Springfield Fertilizer Co. v. Tompkins
Springfield Fertilizer Co. v. Tompkins
Opinion of the Court
Appellant sued appellee in the court below on an account, alleging in its complaint that the appellee was indebted to the appellant in the sum of $100.00, for goods and merchandise sold and delivered to the appellee at his special instance and. request, as shown by contract, a copy of which is filed with the complaint marked Exhibit “B” and Exhibit, “O,” and a bill of particulars of which is filed with the complaint marked Exhibit “A;” that the-sum of $91.20 was due December 25, 1891, and is wholly unpaid, although payment of said sum Avas demanded at the date of the maturity of said debt. Wherefore, etc. The written and printed contract for 1892 provides
The contract further stipulates that Tompkins is appointed the agent of the appellant for the sale of Springfield Fertilizer “in Rushville and trade for the season of 1892.” The appellant agrees to furnish the fertilizers to Tompkins in such quantities as the latter may from time to time order. Tompkins agrees to order of appellant as much of said fertilizers as the trade in said territory will demand, and to settle for the same as in the contract provided. The title in all fertilizers shipped to Tompkins, or their proceeds, is to be vested in the appellant and subject to its order, until full settlement has been made for the same by the appellee; but in case of loss by fire, the appellee is to be responsible for the same. Then follow the prices for the different brands of fertilizers, “delivered f. o. b., cars, at Rushville, Ind., in carload lots.” It is further provided that all goods ordered are due and payable as follows: Tompkins to pay freights and deduct same from price of goods, 60 days. “Settlements to be made June 1,189 — , for all spring goods ordered, and October 1, 189 — , for all fall goods ordered, in farmers’ notes and cash, as fertilizers have been sold, except pure ground bone, which is net cash 30 days from shipment. All notes to be made payable at some bank, and to the order of the Springfield Fertilizer Co., said notes not to run longer than six months from date of sale for spring goods sold, and not longer than twelve months from date of sale for fall goods sold. Notes to draw 6 per cent, interest from date and to be guaranteed by Tompkins.” Tompkins agrees to take no other agency nor to become interested in any way in the sale of any other fertilizers during the season of
The appellee answered the general denial and payment. The appellant’s reply of general denial closed the issues. The cause was tried by the court and resulted in a finding and judgment for appellee.
The sole error relied upon is the overruling of the motion for a new trial. The grounds assigned in this motion are as follows:
“1. The decision of the court is contrary to law.
“2. The decision of the court is contrary to the evidence.
“3. The decision of the court is not sustained by sufficient evidence.
“4. The court on the trial of said 'cause permitted, over the objection of plaintiff, the defendant and Robert Tompkins, John-Cohn and A. N. Norris each to testify that defendant told the agent of plaintiff that he, defendant, would not make any sale to said Norris and would not guarantee any note that might be given by said Norris for goods sold to said Norris by said agent of plaintiff, J. IT. Spencer by name, in all of which the court erred.”
It will be seen from the pleadings and contract above set forth that the appellee was the local agent for the appellant to sell fertilizers. The goods were to be shipped to him by rail, as required, and he was to sell them to farmers, taking their notes for the amount due, which notes were to be secured by the appellee’s indorsement. It is manifest from this ar
If the court believed the evidence of the appellee, above alluded to, it was amply justified in its finding. The transaction with Norris was not in violation of the written contract between appellee and appellant. The appellant, for aught appearing in the contract, was at liberty to make any sales within the appellee’s territory that it elected to make, but it certainly could not hold the appellee liable therefor on his contract. The appellant’s learned counsel insist that the evidence as to such independent sale, was in plain contravention of the provisions of the written contract. Even if this were true, we do not see how
For the reasons already stated the court committed no error in admitting evidence to prove the transaction between appellant’s agent, Spencer, and Norris, and what was said upon the subject between said Norris and appellee.
Nor can we say that the fact that Tompkins ordered
We find no reversible error.
Judgment affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.