Vigo Agricultural Society v. Brumfiel

1 N.E. 382, 102 Ind. 146, 1885 Ind. LEXIS 24
Indiana Supreme Court·Decided May 26, 1885·No. No. 12,276·Published·Cited by 21 cases

Opinion

Elliott, J.

Gathered into a condensed form, the material averments of the appellee’s complaint are these: The Vigo Agricultural Society is an association organized under the laws of the State for the purpose of conducting fairs for the exhibition of agricultural products, manufactured articles, and other things; prior to September, 1883, the society issued advertisements inviting persons to place articles on exhibition at a fair to be held in that month. The society agreed to take care of articles placed on its ground by exhibitors, the appellee, in response to the invitation of the society, did put a gun of which he was the owner on exhibition in the place appropriated to that purpose, and, while the gun was in the care and keeping of the society,” it negligently and carelessly suffered it to be stolen, without any fault on the part of the appellee.

The question presented by the demurrer to the complaint is not as to the general duties and liabilities of an agricultural association, but the question is as to the law upon the facts pleaded. The case made by the complaint is one of bailment. The bailment was not a gratuitous one, for the reason that the exhibition of the gun, in response to the invitation contained in the advertisement of the appellant, constituted a [148]*148consideration for the undertaking. It may be true that both parties derived a benefit, but this did not strip the contract of its character, that of a bailment for reward. The reward was not, it is true, in money, but it was nevertheless a reward in the form of an act performed at the request of the bailee. An association which invites persons to supply articles to enable it to conduct an exhibition receives some consideration from the person who responds to its invitation by placing articles in its care for exhibition.

Where a consideration of an indeterminate value is agreed upon by the parties, the courts will not undertake to determine its adequacy, but will respect the judgment of the parties and enforce their contract. Wolford v. Powers, 85 Ind. 294; S. C. 44 Am. R. 16; Williamson v. Hitner, 79 Ind. 233; Neidefer v. Chastain, 71 Ind. 363; S. C., 36 Am. R. 198; Smock v. Pierson, 68 Ind. 405; S. C. 34 Am. R. 269; Baker v. Roberts, 14 Ind. 552; Hardesty v. Smith, 3 Ind. 39. The complaint avers that there was an agreement to take care of the gun, and the facts stated show a sufficient consideration for the agreement, and, as the contract was one of bailment for hire, the bailee is responsible for the loss resulting from its negligence. The agreement bound the society, and if its negligence caused the loss it must respond. What the rule would be where there was no promise to bestow care upon the articles exhibited, we need not decide, for here there was, as the complaint avers and the demurrer admits, a promise which created a bailment.

The appellant demurred to the evidence, and it is necessary, before entering upon the discussion of the main question, to ascertain and state the rules which must guide us in considering tire evidence. These principles are well settled:

First. The demurrer admits all the facts proved, admits the existence of all the facts which there is evidence tending to establish, and admits all reasonable inferences which may be drawn from the facts and the evidence. Wright v. Julian, 97 [149]*149Ind. 109, authorities cited p. 110; Willcuts v. Northwestern Mut. L. Ins. Co., 81 Ind. 300, and authorities cited.

Second. “ On a demurrer to evidence, everything will be taken against the party demurring which ■ the evidence tends to prove, including every fair inference to be drawn from the evidence.” Eagan v. Downing, 55 Ind. 65; Pinnell v. Stringer, 59 Ind. 555; Radcliff v. Radford, 96 Ind. 482.

Third. On a demurrer there is no weighing of the evidence;, all inferences are against the demurring party; and where there is a conflict, evidence favorable to him can not be considered. Ruddell v. Tyner, 87 Ind. 529; Adams v. Slate, 87 Ind. 573; Bethell v. Bethell, 92 Ind. 318, vide p. 325; Wright v. Julian, supra.

