Main v. Tracey

109 S.W. 1015, 86 Ark. 27, 1908 Ark. LEXIS 354

• Court: Supreme Court of Arkansas
• Decided: April 13, 1908
• Status: Published

Opinion

Hill, C. J.

This is the second appeal of this case. In Main v. Tracey, 76 Ark. 371, the facts are stated. Judgment for the defendant was therein reversed for failure of evidence of the countermand of the order reaching appellant before the goods were shipped. On the new trial, there was testimony adduced tending to show when the letter of countermand was written, when it was mailed, and when in due course of mail it would have been received by the appellant. This testimony tended to show that it would have been received on the 15th, and the goods were shipped on the morning of the 17th of June.

On the other hand, one witness testified that the letter of countermand was received on the afternoon of the 17th, after the goods had been shipped out that moaning. -In view, of the fact that this witness was interested in the result, and there were some possible discrepancies in two depositions given by him, the court could not say that it would be arbitrary for the jury to disregard his testimony. Therefore there would be some testimony tending to show that the letter of countermand was received before the goods were shipped; and, this being true, 'the countermand was effective because no contract was made until after the offer of purchase was accepted by he shipment.

The court permitted a son of the appellee to testify that no notice was received from the express company of the arrival of these goods. Other testimony along the same line was adduced. This was over the objection of the appellant, and is made one of the grounds for new trial.

The sole question at issue in the case is whether the countermand-was received before the goods were shipped. Had the court sharply pointed out that as the sole question before the jury, it might be that this evidence would not have been prejudicial. But that was not done. This testimony had no proper bearing upon the real issue of the case, and was likely to lead the jury to believe that it was a relevant fact. The. express company was the agent of the appellee. Whether the goods were duly carried by it, and whether notice was given after they arrived, were matters that could not affect appellant’s right, foi¡ his .duty was discharged when he delivered the goods to the express company. This testimony, unexplained and let in to the jury, might lead them to believe that it was the duty of the express company to give notice that the goods were there before liability could be fixed upon the appellee; or they may have taken it as a corroboration of the appellee’s theory that the goods were not shipped until after the order of countermand was received. When it ‘is borne in mind that the express company was the agent of the appellee, then any testimony generated from its action or want of action should not affect the other party to the controversy.

Whatever may have been the tendency of this testimony, certainly it -did not tend to prove any thing .in regard to the issue. Appellee’s testimony to sustain this verdict is weak; and if it had not been strengthened by this incompetent evidence, the result might have been otherwise. At any rate, the court cannot say that this error is not prejudical; therefore the judgment is reversed.

Reversed and remanded.