Garfield v. Paris

96 U.S. 557, 24 L. Ed. 821, 1877 U.S. LEXIS 1698

• Court: Supreme Court of the United States
• Decided: April 22, 1878
• Docket: 250
• Status: Published

Opinion

Mr. Justice Clifford

delivered the opinion of the court.

Neither the manufacture- nor the sale of Spirituous or intoxicating liquors is allowed by the law of the State where the present controversy -arose. Instead of that, the State law'provides that all payments- made for such liquors so sold may be recovered back, and that all contracts and agreements in relation to such sales shall be Utterly null and void against all persons and in. all cases; with' an exception in favor of the bona fide holders-of negotiable securities-and the purchasers of property without notice. 1 Comp. Laws, Mich., p. 690.

Two bills of goods, consisting-of spirituous liquors,-were purchased of the plaintiffs by the defendants, which, including exchange, amounted to #4,143^69. Payment being refused, the plaintiffs brought Suit in the court below to recover the amount, arid the verdict and judgment were for the plaintiffs: Exceptions were taken by the defendants, and they sued out the present writ of error.

Sufficient appears to' show that the plaintiffs are citizens of New York, and that- the defendants are citizens of Michigan; that the liquors were purchased-of the plaintiffs, as alleged;.and that the same were received and sold by the defendants: but they set up the prohibitory liquor law of the latter State, providing that all s.uch contracts are utterly null and void.

Evidence was introduced by the plaintiffs, showing that the liquors were ordered by one of the defendants at a time when he was temporarily in the city of New York; and that the plaintiffs,: by his request, sent certain labels to be attached to the same, to the defendant, at the hotel in that' city where he was stopping.By the agreement at the time the salé was made, the plaintiffs were to furnish these labels to the purchasers; and -thé evidence showed that the value of the labels entered into the price charged for the liquors, and that the labels, by the terms of the contract, were to be furnished to the buyers, by the sellers, without any other charge than the price to be paid for the liquors. Labels of the kind were something more' than ordinary labels affixed to bottles, as they indicated not only the kind of liquor which the bottle contained, but also embraced an affidavit that' the distillation was genuine, and of the particular, brand manufactured and distilled by the plaintiffs; support to which is derived from the fact that the label was .copyrighted, so that no other person than the plaintiffs had any fight to make,-use, or vend it.

Certain questions were submitted to the jury, among which were the following: Were there any receipt and acceptance in New York of part, of the goods sold; and, if so, what was so received? To which the jury answered, There was; to wit, certain labels. Was any thing added to the price of the liquors on account of the labels, and, if so, what amount or price? Answer: There was -nothing added; but the labels added to the. value of the liquors, and formed part or parcel of the price.

Testimony was -offered by the plaintiffs in respect to the delivery of the labels to the defendant while he was at the hotel -in New- York, to which the defendants objected; but the court overruled the objection, and the testimony was admitted, subject to the defendant’s objection.

' Errors assigned are in substance and effect as follows:, 1. That the court erred in refusing to charge the jury that the delivery of. the labels, as proved, was not a receipt ánd acceptance of part of-the goods sold within the meaning of the State Statute of Frauds.. 2. That the court erred .in refusing to charge the jury that the evidence was not sufficient to take the case out o£: the Statute of Frauds. 8. That the court erred.in refusing to charge, the jury that the sale was not consummated until the defendants received- and accepted the goods in the State-where they resided. 4. That the court erred in instructing the jury that the defence set up is one not to be favored, and that the proof to •support it must be clear and satisfactory, before the jury can consistently enforce it-. 5. That the statute is a penal statute,in' -derogation of the rights of property; and that for that reason, if for no other, it must receive a strict construction. 6. That- the court erred in instructing the jury that if the labels were included in the contract; and the liquois were worth more to the defendants on account of the labels, then the receipt and' acceptance of the same by the acting defendant took the case out of the New York Statute of Frauds, and-their verdict should be for the plaintiffs.

Due exception was also made to the ruling of the court-in admitting the evidence reported in respect to the delivery and acceptance of the labels furnished to the purchasers at the time the order for the liquors was filled, the objection being that the ■labels are not mentioned in the plaintiff’s bill of particulars filed in the case.

Matters of- evidence are never required to be stated in such a paper. Courts usually, require such a notice where the declaration is general, in order that the defendant may know what the cause of action is to which he is required to respond. ' Nothing is wanted in this case to. meet that requirement, as all the items : of the demand are distinctly and specifically stated in the bill filed in compliance with the order of the court.

Merchants selling spirituous liquors in bottles usually label the bottles, to indicate the kind, character,, age, quality, or proof of the liquor, or to specify the -name of the manufacturer, or the place where it-was manufactured or distilled. Such are' somewhat in the nature of trade-marks, and are useful to the seller -of the liquors, to enable him to distinguish one kind of liquor from another without opening the bottle, and to- commend the article to his customers without oral.explanation.

Coming to the errors formally assigned-, it is manifest that the first and second may be considered .together, as they depend entirely upon the same considerations.

