Burgie v. Hicks

203 F. 340, 1913 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1742
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. New York
DecidedMarch 10, 1913
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 203 F. 340 (Burgie v. Hicks) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Burgie v. Hicks, 203 F. 340, 1913 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1742 (N.D.N.Y. 1913).

Opinion

RAY, District Judge.

On or about July 14, 1910, the parties entered into a written contract by- which the defendant, Knowlton V.' Hicks, agreed to sell and deliver to the plaintiff, Jeff L. Burgie, f. o. b. cars at Memphis, Tenn., 1,000 barrels of apple cider vinegar, 52 grains strength, at $1.25 per gallon, and ship 600 barrels of same on or before December 1, 1910, and the balance, 400 barrels, at such time thereafter as plaintiff should order. Each delivery was to be paid for within 30 days after receipt of same less a discount if paid within 10 days. Prior to November 22, 1910, the defendant delivered 80 barrels of the vinegar contracted for, and same was paid for. November 22, 1910, the defendant shipped to plaintiff 75 barrels of such vinegar, and same was received December 9, 1910. This was not paid for. October 7, 1910, in acknowledging the receipt of vinegar and making remittance therefor, plaintiff wrote:

“It is going to be a little difficult for us to take out the 600 barrels by the first of December and, if you can will be glad to have you extend the time of the delivery of the '600 barrels. However if you cannot we will simply have to have the same shipped here and store it.”

In reply, and on the 12th day of October, 1910, the defendant wrote:

“Yours of the 7th to hand and in reply will say that we are willing to extend the time for your taking the 600 bbls. if it will please you, will not forward the next car till after November 1st.”

October 29th the plaintiff ordered another car of vinegar, and November 14th defendant wrote:

“Your letter of Oct. 29th and telegram of 12th reed., and we are sorry we cannot ship the ear ordered at once, we received a lot of crude cider this past summer, that upon running the same upon our generators would not make a high grade vinegar we are now starting our new stock and just'as soon as we can get the 5% goods will ship. In your letter of Oct. 7th you said you were in no hurry to take the vinegar so, we blended our high test with the vinegar that would not coiné up to the test, and before we realized the fact our 5% vinegar was all out, but just as soon as we can get it to going again will ship. As to an additional thousand bbls. the apple crop in this section was so short we cannot at this writing say what we can do, are scouring around and if we have any success will let you know, are very sorry but this is the condition.”

November 22, 1910, as stated, 75 barrels were shipped, and defendant wrote:

“We ship you today a car of 75 bbls., of vinegar, it te.sts 48 grains. We have charged you the same price as for the 52 grain, because it cost us more than the other did, with the present, price of apples, and cider, our vinegar at 45 grain is going to cost us more than we will get for it. Have shipped by •the Southern States Dispatch.”

November 28, 1910, the plaintiff wrote:

“We are in receipt of your invoice for car of vinegar shipped us on Nov. 22nd. We do not think that you should ask us to lose 4 gr. per gallon on [343]*343this shipment. Our contract is for 52 gr. vinegar, and that is what we expect you to deliver or make the price less accordingly if you should reduce the grainage. Please ship us another car at once. We are now out of vinegar due to your delay in shipping.
“Our relation have always been pleasant and we want them to continue so, but we have sold vinegar against our contract with you and must insist that you deliver us the vinegar as per our contract. Please advise us at once what we may expect in the matter.”

December 2, 1910, the defendant wrote:

“Yours of 28th Nov. to hand, replying to same, will say that you forget a year ago, when you agreed to take 600 bids, at 14$ f. o. l>. cars here, that you wrote us asking us to cancel the contract, and we, notwithstanding contract, made price 13b, now this season you did not want the goods when we had them, but now when wo can get 13$ f. o. b. cars here, for 45 grain vinegar, you insist that we fill contract, we will now do as you did, ask you to cancel the contract, or if you do not want to do that what will you do for us to help us out, cider apples were scarce in this section, and we are very short on our stock, we are scouring the country for cider and if we do not succeed in getting the cider we cannot make the vinegar, hope to forward another car, within ten days.”

December 10, 1910, the plaintiff wrote:

“The car of vinegar arrived and am sorry to say, it had been in a wreck, and a good many of the barrels had broken staves and considerable loss was sustained by reason of the leakage, however, we have made claim against the railroad company for damages and will not bother you with the matter.
. “As to our contract, will say, that we certainly expect you to fill it as it would be disastrous to us if we should fail to get the vinegar as per our contract. We well remember the contract for 600 barrels, also that wo lost at least 82.00 per barrel, although you reduced the price let. per gallon, which was very good of you. Notwithstanding this reduction we stood loser $1,-200.00 on this contract, we took our medicine without a murmur. We want to say that we, at all times, stand ready to return a favor shown us in a business way. We will agree to make the price on the remainder of this contract 13% cts.,'f. o. b. Memphis instead of 12% cts. Now we cannot see how you could reasonably ask any more of us, as we are allowing you more, in the way of prices, than you ever did us. We are running short on vinegar and will ask that you ship us two or three cars at once on our contract. We certainly rely upon you and as fair business men we expect you to fill this contract.”

The car of vinegar referred to was the 75 barrels. December 17, 1910, the defendant wrote:

“Your favor of the 10th to hand, we are sorry to hear that the car of vinegar shipped you last month was in wreck, but the R. R. must make good, as you have iheir receipt for it in good order.
“Now in regard to shipping you another car, it will be impossible, for the cider we have bought is at the mills where purchased, and since Dec. 1 we have had zero weather, and cannot move any of it, we are very sorry but cannot help it.”

December 21, 1910, the plaintiff wrote:

“We are in receipt of your letter of Dec. 17t.h, and the contents are surprising to us.
“We regret to have to say that after reading and considering all of your correspondence with us, we have come to the conclusion that you are expecting or trying to get out of filling your contract with us for vinegar. We beg to advise yon that we do not intend to release you from this contract, as we have contracted to sell vinegar based upon your contract with us and if [344]*344we should not get this vinegar from you it would damage us very much. We expect you to ship us a ear of vinegar at once, and if you fail to do so we will place your contract in the hands of our attorney to see if there is any justice in the courts of- equity in this country. Excuses, will certainly not release' you from your contract and we want to say, that yóur excuse of zero weather, does not sound like business to- us.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
203 F. 340, 1913 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1742, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/burgie-v-hicks-nynd-1913.