Weil v. Stone

69 N.E. 698, 33 Ind. App. 112, 1904 Ind. App. LEXIS 174
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 29, 1904
DocketNo. 3,231
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 69 N.E. 698 (Weil v. Stone) 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
Weil v. Stone, 69 N.E. 698, 33 Ind. App. 112, 1904 Ind. App. LEXIS 174 (Ind. Ct. App. 1904).

Opinion

Henley, C. J.

Appellees in this case recovered a judgment against appellants growing out of the alleged violation of a certain written contract. The material averments of the second paragraph of the complaint upon which the cause was tried are that appellees are partners, doing business in the cities of Boston and New York, and engaged in buying and selling different kinds of skins, and that appellants are likewise engaged in the same business in the city of Et. Wayne; that in the month of'March, 1898, appellees were informed by appellants that they had an extra fine lot of sheepskins which they desired to sell, and, pursuant to such notice, one of appellees called on appellants at their place of business in Et. Wayne, and appellees’ representative went with appellants to where the sheepskins were stored, and found such skins done up in large packages of a dozen or more, containing about seven hundred dozen, all different grades and quality; that appellants exhibited samples of the various skins to appellees’ agent, and then and there represented that all the skins proposed to be sold were what are known to the trade as “packers’ skins” and “fine packers’ skins;” that tjie term “packers’ skins” is used to designate skins removed from animals in large slaughter houses, and are free from defects, and are cleaner and better cured, and can be worked into better leather than the skins which were known as “country skins.”

It is further averred that appellees and appellants entered into a contract, a copy of which contract is made a part of the complaint, by which appellants agreed properly to pack and ship the skins to Boston, and stating the price which appellees were to pay for them; that while the negotiations were in progress, it was discovered that there [114]*114were not enough sheepskins to make a car load, and that thereupon appellants represented that they had about one hundred fifty dozen “A or No. 1” hogskins and about the same quantity of “B or No. 2” hogskins which were in process of tanning, and would soon be ready for delivery; that such hogskins were in large vats, covered with liquor, or piled oh the floor undergoing the process of being prepared for the market; that the hogskins were in such condition that appellees could not make an examination of them, and, in order that appellees might know the character of the hogskins, appellants exhibited to them several samples; that the skins so exhibited were large,' perfect skins, such as are known to the trade as “A or No. 1 skins;” that appellants agreed to prepare the hogskins so that they would conform in character to the samples exhibited, and appellees agreed to buy and pay therefor at the rate of $5.50 per dozen for No. 1 skins, and $3 per dozen for No. 2 skins; that appellants accepted said offer, and agreed to grade, pack, and ship the skins to Boston, subject to appellees’ inspection and count.

It is further averred that under such contract various skins were shipped to appellees at Boston, and that before the same were -received and examined appellees honored appellants’ draft of $2,812.44; that a few days after the receipt of the draft, upon examination of the goods shipped, they were found to be defective, and not according to sample, and thereupon appellees offered to return all the property so shipped, but appellants refused to accept or permit the return of the goods. It is further alleged that the shipped skins were so packed that the immediate discovery of the defects was impossible, and that upon investigation afterward it was discovered that appellants had stuffed the interior of the casks in which the skins were shipped with inferior sheepskins, not conforming to the samples shown appellees, nor to the quality designated in the contract; that the money advanced to appellants by the pay-[115]*115merit of the draft aforesaid was procured by the fraud, deceit, and misconduct of appellants. It is further averred that the hogskins shipped were not sufficiently cured for their proper preservation; that they were not of the quality purchased or designated in the contract; that appellees refused to accept them, and immediately notified appellants of such fact, and demanded the repayment of the money advanced to them upon that account; that the hogskins were at once reshipped to appellants, and appellants refused to receive them; that the representations made by appellants in regard to the quality of the skins proposed to be shipped were falsely and fraudulently made, and that appellants knew when such representations were made that the same were false. It is also shown by the complaint that appellees retained the sheepskins and sold them. The following is a copy of the contract between appellants and appellees out of which this controversy arose: “Messrs. Stone, Timlow & Co., New York City. Gentlemen: We offer you as follows: The quantities are approximate, to be more or less, all E. O. B. Et. Wayne, Indiana. 6 to 10 doz. XXXX sheep at $5 per doz., 25 to 35 doz. XXX sheep at $4.25 per doz., 25 doz. XX sheep at $3.50 per doz., 75 to 100 X sheep at $3 per doz., 20 to 30 doz. No. 1 sheep at $2.75 per doz., 150 to 175 doz. XXX ribby sheep at $2,374 Per doz., 15 to 25 doz. XX ribby sheep at $1.75 per doz., 6 to 10 doz. XXX blind ribby sheep at $3 per doz., 5 to 10 doz. broken grain sheep at $4 per doz., 40 to 50 doz. cull sheep at $1.25 per doz., 10 to 15 XX lambs at $3.25 per doz., 10 to 20 doz. X lambs at $2.50 per doz., 50 to 75 doz. No. 1 lambs at $2,374 Per doz., 30 to 50 doz. No. 2 lambs at $1.50 per doz., 75 to 100 doz. ribby lambs at $1,624 per doz., 40 to 60 doz. cull lambs at 50e. per doz., 125 to 150 doz. A hogskins at $5.50 per doz., 125 to 150 doz. B hogskins at $3 per doz. Shipment to he made to Boston, Massachusetts, invoice and B. L. to be sent to 4 Warren St., New [116]*116York City. Terms, draft for ninety per cent., balance to be remitted upon receipt of tbe stock. Yours truly, Tbe Ft. Wayne Sheepskin & Wool Co. A. Weil, Pres. Accepted : Stone, Timlow & Co. Per A. II. Stone.”

Appellants’ demurrer to the complaint was overruled, and the cause put at issue by appellants’ general denial to the complaint. There was a trial by jury, and a verdict and judgment in favor of appellees in the sum of $1,183.55. With the general verdict the jury returned answers to interrogatories. The errors assigned and discussed relate to the action of the trial court in overruling appellants’ demurrer to the complaint, in overruling their motion for a new trial, and in overruling their motion for judgment upon the special finding of facts notwithstanding the general verdict.

It is contended by counsel for appellants that this is an action to rescind a contract on the ground of fraud and deceit, and that the contract must be regarded as an entirety, and not severable; and that the complaint showing, as it does, that a part of the goods purchased under the contract were retained by appellees, and sold, renders the complaint insufficient; and that the complaint is insufficient for the further reason that the contract shows upon its face that the goods were delivered to appellees in Ft. Wayne, and that the inspection and the grading and the examination of the goods sold under the contract must, by the terms of the contract, be made at Ft. Wayne, and not at Boston. It is upon appellants’ theory and contention that the complaint is one to rescind and recover back money paid that we will proceed to examine the question of its sufficiency.

If the contract must be regarded as indivisible, appellants’ argument and objection to the complaint is well taken; but under the authorities we think the contract is one clearly severable.

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

Related

Durant v. Snyder
151 P.2d 776 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1944)
Mason v. Madson
4 P.2d 475 (Montana Supreme Court, 1931)
Pray v. Trower Lumber Co.
281 P. 1036 (California Court of Appeal, 1929)
Harris v. Curtis
72 N.E. 1102 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1905)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
69 N.E. 698, 33 Ind. App. 112, 1904 Ind. App. LEXIS 174, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/weil-v-stone-indctapp-1904.