Both parties concede that the bargain for the sale of the liquors in this case was made in New York; and, by the laws of fchát State, contracts for the sale of any goods, chattels, or things in action., for- the price of |50 or more, shall be void, unless, 1, a note or memorandum of such contract be made in writing, and be subscribed by the parties to be charged thereby; or, 2, unless the buyer shall accept and receive part of such goods, or- the evidences, or some of them, of- such • things in action; or, 3, unless the buyer shall at the time pay some part of the purchase-money. 3 Rev. Stats. New York (6th ed.), 142, sect. 3.

Four answers, are- made by the plaintiffs to that proposition each of which will-r jceive a brief consideration:"—

1. That the defendants received and accep.ted the labels which the plaintiffs, contracted to furnish at 'the time. they filled the order for the liquors. 2-. That the case is not within the Statute of Frauds, inasmuch as the defendants received the liquors, and Sold the same for their own benefit. 3. That the statute of Michigan, prohibiting the sale of such liquors, and •declaring such contracts null and void, has been repealed. 4. That the subsequent letter written by' the defendants to ■fte plaintiffs takes the case out of the operation of the statute requiring such a contract to he in writing.

Authorities almost numberless hold that there is a broad distinction- between the principles applicable to the formation -of the contract and those applicable to its. performance, which appears with sufficient’clearness from the language of the statute,— such a contract■ must be in writing, or there must-be some note or memorandum of the same to be subscribed by the party to be charged: but the same statute .concedes that the party becomes liable for the .whole amount of the goods, if he accepts and receives part of the same, or the evidencés, or some of them, of such things in action; and the authorities agree, that, where the question is whether the contract has been fulfilled, it is sufficient to .show an -acceptance and actual receipt •of a part, however small, of the thing sold, in order that the contract may be held to be good, even though it does not preclude the purchaser: from refusing to accept the residue of the goods, if it clearly appears that they do not conform to the contract. Benjamin on Sales (2d ed.), 117 ; Hinde v. White house, 7 East, 558; Morton v. Tibbett, 15 Ad. & E. n. s. 427.

HenCe, said’Lord Campbell, in the’case last cited, the payment of any sum in earnest to bind the bargain, or in part payment, is sufficient;. the rule being, that such an act on the part of . the buyer, if acceded to on the part of the vendee, is an answer to the defence.-

“ Accept and- receive ” are the words of the statute m question ; but the law is well settled, that an acceptance sufficient to satisfy the statute- may be constructive, the rule being that the question is for the jury whether the circumstances proved, of acting o.r ’ forbearing to act, do or do not amount to an acceptance■ within +he statute. Bushel v. Wheeler, 15 Ad. & E. N. S. 445; Chitty, Contr. (10th ed.) 367; Parker v. Wallis, 5 El. & Bl. 21; Lillywhite v. Devereux, 15 Mee. & W. 285; Simmonds v. Humble, 13 C. B. N. S. 261; Addison, Contr. (6th ed.) 169.

Questions of the kind are .undoubtedly for the jury; and it is well settled that any acts of the parties indicative of ownership by the vendee may be given in evidence to show the receipt and acceptance of the goods to take the case out of the Statute of Frauds. 1 Conduct, acts, and declarations of the purchaser may be given in evidence for .that, purpose; and it was held, in the case of Currie v. Anderson (2 El. & El. 591), that the vendee of goods may so ’ deal 'with a bill of lading as to afford evidence of the receipt and acceptance of the goods therein described. Gray v. Davis, 10 N. Y. 285.

Throughout, it should be borne in mind that one of the defendants in .person visited the plaintiff’s place of business, and while there ordered the liquors, and that the liquors were all received by the defendants at their place of .business, and were sold by them for their .own benefit; that the contract between the sellers and purchasers was that the former should furnish the labels as part-.of the contract j and the evidencé shows that they fulfilled that part pf the contract, and that .they delivered the-same to the contracting party, at his hotel, before”he left the State where the purchase was made.

Satisfactory evidence was also introduced by the plaintiffs, showing that they drew a draft on the1 defendants for the payment pf the price, and that the defendants answered the'letter- '• of the plaintiffs declining to áceept the- same, ás more fully set forth in the record, in which they state that the purchase was op-four months, with the further privilege of extending , the time two months longer by allowing seven per [cent interest, adding, that if the plaintiffs- doubted their word, they had “ a ■ written contract to that" effect.” "What they claim in the letter is' that the arrangement was made, with the salesman; and they state that they would not have • given, him the order, if héhad not given' them “ those -conditions.” They make no complaint that the liquors w.ere not of the agreed quantity and quality, and certainly leave1fit to be implied that they had'been, duly received, and that they were satisfactory.

It was .contended by the plaintiffs that the cáse was 'taken out of .the Statute of Frauds: 1. .Because the labels were a part of what was' purchased, and that the defendants accepted and received the same at the time and place of the purchase. 2. That-'the subsequent letter, as- exhibited in the record, is sufficient for that purpose.

