Ray v. Robinson

271 S.W.2d 159, 1954 Tex. App. LEXIS 2066
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMay 13, 1954
DocketNo. 6711
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 271 S.W.2d 159 (Ray v. Robinson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ray v. Robinson, 271 S.W.2d 159, 1954 Tex. App. LEXIS 2066 (Tex. Ct. App. 1954).

Opinions

FANNING, Justice.

Appellee Robinson sued appellant Ray for commissions on various sales of rose bushes. He further specifically alleged that Ray was due' him commissions of $5,270 (less $500 previously advanced him by Ray) on sales to Sherman Townsend of Salisbury, Maryland. Ray answered that their agreement was one of brokerage and that he had received a written order-from Townsend for $36,247.30 worth of [160]*160bushes but that. Townsend was to pay-cash at. the time the roses were to- be shipped, which he alleges was to be between the dates of March 1st and April 1st, 1952. Ray further alleged that he received no shipping instructions until 11:32 P.M. of March 31, 1952, and further alleged that no money was sent, and alleged that he owed no commissions. .

Thirteen issues were submitted to the, jury which answered issues Nos. 1 and 3, and Robinson dismissed a part of his petition (wherein he had sought recovery on sales other than, the Townsend sale), amended his petition (wherein he specifically sought recovery of commissions on the Townsend sale) and the court on the answers of the jury and on additional findings and considerations entered judgment for Robinson for the sum of $3,270.50 against appellant.

Appellee, among other things, relied upon the following written instrument (Plaintiff’s Exhibit No. 4) addressed to Robinson, which reads in part as follows: “Ray’s Rose Nursery of Swan, Texas, agrees to pay you for the Roses which you have sold to Townsend Nurseries Inc., Salisbury, Maryland as follows.

Single wrap #1 Standard Variety.♦ 11½0 each
Single wrap #1 “ Patents. 11½0 “ “ wrap #1 Blaze.... 14½0 "
Three in one wrap #1½ Standard. 16¾0 " " “ “ #1½ Blaze.240

It is understood these prices include delivery to Salisbury, Maryland. All cost of delivery to be borne by you regardless of whether shipment is made via Rail or Truck. ,

Ray’s Rose Nursery
Accepted: By Bryan K. Ray.
Howard Robinson.”

This instrument was not dated.. Robinson testified it was executed about two weeks after January 2, 1952.. Ray testified that it was-executed -on November 14, 1951.

Plaintiff’s exhibits la to If inclusive, consisting of six carbon copy sheets in a Ray’s Rose Nursery Order Book of the original order from Townsend in question here, read in part as follows:

“Order
Ray’s Rose Nursery Tyler, Texas
From — Townsend Nurseries Inc. Date — Jan. 2, 1952.
Street — Vine St. Extension City- — Salisbury State- — Md.
When Ship — Mar. 1 to Apr. 1, 52 How ship — Prepaid Motor Truck” * * *
Here follows a list of the items ordered * * * Each of the six pages are signed by Townsend Nurseries Inc. by Sherman Townsend. We quote fr.om the last page in part as follows: “Last page order complete. Seller to furnish Electroplates 2000.00-to be deducted from last delivery. Terms — - Net cash on delivery—
Total . $36,247.30
Less amount paid; 2,000.00
Balance due on delivery. $34,247.30
(S) Townsend Nurseries Inc Sherman Townsend.”

The evidence further shows that Townsend paid Ray $2,000 at the time of the order. It will also be noted that the above order provides for the payment of the balance of $34,247.30 cash on delivery, and does not provide for Townsend to “send the money with shipping instructions” as contended by appellant Ray.

On March 31, 1952, at 11:09 P.M. at Salisbury, Maryland, Townsend telegraphed Ray giving him shipping instruc[161]*161tions on the order involved here. .The contents of the telegram was telephoned to Ray at Swan, Texas, by the telegraph company in Tyler, Texas, at 11:23 P.M. on March 31, 1952. Robinson testified that on the morning of April 1st, 1952, Ray told him about receiving the phone call from Western Union the night before with reference to the Townsend telegram and that Ray requested him to get the telegram for him, which he did that morning. Robinson further testified that he saw Mr. Ray that morning type out a message in answer to the Townsend telegram which he handed to Robinson with instructions to take to the telegraph company to send to Townsend and to charge it to Ray at Swan, Texas, which Robinson testified he did as requested by Ray. Robinson further testified that he made a pencil copy of Ray’s telegram to Townsend at the time, and that Ray’s telegram read as follows: “Acknowledge receipt of your wire of March 31st containing varieties. Shipment is being, prepared today less United States Patent roses of Jackson and. Perkins which we do not carry. Will wire when shipment leaves here. Ray’s Rose Nursery.”

H. M. Gresham, Manager of the telegraph office in Tyler, Texas, produced the original typewritten message of April 1st, 1952, which was deposited for transmission addressed to Townsend and signed “Ray’s Rose Nursery,” and which contained the identical wording as testified to by Robinson and as quoted above. He further testified that the telegram was charged to Ray’s Nursery and that the nursery paid the charges. Ray denied writing the telegram or that he authorized it to be sent. Robinson’s testimony was as above stated, to the effect that Ray typed out the telegram and directed Robinson to take it to the telegraph office for transmission to Townsend, which he testified that he did.

Special issue No. 1 which the jury answered “Yes,” reads as follows: “Do you find from a preponderance of the evidence that Plaintiff’s Exhibit No. 4 sets out the terms of the agreement between the plaintiff and ■ the defendant as to the payment. of commissions on the order for rose bushes dated January 2, 1952, by Townsend Nurseries as identified in plaintiff’s Exhibit No. la, through If?”

Special issue No. 3 which the jury answered “Yes,” reads as follows: “Do you find from a preponderance of the evidence that defendant wilfully failed to fill the order of Townsend Nurseries as set out in the telegram of March 31, 1952, identified as Plaintiff’s Exhibit No. 8 herein?”'

Robinson also testified with respect to the usual, reasonable and customary charges for freight transportation of rose bushes by rail and truck from Tyler, Texas, to Salisbury, Maryland; that it would take three rail or box cars at around $500 per rail car and that it would take 5 truck loads at around $450 per motor truck load to transport the Townsend order from Tyler to Salisbury.

'Appellant’s first point is as follows: “The error of the coürt in overruling appellant’s motion before the trial began to instruct counsel for plaintiff not to ask or allude to a purported telegram allegedly sent by appellant to Sherman Townsend.”

Appellant’s second point is as follows: “The error of the court in permitting appellee’s counsel to prove by the witness H. M. Gresham that Ray’s Rose Nursery had sent a telegram to Townsend Nurseries on April 1, 1952.”

Appellant denied the sending of the April 1 telegram to Townsend and denied authorizing the sending of same.

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271 S.W.2d 159, 1954 Tex. App. LEXIS 2066, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ray-v-robinson-texapp-1954.