle with the plaintiffs, upon the terms they were to have settled, as they alleged, with Wilkinson, under their alleged agreement with him to sell the cattle upon a commission.

It was proved that in January, 1889, the plaintiffs, by their attorney, Henry Heaton, presented to the defendants another order, (being the order written by John H. Alexander, attorney for Burch & Co., at the time the note of the 20th of October was executed and delivered in his office, for $1,324.29, with the said endorsement thereon to provide against the-possibility that Wilkinson might have made some payments, to Hylton, Dalton & Co.,) and which said order was signed and handed to plaintiffs that they might obtain the signature thereto of said Wilkinson; which said other order, written and delivered as aforesaid, was signed by said Wilkinson, as follows:

“ Messrs. E. F.

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Bluebook (online)
16 S.E. 342, 89 Va. 441, 1892 Va. LEXIS 120, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/burch-v-hylton-va-1892.