Commonwealth Title Insurance & Trust Co. v. Gregson

135 N.E. 715, 303 Ill. 458
CourtIllinois Supreme Court
DecidedJune 21, 1922
DocketNo. 14499
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 135 N.E. 715 (Commonwealth Title Insurance & Trust Co. v. Gregson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Illinois Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Commonwealth Title Insurance & Trust Co. v. Gregson, 135 N.E. 715, 303 Ill. 458 (Ill. 1922).

Opinion

Mr. Justice Dunn

delivered the opinion of the court:

The Commonwealth Title Insurance and Trust Company, executor of the will of George J. Roesch, deceased, brought a suit against William L. Gregson in the municipal court of Chicago and appealed from a judgment in favor of the defendant to the Appellate Court, which reversed the judgment and rendered judgment in favor of the plaintiff for $2210.32, the amount of its claim with interest, and for costs. Upon the petition of the defendant a writ of certiorari was awarded to bring up the record for review.

The plaintiff in error was a provision broker in Chicago and F. C. Reed was a broker in Philadelphia, where George J. Roesch was doing business under the name of Roesch Packing Company. On May 26, 1916, Gregson sent out a circular inviting offers of certain quantities of provisions for which he had inquiries, among others 100 barrels of plate-beef. On May 29, Reed, referring to the circular, telegraphed an offer of 117 barrels of family plate-beef at $17, and asked bids for seven barrels of family back-pork. On May 31 Gregson telegraphed Reed an order to book 100 barrels family beef at $17, and the same day wrote him a letter inclosing a confirmation, as follows:

“We hereby confirm our purchase made through you from the Roesch Packing Co., Philadelphia, Pa.
“Quantity—100 barrels.
“Articles-—Family plate-beef (26-28 pieces).
“Specification—Strictly new cure, strictly choice quality, new cooperage, heavily salted, proper saltage allowance, packed suitable for export, for arrival at New York not later than June 19. This shipment to be accompanied by government certificates and declaration.
“Route—Included with shipping instructions.
“Shipping instructions—From W. L. Gregson & Co., later.
“Collection—W. L. Gregson & Co., 607 Insurance Exchange Bldg., Chicago, Ill. All papers to be sent to this office.
“Price—$17 per barrel Philadelphia.
“Brokerage—J4%.”

Thereupon Roesch got the 100 barrels ready for shipment, had it inspected, re-packed it, coopered it, put heavy caps on the barrels, had it marked, got a certificate for it and held it ready waiting for shipping instructions. On June 6 Gregson wrote Reed that Rumsey & Co., for whom the beef was bought, requested him to ask Roesch if he would take out a through export bill of lading for them for the 100 barrels of beef, pre-pay freight through and include their invoice, stating that it was necessary to ship open to Scandinavian ports; that ,-the buyer had engaged ocean room and would furnish the contract; that the shipment should go via New York, care Norwegian-American Line, steamer Bergensf jord, June 24, to Christiania. Greg-son requested an answer “whether or not Roesch Packing Company can do this, and if not, will have to make arrangements here.” Rumsey & Co. also requested information as to what road Roesch intended to ship to New York. On June 9 Reed wrote to Gregson that Roesch would take out the through bill of lading but must draw on some person for the beef and freight. On the same day Gregson telegraphed Reed asking if Roesch would take out the through bill of lading, and the next day, on June 10, Reed telegraphed, “Roesch will take out through bill of lading shipping Reading road." On June 10 Gregson wrote to Reed a letter asking, him to follow out the instructions of Rumsey & Co., which were attached, in taking out the through export bill of lading, shipping it open and pre-paying the freight, and directing him to draw on Gregson with all papers attached, noting that Roesch would ship by the Reading road. The instructions stated that the shipment must be in New York by Monday morning, June 19, and requested shipment about June 15, and that the seller ask the railroad to have their copies of the bill of lading in New York by that time. The letter repeated the directions to follow instructions fully in taking out the through bill of lading, shipping it open and pre-paying through freight. A letter was enclosed to the freight agent of the Pennsylvania Company for storage, with the request if the seller did not ship by the Pennsylvania Company to ship by any good line and change the letter to the railroad by which he did ship. The ocean contract was enclosed with the letter. The beef was directed to be consigned to the Government Food Commission, Christiania, Norway, but directions were given by a later letter to change the consignee to the Christiania Food Commission. In accordance with these instructions, Roesch on June 15 offered the beef for shipment to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, which refused to receive it except for transportation to New York or to issue an export bill of lading, upon the ground that through shipment to the foreign port could not then be made.- Roesch then shipped the goods by the Pennsylvania railroad upon a domestic bill of lading to New York, consigned to the Christiania Food Commission, Christiania, Norway, in care of the Norwegian-American Steamship Company, steamer Bergensfjord, in which Gregson had an ocean contract for space for the beef, and pre-paid the freight, $36.63. The railroad company agreed that the shipment should be delivered to the Norwegian-American Line at New York not later than June 19, and in time to connect with the steamer Bergensfjord of that line, sailing June 24. Roesch wrote to the steamship company the same day and the next day talked to the agent on the telephone, telling him that the goods had been shipped by the Pennsylvania railroad, which would not issue a through bill of lading and the steam-' ship company would have to take care of it, and the agent answered that they would. Reed telegraphed Gregson on June 15, “Shipping beef Pennsylvania railroad, Reading could not handle.” The beef was never delivered to the Norwegian-American Line but was lost in transit. On June 21 Gregson telegraphed Reed that no papers had been received and inquired when the car was shipped, to which Reed replied that the delay was caused by waiting on the New York end of the Pennsylvania road for the through bill of lading; that it could not be secured in Philadelphia. On June 22 Gregson sent a telegram to Reed, “Papers not received, advise,” to which Reed answered, “Car shipped June fifteen papers waiting through bill of lading Pennsylvania railroad New York.” The same day Gregson wrote a letter to Reed acknowledging receipt of the telegram and saying further: “From your wire I understand that the through bill of lading had to be taken out at New York instead of Philadelphia, and, of course, if this is correct this is the reason for delay.”

The defense which was relied upon was that Roesch did not take out a through export bill of lading, as directed by the shipping instructions. No claim was made that there was any failure on his part to comply with the contract in any other particular. There is no disputed question of fact in the case. The defendant introduced no evidence, the contract was in writing, consisting of the correspondence of the parties by mail and telegraph, and the only question is whether the contract required Roesch to take out a through bill of lading before Gregson was bound to pay for the beef.

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Bluebook (online)
135 N.E. 715, 303 Ill. 458, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commonwealth-title-insurance-trust-co-v-gregson-ill-1922.