Washburn-Crosby Milling Co. v. Brown

104 N.E. 997, 56 Ind. App. 104, 1914 Ind. App. LEXIS 13
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 21, 1914
DocketNo. 8,307
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 104 N.E. 997 (Washburn-Crosby Milling Co. v. Brown) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Washburn-Crosby Milling Co. v. Brown, 104 N.E. 997, 56 Ind. App. 104, 1914 Ind. App. LEXIS 13 (Ind. Ct. App. 1914).

Opinion

Shea, P. J.

Appellant brought this action to recover from appellee tbe sum of $137.40 on account of an alleged overpayment on a carload of wheat purchased from appellee. Tbe first paragraph of complaint contains tbe usual allegations for money bad and received. Tbe second alleges in substance that appellant is a corporation under tbe laws of Kentucky; that on July 20, 1909, it contracted with and purchased from appellee one carload of No. 2 red wheat at a price of $1.12 per bushel, f. o. b., Campbellsburg, Indiana, to be shipped to Louisville, Kentucky, subject to its inspection and weights; that tbe contract was in writing and contained in a letter reading as follows:

[106]*106“Louisville, Ky., 7/20/09.
Mr. O. L. Brown, Campbellsburg, Indiana, Dear Sir— In accordance with telephone conversation with our Mr. Harris this morning, we are booking for 'your account, approximately 1,000 bushels, No. 2 red wheat, at $1.12, f. o. b., Campbellsburg, for prompt shipment, and subject to our weights and inspection. Mr. Harris advises us you expect to get this car out not later than Friday, and we trust you will use every effort to do so as for later shipments we are bidding a lower price. Yery truly, Washburn-C-rosby Milling Co. P. H. Nesmith. Incorporated.”

Pursuant to appellant’s proposition appellee shipped one carload of wheat on July 29, 1909, notifying appellee by letter as follows:

“Campbellsburg, Indiana, July 28, 1909.
Washburn & Crosby Co., Louisville, Ky. Gentlemen, enclosed you will find bill of laden for about 700 bu of wheat, which I sold to Mr. Wallace at 1.12 f. o. b. here, will you please send me a check for about $675.00. In regard to other bids you have been about the same, as others, Ballards and Ballard bid has been 1 ct higher a time or two. It has been very rainy here for 3 or 4 days. Yours truly, O. L. Brown.”

Upon receipt of the letter appellant did remit to appellee the sum of $675; that when the wheat afterwards arrived and was weighed, it was found the car contained but 486 2/3 bushels instead of 700 as stated by appellee, and by reason of such shortage appellant had overpaid in the sum of $137.40, for which judgment is asked. Both paragraphs allege a demand on appellee for the sum claimed before suit was brought and the letters are made exhibits to this paragraph of complaint.

Appellee answered both paragraphs in general denial, and also filed a cross-complaint alleging that appellant was indebted to him in the sum of $139.24, being balance due on the car of wheat in question, and demanding judgment in accordance with a bill of particulars as follows:

[107]*107“The Washburn-Crosby Milling Company
To Oliver L. Brown, Dr.
1910, July To 727 bu. wheat @ $1.12 per bu. .$814.24
Credit by cash................. 675.00
Balance due .................$139.24”

Appellant answered the cross-complaint first by way of set-off, averring substantially the same facts contained in the second paragraph of complaint. It is further charged that the car contained 540 bushels of wheat only, instead of 700 bushels, and that it was not No. 2 red, but a very inferior grade of wheat of much less value than the grade ordered by appellant, and not worth more than seventy-five cents per bushel; that the wheat was damp, musty and full of smut to such an extent that it could only be graded as rejected wheat; that on account of the shortage in the amount of wheat, appellant had overpaid appellee in the sum of $137, and on account of the damaged condition and inferior grade of the wheat it has been damaged in the sum of $200, which amounts it offers to set off against any sum found due it, asking judgment for the remainder. Appellant further answered the cross-complaint by a general denial.

The cause was tried by the court and a finding made against appellant on each paragraph of the complaint, and for appellee on his cross-complaint. Judgment was rendered in favor of appellee for $109 and costs. The errors relied on for a reversal are: (1) The cross-complaint of appellee does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. (2) The court erred in overruling appellant’s motion for a new trial.

1. The first error assigned raises the question of the sufficiency of the cross-complaint. It does not appear from the briefs that a demurrer was filed by appellant to the cross-complaint, therefore there was no ruling of the court upon a demurrer. The rule is thoroughly [108]*108established in this State that where the question is first raised in this court upon an assignment of error, if the pleading contains facts which would bar another action, it will be sufficient. Indianapolis Traction, etc., Co. v. Kidd (1906), 167 Ind. 402, 405, 79 N. E. 347, 7 L. R. A. (N. S.) 143, 10 Ann. Cas. 942; Oliver Typewriter Co. v. Vance (1911), 48 Ind. App. 21, 22, 95 N. E. 327, and authorities cited. Appellant’s learned counsel in a very able brief do not argue this question directly. However, the facts set out in the cross-complaint are sufficient to bar another aetion for wheat sold and delivered to appellant during the time stated, and is therefore good, where the question is raised on an assignment of error in this court for the first time.

2. In the motion for a new trial eight separate reasons are set out and very ably argued. It is earnestly insisted that the letter addressed to appellee dated July 20, 1909, together with the letter received by appellant from appellee, dated July 28, 1909, constitutes a written contract. The questions presented in the motion for a new trial are all more or less dependent on the construction given to these letters. It will be observed that in appellant’s letter reference is made to a conversation with Mr. Harris, who was their representative in the locality of appellee’s place of business, and that the amount of wheat was approximately 1,000 bushels. Appellee’s letter in reply states in terms that the wheat was sold to Mr. Wallace (meaning Mr. Harris) at $1.12, f. o. b., Campbellsburg, and that the amount shipped was about 740 bushels. These two letters do not constitute a complete contract. The reference to telephone talks and the time of shipment as arranged hy Mr. Harris, in appellant’s letter, shows that there was some dependence to be placed upon the conversations between Mr. Harris and appellee. Appellee’s letter does not purport to be a reply to appellant’s letter, if it be taken in its plain and ordinary meaning, as it states that the sale was made to Mr. Harris, who was the repre[109]*109sentative of appellant. The amount of wheat to he shipped is differently stated, and there is no reference to “weight and inspection”. The only point of coincidence is that the wheat was to he f. o. b., Campbellsburg.

3. The record shows appellant accepted this carload of wheat after the receipt of the letter from appellee, which plainly states the wheat was sold to Mr. Harris, furthermore appellant remitted, upon receipt of the letter, $675, and made no denial or question of Harris’ authority. Having acted with full knowledge of appellee’s belief that the wheat was sold to Harris, appellant can not now be heard to say that Harris acted without authority.

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Bluebook (online)
104 N.E. 997, 56 Ind. App. 104, 1914 Ind. App. LEXIS 13, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/washburn-crosby-milling-co-v-brown-indctapp-1914.