Shrewsbury v. Tufts

23 S.E. 692, 41 W. Va. 212, 1895 W. Va. LEXIS 81
CourtWest Virginia Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 20, 1895
StatusPublished
Cited by27 cases

This text of 23 S.E. 692 (Shrewsbury v. Tufts) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering West Virginia Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Shrewsbury v. Tufts, 23 S.E. 692, 41 W. Va. 212, 1895 W. Va. LEXIS 81 (W. Va. 1895).

Opinion

Holt, President:

On writ of error to a judgment of the Circuit Court of Wood county, in an action of assumpsit, for five hundred and fifty four dollars and seventy six cents, rendered on the 7th day of March, 1894, in favor of the plaintiff and ap-pellee, Shrewsbury, against the defendant and appellant, James W. Tufts.

Plaintiff in error (defendant below) Tufts, was a manufacturer of soda-water apparatus and silver-plated ware in the city of Boston. By letter of April 14, 1884, plaintiff, Shrewsbury, applied to Tufts for employment as sidesman. By letter dated August 13, 1884, Tufts wrote to Shrews-bury, offering to employ him as sales agent for Tufts’ goods in the territory of West Virginia, part of the state of Mary'-[215]*215huid, and oity of Washington. Mailed with this letter was a printed circular showing terms and percentage to agents. Shrewsbury, by letter of 16th August, 1884, acknowledged receipt of the offer, and made some inquiries before accepting it. On 20th August, 1884, Tufts answered, and closed by saying: “Please let me hear from you at once. It is not necessary' for you to come to Boston. Your outfit and a few samples can be sent you at Parkers-burg.” By letter of 30th August, 1884, Shrewsbury writes, “I accept your proposition, as the letter of 20th inst. removes the doubt I had at the start.” By letter of 2d September, 1884, Tufts acknowledged the receipt of Shrews-bury’s letter of 30th August, saying, “Will have P. W. [plated ware] outfit made up at once and sent you. Draw for funds as needed.” Thereupon Shrewsbury' closed up his business with his former firm, and on the 22d day of September, 1884, made a draft on Mr. Tufts, and on the 23d day of September, 1884, started on his first trip in his employ', and continued until the first dayT of July, 1889, and during that time never met Mr. Tufts. His business was to sell on commission, and when he quit the service of Mr. Tufts, in the summer of 1889, he claimed that there was a balance due him of one thousand three hundred and sixty six dollars and twenty' two cents for commissions earned on sales made during those five years, improperly' retained by' Mr. Tufts and not ptaid over. For this he brought suit, and obtained the judgment already' mentioned.

The defendant James W. Tufts, appeared, entered the plea of non assumpsit, non assumpsit within five years, and an account of set-offs, by which it would appear that on his contention, Shrewsbury had received more than lie was entitled to, by the sum of thirty’ two dollars and ninety eight cents; that the contract with Shrewsbury was not in writing, but was a verbal one. Shrewsbury claims that it was entirely' in writing, made up of the letters and circular already' mentioned. Defendant claims the contract to have been verbal, and as follows : Shrewsbury was to sell the goods of Tufts, subject to Tufts’ approval, and to receive a commission on all sums received by Mr. Tufts on account of orders that Shrewsbury might [216]*216take from the customers of Tufts, and all commissions were subject to rebates and reductions for any discount, allowances, or expenses—and that a yearly account was made out and sent to Shrewsbury, showing all commissions and losses.

Plaintiff's account is made up of commissions on attorney’s fees and on goods taken back, which commissions, as he contends, were improperly withheld from him; he alleges that the first statement showing the same withheld came to him in January, 1889; and on that account, among others, he severed his connection with Mr. Tufts in July, 1889, and demanded a settlement of these commissions now in suit.

Upon this point turns the merits of the controversy, and in connection with it, the questions: (1) Was the contract verbal, or in writing? (2) Were these animal statements showing the nature of Shrewsbury’s account with Tufts, sent to him in January of each year, retained by Shrews-bury without complaint? And if so, the efteet thereof. On this point full latitude was accorded the defendant in his proof. Testifying himself, he says: “My agreement or arrangement with Mr. Shrewsbury was a verbal one only. He was to take orders for goods of my manufacture, subject to my approval, and he was to receive a commission on all sums paid to me on account of the orders taken by him; and these commissions were subject to allowances, rebates, or drawbacks for any discounts, allowances, or expenses, of any nature. Mr. Shrewsbury was not employed by me on a salary.” On the other hand, plaintiff testified that he never met defendant; that the contract was created solely by correspondence; that he did not know that any part of attorney’s fees were charged to him until he received a statement in .January, 1889; that he was dissatisfied therewith; left Mr. Tufts’ service in July, 1889; that be had no such contract, and knew of no such usage.

The following instructions were given on behalf of plaintiff’, to which defendant excepted: “(1) If the jury believe from the evidence that the plaintiff made a contract with the defendant, and that such contract is expressed in letters, or in several writings, and a printed circular, and is the [217]*217only contract between them, then the contract between the plaintiff" and the defendant is a contract in writing, and the parties are bound by the terms of the written contract. (2) If the jury believe from the evidence that the plaintiff became an agent for the defendant under a contract, and if the jury further believe from the evidence that the only contract between the plaintiff and defendant is expressed in letters from the defendant to the plaintiff bearing date on the 13th and 20th days of August, 1894, inclosing a printed circular mentioned therein, and in letters from plaintiff to defendant bearing date on the 16th and 80th days of August, 1884, and if the jury further believe from the evidence that the plaintiff, by a letter dated the 30th day of August, 1884, accepted the terms proposed to him by the defendant, as shown by the letters and' circular aforesaid, without, anything other or further in relation thereto between them, then such letters and circular constitute the contract between the plaintiff and the defendant; and the parties are bound by the terms thereof, except so far as the same may have been subsequently modified by mutual agreement of the plaintiff and of the defendant, if, from the evidence, the jury believe that any such modification was subsequently made. (3) If the jury believe that the contract between the plaintiff and the defendant consisted of the letters and the circular mentioned in the last instruction above, then such contract was a contract in writing, and if bears date from the acceptance by the plaintiff of the terms proposed by the defendant, in the year 1884. (4) The court instructs the jury that the defendant must account to the plaintiff for all compensation and amounts of money which the defendant admits or shows by his accounts in evidence to be properly credited to the plaintiff, and the defendant is entitled to be credited with such amounts as are proper to be deducted under the contract and arrangements between the plaintiff and the defendant. (5) The court instructs the jury that the counsel for the plaintiff have agreed that the accounts offered by the defendant in evidence, and taken from his books, shall have the same effect as though the books themselves had been duly proved and produced in court; but, unless the [218]*218jury believe from the evidence that the books from which said accounts were taken were books of original entry, then the same are not evidence in favor of the defendant on this trial.

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Bluebook (online)
23 S.E. 692, 41 W. Va. 212, 1895 W. Va. LEXIS 81, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/shrewsbury-v-tufts-wva-1895.