Johnston v. Eichelberger

13 Fla. 230
CourtSupreme Court of Florida
DecidedJuly 1, 1869
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 13 Fla. 230 (Johnston v. Eichelberger) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Johnston v. Eichelberger, 13 Fla. 230 (Fla. 1869).

Opinions

"WESTOOTT, J.,

delivered the opinion of the Court.

The principal question in this case is, whether, as between the parties Johnston and Eichelberger, a partnership existed at the time of the institution of this suit in the goods, which is the subject matter of the controversy. If it did not exist, then the primary and essential equity in the case is wanting, and it must fail.

Eichelberger insists, first, that such partnership existed by virtue of an instrument of 'writing executed on the 2d of March, A. D. 1867.

In the second place, he contends that if under the written instrument a partnership did not then exist, it existed by virtue of the terms of this instrument, coupled with the acts of the parties, which transpired- between the date of its execution and the institution-of this suit.

To determine the first question, we have only to construe the written instrument executed by the parties. To determine the second question, involves a consideration of all the acts of the parties, including the instrument. The instrument is as follows: '

STATE OF

Mabion County. '

-f

This Indenture, Made this second day of March, in the ■year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, between Abner D. Johnston and Adam L. Eichelfeerger:

[237]*237Whereas, The said Abner D. Johnston has purchased a certain stock of goods, wares and merchandise in the city of New York, consisting of-, which said stock of goods, wares and merchandise are to be shipped and transported to the town of Ocala, in the county and State aforesaid;

Now this indentwe, witnesseth, That the said Abner D. Johnston, for and in consideration of the covenants and agreements hereinafter entered into by the said Adam L. Eichelberger, hath bargained and sold, and doth by these presents bargain and sell unto the said Adam L. Eichelberger, one-half of the aforesaid stock of goods, wares and merchandise.

And the said Adam L. Eichelberger, for and in consideration of all the above, hath bargained, covenanted and agreed, and by these presents doth bargain, covenant and agree, to pay to the said Abner D. Johnson one-half of the original cost price of the said stock of goods, wares and merchandise, together with one-half the costs and charges that may or shall be expended in transporting the aforesaid stock of goods, wares and merchandise to the aforesaid town of Ocala.

And it is agreed between and by the parties to these presents, that the aforesaid Abner D. Johnston and Adam L. Eichelberger will sell the said stock of goods, wares and merchandise in the said town of Ocala as equal copartners; and also, that they shall and will bear, pay and discharge equally between them all rents and other expenses that may be required or incurred in the said stock of goods, wares and merchandise, and that all gains, profits and increase that shall come, grow or arise from or by means of the sale of said stock of goods, wares and merchandise shall be divided ' between them equally, and that all loss that shall happen through or by means of the selling of said stock of goods, wares and merchandise shall be borne and paid between them equally.

[238]*238In witness whereof, The said parties have hereto set ■their hands and seals, the day and year above written.

A. D. Johnston, [l. s.'J

A. L. Eichelberger. [l. s.]

Signed and sealed in the presence of Stephen C. DeBruhl,

W. J. McEddy.

This instrument, when executed, was left in the possession of a third party, the defendant, DeBruhl, and the answer of Johnston, which is responsive to the bill in this particular, alleges that it was left in the possession of this third party upon the distinct understanding between complainant and himself that it was to be in his (defendant’s) control until complainant complied with his agreement to pay for the goods.

Whatever inference may have arisen from a delivery of this instrument, therefore, to the vendee, Eiehelberger, cannot arise in this case.

The contract, so far as-' it relates to an acquisition of an interest in the goods by Eiehelberger, is contained in that portion of the instrument which precedes the mutual covenant that the parties will sell the goods in copartnership.

Eiehelberger could not be a partner unless he acquired an interest. This was certainly a condition precedent. If he did acquire an interest, its acquisition must have been under this part of the agreement.

Johnston bargains and sells one-half of the goods. That constitutes the contract upon his part; ETothing is said as to the price, or a method of ascertaining the price, or as to the mode or time of payment. The price is an essential element of a sale. In cases arising under the statute of frauds, it has been repeatedly held that the price enters into the legal contemplation of a bargain, and that a note or memorandum, which does not furnish evidence of the price agreed upon, is not sufficient to take a contract of sale out of the statute. 5 B. & C., 583 ; 2 Kent’s Com., 477 ; 15 [239]*239Vt., 685 ; Hill on Sales, 230. So also is payment made or -.to be made an essential element to a sale. If no payment •is made and none to be made, it is a mere gratuity. 3 Gray, 113. To determine, therefore, other essential elements of .the contract, we must look to the remainder of this instrument. All of it should be construed together, and the intention of the parties derived from a consideration of the -whole, and a consistent construction given to each part if possible.

Upon examination, we find that it consists of a “ bargain ’’ and agreement by the vendee to pay to the vendor one-lialf -oí -the original cost of the goods, together with one-half .of .the charges expended and to be expended in transporting -them to Ocala. The instrument, therefore, amounts to this: •X bargains and sells to E. one-lialf of a quantity of goods mot then in his actual possession. E. bargains to pay oneItalf ■ cost price and charges. The charges are not yet incurred, the cost not yet ascertained, the goods not yet arrived, so that these matters can be done by buyer and seller. The.contract as to payment was simply to pay without specifying time. There was no express agreement to extend .a, credit. The general rule in reference to payment is, that when no time is fixed for payment, the sale is for cash. In .-this case, as the price was to be ascertained at a future date, .the payment must be postponed to that time. There is nothing in the contract which can extend it beyond that time, . and it is extended to that time only beccmse the price was to - be then ascertained. In this case, on account of the character , of the interest which the vendee was to acquire, the interest • of a partner, there was to be no actual separation of the -goods or actual delivery of the one-half. •»

I-n -the sale of personal property, where anything remains fco. be done before the sale can be considered as complete, whether to be done by the vendor or vendee, as between the parties themselves, the right of property does not pass.

As between buyer -and seller, there remained to be done in [240]

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Related

Matter of Ward
6 B.R. 93 (M.D. Florida, 1980)
Tripp v. Wade
89 So. 870 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1921)

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13 Fla. 230, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/johnston-v-eichelberger-fla-1869.