Crawford-Chesterfield Co. v. Snook
Crawford-Chesterfield Co. v. Snook
Opinion of the Court
Opinion of the Court by
Affirming.
This appeal is from a judgment for $300 in favor of appellee. Appellants, Mary Knight Sheely and Crawford-Chesterfield Company, a corporation, claim that this sum should be paid to the company as its commission on a sale of certain real estate. Mrs. Sheely answered admitting that she owed the amount of the judgment to either the company or Snook. The testimony presents
“Louisville, Ky., 1-19-1911.
“In the event we sell the Mrs. Dr. Sheely farm in Sheely County, Ky., to James Wheatley, we hereby agree to pay W. B. Snook a commission of 43 1-3 per cent, of gross commissions received for the sale of same on the-basis of $300 for farm.
“The Craweord-Chesteb¡field Co.,
“By C. K. CRAWFORD.’’
Snook stated that when he asked for the writing he gave his reasons for wanting it and Chesterfield refused to sign it, but Crawford did sign it. It is agreed that Wheatley purchased the land from Mrs. Sheely and obtained a deed about the last of February, 1911; that Snook was present when the deed was made, and he had
The court gave the following instructions:
‘■‘1. If the jury believe from the" evidence that the plaintiff, Walker B. Snook, found a purchaser for the farm of the defendant, Mary K. Sheely, at a price accepted by her, they should find for the plaintiff the sum of $300.
“2. Although the jury believe from the evidence that the plaintiff, Walker B. Snook, found the purchaser for the Sheely farm, acceptance .to Mrs. Sheely, yet if they further believe from the evidence that at the time he did so consummate the sale, the plaintiff was then in the employ of or acting for the defendant, Crawford-Chesterfield Co., then they will find for the defendant, Crawford-Chesterfield Co., the sum of $300.”
The testimony, without contradiction, shows that ap-pellee consummated the trade between Mrs. Sheely and Weakley by his own efforts. There is some conflict in the testimony as to the question whether he was acting for himself or for the Crawford-Ohesterfield Co., but this question was left to the jury and we are o,f the opinion that the jury was authorized to find that Snook was acting for himself in the matter. The facts rather preponderate in his favor. The writing signed by Crawford-Chesterfield Co. on January 19, two days after the formation of the corporation and one day after Snook formed a partnership with Hutchison & Nicholson, rather sustains the theory that Snook performed nearly all the work in bringing the trade to a close and that he obtained the writing from the company so that he would obtain a sum which was in all fairness due him should the company succeed in consummating the deal. The writing started off by saying, “In the event we sell,” referring to the company, then continued by stating it would give appellee a certain per cent, of the commissions.
There is no material difference between instruction No. 2, given by the court and instruction “B,” offered, by appellant. The court told the jury that if at the time appellee consummated the sale he was in the employ of or acting for the defendant company, then they would find against him. The refused instruction said that if at
In our opinion appellant had a reasonably fair trial and the judgment is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.