Standard Oil Co. v. Weeks
Standard Oil Co. v. Weeks
Opinion of the Court
Action by appellant against appellees on account for goods sold. The judgment for plaintiff being less than the sum to which it conceived it was entitled, the plaintiff appeals.
The parties entered into a written contract on September 7, 1907, a copy of which is set out in the hill of exceptions. Adopting, for the occasion, the insistence for appellant that the court should have construed the written and sole contract, rather than, as it did, submit to the jury the question of intention of the parties in re
The character of the receptacle in which this commodity was to be delivered is referred to three times in the instrument. As first appears, the reference is in this connection: “* * * At the price of 15% cents per gallon f. o. b. Pensacola, Fla., all of the deodorized gasoline in iron drums. * * *” The second reference reads thus: “If deliveries are made in wood barrels the price Avill be 2 cents per gal. higher.” The last reference appears in this wise: “Iron.” Beneath “iron” are the words: “In this space insert whether delivery is to be made in Avood or iron barrels or from tank wagons.” It appears with reasonable certainty from the direction to “insert” in the space indicated at the bottom of the instrument the character of the receptacle to be used in deliveries that a blank contract was the foundation for the instrument executed by the parties. And it further appears that the insertion directed Avas made in the space indicated, and that the insertion contemplated deliveries in “iron.” This feature of the contract made it in that respect consistent with the first reference to the character of the receptacle to be used, viz., “in iron drums.” The second reference is to “wood barrels.” It is obvious, when the entire instrument is taken into account, as must be done in the interpretation of the contract, that that reference is conditional at most. HoAvever, when it is observed that the clause beginning with the words, “if deliveries,” and ending with the word, “higher,” abruptly breaks into the midst of the sentence fixing the price and point of delivery and describing the character of receptacle to be used (preceding the interjected clause) and (folloAving the inter
Furthermore, the conclusion that a blank contract was the foundation of this engagement is emphasized in correctness when the interjected clause, with its surroundings, is considered. The effect of the interjected clause in this contract was conditional upon the character of receptacle to be used in deliveries, and not having stipulated for deliveries in wood barrels, or not having left it open to the seller’s choice, the clause can have no influence in the premises. It follows that the contract required deliveries in iron; and the defendants were not obliged by the contract to accept deliveries in wood. Deliveries undertaken to be made in wood, if not accepted, cannot be the basis for liability against defendants; but, even if made in wood and accepted by defendants, they are liable only for the quantity of gasoline actually received by them. From this conclusion it necessarily follows that the rulings on evidence, assigned as errors, but admitted testimony in accordance with the proper construction of the contract as we have stated it, and were, hence, without prejudice to plaintiff.
The three remaining assignments of error rest upon the oral charge of the court. The theory adopted below seems to have been that it was a jury issue whether the deliveries should under the contract be in wood or iron
There is no prejudicial error assigned. The judgment must be affirmed.
Affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.