. Enough appeared' at the trial to show that the' labels were copyrighted, and that the plaintiffs agreed to furnish the same without any additional charge; and the bill of exceptions also shows that it. was conceded that the défendants accepted and . received the labels at the hotel, as claimed by the plaintiffs. Still, the defefidants -denied that the labels were of any •value, ór that they entered into or constituted' any part of the things purchased; both of which questions the ■ circuit judge submitted to the. jury, remarking, at the same time, that by the furnishing the labels with, the liquors-the defendants acquired, the right.to úse the copyright to that extent, without'which, or some equivalent permission or license, they would have had.no: such lawful authority.

Pursuant to these suggestions, the jury were directed to as certain whether the liquors were worth .more to the defendants on account of' the labels, and whether the labels were included in the contract; and they were instructed, that, if they found affirmatively in respect to both of these inquiries, then the receipt and acceptance-of the labels as alleged, took the case out of the Statute of Frauds,"because then there was a receipt, and acceptance by the defendants of a portion. of the things purcnased.

Appropriate instruction was also given to the jury in respect to the subsequent letter ■ sent by the defendants to the plaintiffs ; and the jury were told by the presiding judge, that if they found, under the instructions given, that the defendants received and accepted a part. of.the things purchased, then the contract was made valid as a New York contract, and that their verdict should be in favor of the plaintiffs. Currie v. Anderson, supra. That if the contract was not made valid by the acceptance apd receipt of the labels, nor by the letter exhibited in the record, then it was a Michigan' contract, and their verdict should be for the defendants. Meredith v. Meigh, 2 El. & Bl. 364; Castle v. Sworder, 6 H. & N. 828; Law Rep. 1 C. P. 5.

Controlling authorities already referred to show that the question whether the goods or any part of the same were received and accepted by the purchaser is one for the jury, to, which list of citations many more .may be given of equal weight and directness. Just exception cannot be taken to the' form in which the question was submitted to the jury; and the record shows that the verdict was for the plaintiffs, and that the jury found, in response to the fifth question, that the labels added-to the value of the liquors, and that they formed part or parcel of the price. Jackson v. Lowe, 7 Moore, 219.

.Where goods are purchased in several.parcels, to be paid for at a future day, the whole, within the meaning of the Statute of Frauds, constitutes but one contract, and the delivery of part to the purchaser is sufficient to take the'case out of the operation of the Statute of Frauds. Mills v. Hunt, 20 Wend. (N. Y.) 431.

Apply the finding of the jury in this case to the conceded facts, and it shows that the defendants', were in the situation of a purchaser who goes to a store and buys different articles, at separate prices for • each, article, under an agreement for a credit, as in this case, accepting a part,* blit leaving the bulk- to be' forwarded by public conveyance. . Frequent eases of the skind occur; and it is well settled law that the delivery of a part of the articles so purchased, without any objection at the time as to the delivery, is sufficient to take the cáse out of the Statute of Frauds as to the whole amount of the goods. Mills v. Hunt, 20 id. 431.

The delivery- in such a casé, in order that it may have that effect, must be made in pursuance of the contract, the question whether it was sq made or not being one for'the jury; but if they find that, question in the • affirmative, then it follows that the case is taken out of the Statute of Frauds. Van Woert v. Albany & Susquehanna Railroad Co., 67 N. Y. 539.

Parol evidence is admissible to show what the circumstances were attending the contract, and to show the receipt and acceptance, in whqle or in part, of the goods purchased: Tomkinson v. Staight, 17 C. B. 695; Kershaw v. Ogden, 3 H. & C. 715.

Due acceptance and receipt. of a substantial part' of -the goods will be as operative as an acceptance and receipt of the,, whole-; and the acceptance may either precede',the- reception of the article, or may accompany their'reception. 2 Whart. Evid., sect. 875.

Differences of opinion- have existed upon some of these matters; but all-the authorities, •'or nearly all, concur'that 'the question is for the jury, to-be determined' by the circumstances of-.the particular case. Id.

Viewed in the light of these suggestion's, it is clear that the .question whether the evidence' showed that the casé-was taken out of the Statute of Frauds by the'acceptance and receipt by the defendants of a part of -what was • purchased by them, in connection with the letter of the defendants exhibited in-the record, was fairly, submitted to the jury, and that their finding in'-the premises, is final and conclusive.

Attempt was also made by the plaintiffs to support-the judgment, upon the ground that, the defendants were estopped to-set up the Statute of Frauds as a defence, in view of the fact that they had received the liquors and sold the same for their own benefit; but it is not necessary to examine that proposition in view of the conclusion that the case is taken out of the operation of the statute by the other evidence and the finding of the jury. Nor is it- necessary to give any. consideration to the proposition that the act of the State of Michigan to prevent the manufacture and sale of spirituous and intoxicating liquors as a beverage is repealed, for the same reason, and also for the additional reason, :that the repealing clause saves “ all actions pending, and all causfes of action which had accrued at the-time ” the repealing act took effect. Sess. Acts, 1875, p. 279.

Having come, to the conclusion that the case is taken out of the Statute of Frauds, it is not., deemed necessary to' give the other assignments of error a separate examination. Suffice it to say, that thecour-t is of'the opinipn that-there is no error in the record.

Judgment affirmed.