Tanner v. Townsend
Tanner v. Townsend
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
T. B. Townsend, a hardware merchant in Montrose, brought his action against R. T. Jones and Stephen J. Tanner to recover the value of a bill of merchandise which the plaintiff, as he alleged, had at different times sold to them. The defendants, when the goods were purchased, were co-partners, engaged in the business of farming, and the purchases chiefly consisted of articles used in the repair of farming machinery. The cause was tried by the court, which found that the purchases were made on account of
The evidence which has been preserved is not as clear and satisfactory as might be desired, but on the whole it tends to prove the purchase of the goods. From the testimony of the defendant Jones, it may be fairly gathered that the bill sued upon was correct, in so far as the items of which it was composed, and their values, are concerned ; and if there had been no other evidence than that which the bill of exceptions sets forth, we would not feel authorized to disturb the judgment on the ground of want of evidence to prove the sales. But the record does not purport to contain all the evidence. Indeed, it is disclosed that a large number of letters between Jones and Tanner were introduced, which the record does not contain. Therefore, if the judgment is against the right parties, it is not subject to review upon the evidence.
A considerable portion of the goods were used upon, and in the repair of, a binding machine. It was testified that this machine was the property of the defendants and one Kerr, who did business under the firm name of Jones, Tanner & Kerr; and it is contended that as to the articles which were purchased for the binder, it was error to render judgment against Jones & Tanner. There was evidence tending to show that, when the goods were sold, the plaintiff had no knowledge of the existence of the firm of Jones, Tanner & Kerr; that he had had prior dealings with Jones & Tanner, and was not informed by them when the articles were purchased that they were not for the use of their firm, but, from the manner of the purchases, had a right to suppose that the goods were for Jones & Tanner. If such were the circumstances attending the sales, it would be manifestly unjust to permit Jones & Tanner to shield themselves be
Affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.