Fleming v. Mills
Fleming v. Mills
Opinion of the Court
From the evidence in this case, it appears that in April,, 1854, the plaintiffs, by an agent duly authorized, contracted
The evidence shows that the Ohio and Pennsylvania Raiload Company were common carriers between Pittsburgh and Detroit; that, at the time these goods were received, they sent goods to Detroit sometimes by Cleveland and sometimes by Mansfield; that the goods, with a receipt, were sent by plaintiffs to the depot of the Railroad Company, the goods there delivered, and the receipt signed by one Carpenter, the agent of the Company; and that such a receipt is usually handed to the draymen on the delivery of the shippers’ goods to the carrier.
The receipt was as follows:
Pittsburgh, Novem,., 1854.
To Ohio & Penn’a Pail Poad.
- Pee’cl of Fleming Bros, in good order,
35 Boxes McBane’s Vermifuge, Í.00
15 do. do. Pills, 1.80
For M. I. Mills & Go., Detroit.
To Mansfield.
Carpenter.
The words “To Mansfield” were added by Carpenter in pencil.
Carpenter, as agent, then executed the usual shipping bill for the goods, having first erased therein Detroit as the place of delivery, and substituted Mansfield.
The contract of the plaintiffs clearly was to ship the medicines via Cleveland; and if they shipped them by any other route, or knowingly allowed them to go forward by any other, it was at their own risk of loss or unseasonable delivery. In the first case, the defendants would not be liable-in an action for the price, and in the latter, they might refuse to receive them. This latter has been done. The plaintiffs, however, insist upon payment, upon the ground that the delivery was to the defendants — being to the common carriers contemplated by the contract; and that the responsibility of the detention was upon the common carriers, and not upon themselves.
The request of the plaintiffs’ counsel that the Court charge the jury that the dray-ticket standing by itself was prima facie evidence of an obligation on the part of the Railroad Company to carry the goods to Detroit, was properly refused; and the charge as given was, under the evidence, correct. The dray-ticket, if it was evidence of any contract, was evidence of one to carry to Mansfield only, and not to carry by Cleveland to Detroit. But it did not stand alone. The shipping bill was made out at the same time; and that, in express terms, limited the obligation to carry to Mansfield,, The words “To Mansfield” written upon the dray-ticket, and the promise to carry to that place implied in the ship-, ping bill, informed the plaintiffs of the understanding of the carriers. When these papers were received by them, it was their duty, if they would avoid the responsibility of the safe
The judgment of the Court below is affirmed, with costs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- John Fleming and Others v. Merrill I. Mills and Others
- Cited By
- 1 case
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- Published