Smith v. Lozo

3 N.W. 227, 42 Mich. 6, 1879 Mich. LEXIS 681
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 28, 1879
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 3 N.W. 227 (Smith v. Lozo) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Smith v. Lozo, 3 N.W. 227, 42 Mich. 6, 1879 Mich. LEXIS 681 (Mich. 1879).

Opinion

Graves, J.

Mrs. Lozo sued Smith before a justice of the peace in trespass guare clausum, and alleged therein acts in aggravation, and among others the exportation of a sewing machine.

On the 30th of October, 1875, the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company entered into a writing with Mrs. .Lozo to lease her one of their machines, with the privilege of buying. The instrument containing the arrangement was in these terms:

“This agreement, made this 30th day of October, 1875, between the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company, party of the -first part', and Elizabeth Lozo, of the city of Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, party of the second part,
Witnesseth : That the party of the first part, in consideration of the ■ agreements hereinafter mentioned, to be kept and performed by the party of the second part, does let and rent to the party of the second part one [8]*8Wheeler & Wilson 7 D. L. and D. sewing machine, number 9193, with the following tools for the same, viz.: 1 screw-driver, 1 oil can, 2 gauges, 1 thumb-screw, 1 needle wrench, 4 bobbins, 1 hemmer, 1 emery -wheel, 4 glasses, 1 side spring, 1 thread hook and 12 needles, for and during the term of 16 months from the day and date hereof. And the said party of the second part in consideration of the leasing of said sewing machine by the said Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company, to the party of the second part, agrees to pay the said Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company, at their office 139 Woodward avenue, Detroit, without any demand whatever being made therefor, as rent for said sewing machine, the sum of eighty-five dollars; twenty-five dollars in advance this day, and five dollars on the first day of each succeeding month, until the whole sum of eighty-five dollars shall be paid. The above first payment is one second-hand Grover & Baker, taken in exchange.
And the said party of the second part covenants with said party of the first part, that he has received said sewing machine and the tools above described, in good order and condition, and at the termination of this lease by forfeiture or otherwise will deliver up the possession of said machine and tools to the said party of the first part, in as good condition as when the machine was received, ordinary wear excepted. It is further agreed by said party of the second part, that she wall not under-let or assign this lease, remove or permit to be removed said machine from her house, number 56 Wight street, in said city, without the written consent of said party of the first part. It is expressly understood and agreed by and between the parties aforesaid, that if the rent above agreed to be paid, or any part thereof, shall be unpaid on the day agreed upon, or if default shall be made in any one of the conditions herein contained to be kept by said party of the second part, or in case said Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company may fear removal loss or injury of said machine and tools, or if said party of the second part shall attempt to dispose of the same, or if the same shall be removed, or disposed <of, or taken by any suit of any court, then in either ■case this lease 'shall be forfeited and ended without notice, at the option of the said Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company; and the said Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company may without .process of law take possession of said sewing machine; and for that purpose may enter any of the said premises of the said party of the second part to recover for or obtain said machine, using such force as may be necessary in so [9]*9doing, and the said party of the second part hereby waives any trespass, or any right of action for damages which she might or could have against said party of the first part, or their agents for reason of such procuring or attempting to procure possession of said machine; and said party of the second agrees to pay all costs, exnenses and fees of every kind which may arise to said party of the first part, by reason of said forfeiture and taking possession.
And the said party of the second part admits that the party of the first part is a legally constituted corporation under the laws of the State of Connecticut, and no proof thereof shall be required in any action by or arising under this lease.
It is agreed between the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company and Elizabeth .Lozo, that if the said Elizabeth Lozo shall desire to purchase said machine she may have the privilege of doing so at any time during the continuance of said renting by payment to the said Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company of the sum of eighty-five dollars, in which case all sums paid for rent within ten months (should said renting so long- continue), will be deducted from said sum. But the privilege to purchase said machine shall in no way interfere with the right of the said Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company to control said machine, (all property remaining in them the same as though the privilege of purchase had not been added to this agreement of renting), until the purchase money.is paid in full.
In witness whereof, the said parties have hereunto set their hands on the day and year first above written.
Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company, By A. H. West, Agent, [l. s.j Elizabeth Lozo. [l. s.]
In.presence of A. E. Watt.
No salesman is authorized to make any contract or verbal promises different from that written or printed on the face of this lease and all payments subsequent to the first must be remitted to Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company, 139 Woodward avenue, Detroit.

When this arrangement was entered into Mrs. Lozo delivered the Grover & Baker machine here mentioned at twenty-five dollars and received the Wheeler & Wilson machine. She made a number of little payments subsequently, and in May, 1878, the whole amount paid, including Grover & Baker machine, was $84.50. For several months prior to this time, however, she had paid nothing, [10]*10and was in default. The machine was in her possession at her residence, and she was using it as she had occasion.

Smith at this time was the company’s principal agent at .Detroit, and he received a letter from the company stating that Mrs. Lozo had paid nothing later than September 25, 1877, nearly eight months, and instructing him that unless she paid $5 at once, and a like sum regularly each succeeding month until the lease should be “paid out,” to take possession and advise the company. He thereupon directed Mr. Coe,, the person employed to collect money and take up machines, to execute the request contained in the letter; and the latter taking with him a man by the name of Eoedeeker, called at Mrs. Lozo’s for the money. She was unable to pay anything and refused to let the machine go. They took it, however, against her remonstrance, and in opposition to some personal resistance, and Smith afterwards refused her application to repossess it, except upon the terms of payment or security. She then brought this action against him, and was allowed to recover $100. There was some evidence tending to show' that the character of the writing was misrepresented when she signed, and that she was drawn in to execute it by deception and' fraud. But no question was submitted to the jury on this evidence, and the case was decided on other considerations.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
3 N.W. 227, 42 Mich. 6, 1879 Mich. LEXIS 681, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/smith-v-lozo-mich-1879.