Mueller v. Western Union Telegraph Co.
Mueller v. Western Union Telegraph Co.
Opinion of the Court
The evidence shows that the money order was in the telegraph office during all the time after four P. M., August 23d. The two telegrams follow:
“August 23, 1911.
‘ ‘ To Ernest Burster
Sent Printer
B243
“Ft. Madison, la.
Time 11.07
Opr O. A. B.
“■Please wire me fifteen dollars today. Checked
“c-o Burns Hotel.
Mueller”
“B 584 CH 15 Free
Ft. Madison, Iowa, 23 1195
“T. A.
“Detroit Mich.
“Pay Henry Mueller asking transfer Detroit Mich wilful blame from Ernest Burster Ft. Madison Iowa Caution.
“M. T. A.”
Plaintiff testifies that he inquired at appellant’s office on the evening of August 23d, and again several times during the 24th of August, and was told each time that there was nothing there, for "him. Witnesses for defendant testify that, on August 23d, a notice was delivered to the hotel clerk for plaintiff in the following form:
“To Henry Mueller
“A telegraph order to pay you a sum of money has just been received. Please call at the office No. Cor. Griswold & Congress Sts. and receipt for the same. . If not paid within 72 hours (exclusive of Sundays and holidays), the order will be cancelled and the amount thereof returned to the sender.
‘ ‘ Satisfactory evidence of identity will be required.
“C. H. Cadwallader, Mgr.
“Bring this notice with you.”
The message from Fort Madison to Detroit was directed to Henry Mueller, but not to Henry Mueller, care of the Burns Hotel. The Burns Hotel was written on the original message asking Burster to send the amount. As stated, appellee testified that he called at the telegraph office personally on the 23d and 24th of August and inquired if a money order was there for him, told the agents of the company that he needed the money, and was informed by them that there was nothing there for him. ’
Witnesses for appellant testified that- appellee did not
There are 33 assignments of error. These are grouped by appellant into three propositions for purposes of argument, the first of which is that the appellant exercised due care in delivering to a duly authorized agent of plaintiff notice of the message in question, and was not guilty of any negligence in failing to make a personal delivery thereof to appellee, but that appellee was guilty of negligence which contributed to the non-delivery to him of the message, citing a number of eases from other jurisdictions. In all these cases so cited, the message itself was directed to the party for whom the message was intended, not in care of some other party, hotel or corporation, and the message itself was delivered to the party in whose care it was to be held for the sendee. In this case, the order for the money was never- delivered to the Burns Hotel. Appellant contends that notice was delivered to the clerk, and even though appellee had received this notice, he would still have been compelled to call personally at the telegraph office and receive his order allowing him to receive the money. Appellee testified that he did call at the telegraph office and inquired for the order.
Taking all the circumstances together, and without setting them out more in detail, we think it is a question for the jury as to whether the delivery to the hotel clerk of the notice, if there was such delivery, and the things done by defendant in endeavoring to deliver the message, or money order, made a sufficient showing of diligence on the part of the defendant. Manville v. Western Union, 37 Iowa 214; Sweatland v. Illinois & Miss. Telegraph Co., 27 Iowa 433; Herron v. Western Union. 90 Iowa 129.
It is contended by appellee that the statute does not apply in a case of this nature; that the telegram from Fort Madison was sent to Detroit and the money was at Detroit, but neither the telegram nor the money was delivered; and that, there being no delivery, the omission cannot be construed as a mere delay. They cite Larsen v. Postal Tel. Cable Co., 150 Iowa 748, 751. We think the instant case at this point is ruled by the Larsen case.
, For the error pointed out in the second division of the opinion, the cause is reversed and remanded for new trial.— Reversed and Remanded.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.