Hauser, Kramer & Co. v. Curran & Wolff

5 Ohio N.P. 224
CourtOhio Superior Court, Cincinnati
DecidedMarch 15, 1898
StatusPublished

This text of 5 Ohio N.P. 224 (Hauser, Kramer & Co. v. Curran & Wolff) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Superior Court, Cincinnati primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hauser, Kramer & Co. v. Curran & Wolff, 5 Ohio N.P. 224 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1898).

Opinion

JACKSON, J.

The facts of this case are substantially as follows: Hauser, Kramer & Co. were a firm of coopers, doing, business in Cincinnati,on and prior to the 17th of June, 1886. Their business was the manufacture and sale of beer kegs, vats, etc., and in the conduct of their business, they desired to purchase a kiln or dryer with which to dry the wood to be used by them in making such kegs and vats, without subjecting the same to the slow process of drying by the sun.

Curran & Wolff were a firm in Chicago, engaged in the business of manufacturing kilns or dry houses to be used for 'the purposes which Hauser & Kramer desired?

It seems that Hauser & Kramer were contemplating the purchase of a certain kiln known as the Speer kiln, and that they were visited by one J. S. Bates, the duly authorized agent of Curran & Wolff, who stated that the kiln which he represented would do the work more effectually than the Speer kiln. Plaintiffs in error stated to Bates that their wood was of a peculiar quality, and that they would not purchase the kiln which he represented without an' express guaranty that it would successfully dry said wood.

Bates visited the cooperage establishment, of Hauser & Kramer on several occasions and inspected their lumber and repeatedly assured them that the Curran & Wolff kiln was well adapted to dry the lumber which they used, and that it would do their work more effectually than the Speer kiln. He repeatedly stated that he would guarantee that the kiln would give satisfaction.

It also appears that Bates offered to give plaintiffs in error letters of introduction, so that they could have the opportunity of inspecting for themselves other kilns of the kind. But this offer was refused, and it was impliedly understood between them, that Hauser & Kramer were not expected to and m fact should not rely upon their judgment in the selection of a kiln, but that they could and were to rely upon the judgment of the seller that the kiln in question would dry their lumber satisfactorily. The evidence, which is too lengthy to quote, shows that Hauser & Kramer were, impliedly at least, released from the obligation of inspecting said kiln or examining the principle upon which it was to be constructed and operated, and in fact from exercising any judgment of their own in its selection.

Thereupon the following written contract was entered into between the parties.

“This agreement made the 17th day of June, A. D. 1886, by and between Curran & Wolff, of the city of Chicago and state of Illinois, the sole and exclusive owners of the following patents,granted by the United States to Hannah & Osgood, the 27th day of November, 1866, and numbered 69,998; to Jas. H. Osgood, Jr., November 27, 1866, No. 60,018; to J. W Hannah, November 27, 1866, No. 59,998; to Johnson & Sumner, July 7, 1867, No. 79,661; to Sumner & Johnson, July 7, 1868, No. 79,661; to E. J. Sumner, March 26, 1872, No. 125,098, to E. J. Sumner, May 21, 1878, No. 8,210; to M. C. Curran, December 17, 1878, No. 210,999; to Charles Wilcox, May 6, 1879, No. 215,193; to J. J. Curran, reissue, August 12,1879, Nos. 8,810 and 8,816; to J. J. Curran, March 20, 1883, No. 271,282; for the term of which said letters patent were issued for certain improvements in lumber dryers, of the first part, and Hauser, Kramer & Co., of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton, and state of Ohio, of the second part. Witnesseth: That the said parties of the first part have agreed and by these presents do agree, to sell, grant and convey unto the said party of the second part, the right to construct and use one kiln or dry-house, size 22 by 50 feet, each under the patents as aforesaid, for and within the county of Hamilton, state of Ohio, and to furnish the heating apparatus for the same, according to the specifications on the back hereof, free on board of cars at Chicago, and set up the same at the place of construction. The parties of the second part agree to have the building ready to receive said heating apparatus within thirty days from this date, and pay the freight of the said heating apparatus from Chicago to the place of construction.

It is agreed that the said party of the second part has a right to move the kiln to any part of Ohio after giving notice to the party of the first part.

And the said party of the second part covenants and agrees to pay unto the said parties of the first part for the same the [226]*226sum of twelve hundred dollars ($1200.00) lawful money of the United States, to be paid as follows, to-wit: Three hundred dollars ($300.00) to be paid cash on the receipt of the iron materials at Cincinnati, Ohio, and the remaining nine hundred dollars ($900.00) to be paid by two notes as follows : A ninety days note for three hundred dollars ($300.00) to be given and dated on receipt of iron materials and bear six (6) per cent, interest per annum until paid,and a four months note for six hundred dollars ($600.00) to be given and dated on completion and acceptance of kiln, and bear six (6) per cent, interest per annum until paid,

And it is further agreed that the title in the kiln is to remain in the vendors till all payments are made as per contract herein stated.

In witness whereof, the parties of these presents havo set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.

Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of Albert J. Hauser, Curran & Wolff, James S. Bates, Hauser, Kramer & Co.

It is admitted that after the kiln was put in under this contract it failed to work successfully; that a second test made after Hauser and Kramer had put in a steam box, at th suggestion of Curran & Wolff, and still it failed to dry the wood. Hauser & Kramer paid $300.00 upon the delivery of the material, and also gave a note for $300.00 which they paid. About $800.00 worth of material was practically destroyed in making the tests as to the sufficiency of the kiln. Hauser & Kramer thereupon attempted to rescind the contract and demanded of Curran & Wolff a return of the $600.00 and also damages for the destruction of its lumber used in mauing the tests. Suit was accordingly brought by Curran & Wolff, May 30, 1887, seeking to recover the balance on the contract price of the kiln.

Defendants, Hauser & Kramer, by answer and cross-petition, admit the execution of the contract but deny its fulfillment, and seek to recover back from Curran & Wolff the amount paid on the kiln, namely, $6000.00, and also damages in the sum of $800.00 on account of the destruction of its lumber as aforesaid.

Th.e case was tried before Judge Taft at special term, a jury being waived, and resulted in a judgment in favor of Curran & Wolff. The case was brought to this court, and the judgment rendered by Judge Taft below was reversed. •

The opinion of Judge Moore in this case will be found reported in 25 Law Bull., 52.

The general term not only reversed the judgment of Judge Taft, but proceeded to render judgment in favor of Hauser & Kramer, on their cross-petition. It is conceded that the general term had no power to render such judgment in favor, of Hauser & Kramer, but that the whole case should have been remanded with directions for a new trial.

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Bluebook (online)
5 Ohio N.P. 224, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hauser-kramer-co-v-curran-wolff-ohsuperctcinci-1898.