Erwin v. Torrey
Erwin v. Torrey
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court. The plaintiffs Erwin, M'Laughlin & co. sold to the defendant, ninety-one bales of cot
The plaintiffs Rogers and Cully had sold to the defendant twenty-six bales of cotton. Their situation was admitted to be perfectly the same, except as to the quantum of their demand, as that of Erwin, M'Laughlin & co. the balance due them was $1646 08.
The district court was of opinion, that " the seller has a right to reclaim the property sold, so long as it remains in the power of the buyer, and the seller has not been paid. At the time of the sequestration, the condition of the buyer’s title had not been changed. The cotton was
The above statement, which was made before trial, in the district court, comes up with the record, and is accompanied by the bill of lading, and account of sales. The bill of lading (for there is but one for the two parcels of cotton) shows that the shipment was made by, and in the name of Cliff, the agent of H. D. & co. to his principals, the name, of neither of the plaintiffs, appearing thereon.
Although the cotton is stated to have been sold for cash, yet as it is also stated to have been afterwards delivered on a promise to pay in two days, the sale must be considered as on a credit. The buyer then well might, as he did, instantly pledge the cotton, for an advance made thereon, or sell it. The claimants having undertaken to be the factors of the defendants, in the shipment and sale of the cotton, and hav
The claimants having, as factors, a lien on the cotton for their advances, it cannot be considered in the power and possession of the defendant, who could not have demanded a surrender of it, without reimbursing the sum received, and incidental charges. And although it was at his risk, and he was entitled to the profits, if any there had been ; yet the receipt of the advances created a lien which affected his right. The district court, therefore, erred in considering the situation of the defendant as unchanged.
It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment be annulled, avoided and reversed, and that there be judgment for the claimants, with costs in both courts.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- ERWIN & AL. v. TORREY ROGERS & AL. v. THE SAME
- Status
- Published