Guided by these rules, our task is to ascertain what facts the evidence tends to prove, what inferences these facts lead to, considered most strongly against the appellant, and, excluding the testimony favorable to it, accept that favorable to the appellee.

The testimony shows that the gun was taken to the office of the secretary of the society, where entries were made by exhibitors; that it was entered in the proper book; that appellee’s agent was provided with an exhibitor’s tag, directed to attach it to the gun and place it in the “Mechanical Hall,” and that he obeyed the directions given him. This hall was a large building, and very insecurely fastened. It was not guarded by any policeman, or by any other person. It was proved that the chief of police of the city of Terre Haute,, who was employed to take charge of the policemen engaged about the fair grounds, suggested to one of the principal officers of the society that there should be some policemen stationed about the “ hall,” but that officer directed him not to place any policemen about it, stating that “ there was nothing in it.” In making this statement the officer was in error, for there were articles of value in it besides the appellee’s gun. From the hall, where it had been placed by the direction of the secretary, it was stolen and carried away. Sometime prior to [150]*150the time the fair was held, the society issued advertisements inviting persons to place articles on exhibition, and these advertisements were seen and read by the appellee, who was induced by them to place his gun on exhibition. In one of the rules issued by the society, and contained in one of its advertising pamphlets, was the following: “ The association will keep an efficient police force on the grounds day and night to take care of articles on exhibition, but will not be responsible for any damages.”

The clear and, indeed, the only legitimate inference from the evidence is, that the appellant neglected to keep an efficient police force on the grounds. It appears that the attention of its officers was called to the inadequacy of the police; to the fact that one place where valuable articles were kept was wholly without guard or protection. At a few places on the grounds there were policemen on guard, but none about the building where the appellee’s gun was placed. So far as that spot was concerned, it was as if there had been no police protection at all supplied.

We do not deem it necessary or proper to discuss the general question as to the duties and liabilities of agricultural societies organized for the purpose of conducting fairs, for here the question is very much narrower. The question here is as to the liability of a society that invites and secures the exhibition of articles at its fair upon the promise to “keep an efficient police force on the ground day and night to take care of articles on exhibition.” It may be true that where there is no promise of this character the exhibitor assumes the risk, but, as there is here a promise, that question'is not before us, and, of course, is not decided.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Vigo Agricultural Society v. Brumfiel, 1 N.E. 382, 102 Ind. 146, 1885 Ind. LEXIS 24 (Ind. 1885).

1 N.E. 382 (Vigo Agricultural Society v. Brumfiel) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

Carr v. Hoosier Photo Supplies, Inc.
441 N.E.2d 450 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1982)
Kincaid v. Lazar
405 N.E.2d 615 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1980)
Hawkins v. Kourlias
282 N.E.2d 551 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1972)
Jasper v. Morris Boats, Inc.
491 P.2d 1298 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1971)
Cook v. American States Insurance Company
275 N.E.2d 832 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1971)
White v. Burke
197 P.2d 1008 (Washington Supreme Court, 1948)
Kay County Free Fair Ass'n v. Martin
1942 OK 81 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1942)
Godfrey v. City of Flint
279 N.W. 516 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1938)
Trackwell v. Irvin
115 N.E. 807 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1917)
Colburn v. Washington State Art Ass'n
141 P. 1153 (Washington Supreme Court, 1914)
Zwolanek v. Baker Manufacturing Co.
137 N.W. 769 (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1912)
Polk v. Johnson
66 N.E. 752 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1903)
Polk v. Johnson
65 N.E. 536 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1902)
Jaffray v. Wolf
1896 OK 73 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1896)
Niedermeyer v. Curators of the University of Missouri
61 Mo. App. 654 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1895)
Prince v. Alabama State Fair
106 Ala. 340 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1894)
Lovejoy v. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
53 Mo. App. 386 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1893)
Shover v. Myrick
30 N.E. 207 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1892)
Everman v. Hyman
28 N.E. 1022 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1891)