D. M. Osborn & Co. v. Evans

58 N.W. 920, 91 Iowa 13

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: May 14, 1894
• Status: Published

Opinion

Robinson, J.

The petition as filed contained three counts, but, before the trial, the first and second were withdrawn, and the trial was had on the issues raised by the third count and the answer. The third count alleges that in September, 1883, the plaintiff entered into a written contract with John Farley & Company, a copartnership doing business in the Black Hills; that defendant was a member of that partnership; and that the contract was entered into by plaintiff on the faith of representations made by defendant in a letter, of which the following is a copy:

“Fobt Pieebe, Dakota, September 8, 1883.

liTo Mahler & Thompson, St. Paul, or to any parties whom it may concern, who are in the manufacturing of farm machinery:

“This is to certify that I have formed a copartnership with the bearer of this, John Farley, for the handling of farm machinery, wagons, and buggies, for the territory of the Black Hills, with headquarters at Deadwood. and, as he is on a trip east to select goods for our next season’s business, I will hold myself personally responsible for the purchase of such goods as he may require for his trade; provided, always, that a duplicate bill is sent to me here of the purchase of the goods and shipping bills. Hoping that you will sell such goods' as we can make money on, and that the trade may be beneficial to all the parties concerned, I am, respectfully yours, . Feed T. Evans.”

The count further alleges that, under and by virtue of the agreement, the plaintiff shipped and delivered to John Farley & Company, between the eighth day of September, 1883, and the first day of April, 1884, goods to the amount of six thousand, one hundred and eighty dollars, of which the sum of four thousand, two hundred and five dollars, only, has been paid. Judgment for the balance due, with interest thereon at ten per cent, per annum, is demanded.

l 2 The answer pleaded several defenses to, the cause of action set out in the petition, none of which are discussed in the argument for appellant. The defense urged in that argument is that the only evidence that defendant was a member of the partnership is contained in his letter which we have set out; that, if he was ever a member of the firm, he ceased to be one as early as March, 1884; that the firm was reorganized, and the new firm became responsible for the indebtedness to plaintiff; that thereafter the defendant was a surety for the partnership for the debt; that plaintiff knew that fact, and was bound to respect it, but that, with knowledge of its obligation in that respect, it substituted a new contract for the old one, changed the terms of payment, and so conducted its affairs with the new firm as to release the defendant from all liability on his agreement. A fatal objection to the defense urged is that it is affirmative in its nature, and is not pleaded. . Another objection is that it is not sustained by the evidence. It does not appear when the defendant retired from the firm; there is no evidence that plaintiff knew of any arrangement by which the new firm assumed and became liable to pay the debt of the old one to plaintiff; and our attention has not been called to any evidence that such an arrangement was, in fact, made. The plaintiff was careful at all times not to release the defendant from liability. He had agreed to be “personally 'responsible for the purchase of such goods” as his partner should require for his? trade, on condition that a duplicate bill of the purchased goods, and shipping bills, should be sent him, and that was done. We are of the opinion that the evidence would not have authorized the jury to find that any one1 of the defenses pleaded or urged in this court was sustained. There is no controversy in regard to the sale and delivery of the goods to John Farley & Company, nor in regard to the amount of the purchase price unpaid. We therefore conclude that the district court properly directed a verdict for the plaintiff, and its judgment is affirmed.