Sherwood v. Hecox
Sherwood v. Hecox
Opinion of the Court
On the 24th of May, 1874, Hecox called on Sherwood, who was a farmer living a few miles from Kalamazoo, and proposed that he should give him an order for a “Marsh harvester,” and after some talk, Hecox produced a printed blank for the order, filled it up and Sherwood signed it, but Hecox did not. It was
At the foot a place was indicated for the agent’s signature, and just above the place' for signing, and separate from the body of the blank, was a collection of specifications in very small type, but under the head of “warranty,” printed in large and distinct type. As the paper was left to read by Hecox, it was in terms inconsistent and ambiguous. It purported to order a machine to be shipped to Sherwood at Kalamazoo, on or before June 15th, and stated that on its arrival there he would give his note for two hundred dollars, to fall due in ■October, 1875, with interest at ten per cent., in case the machine were answerable to the underwritten warranty, and would re-deliver it at Kalamazoo at his own cost if not answerable to the warranty, and the ^specifications under the head of warranty implied that the machine should be subjected to actual test in the harvest field. There was also a specification that if the machine failed, notice was to be given to Hecox.
It was evidently contemplated that the machine should be tried in the harvest then close at hand. Some of the specifications were inapplicable, and should have been erased. The parties were not governed by the literal terms, and disregarded some and waived others.
The machine was not shipped to Kalamazoo, but was delivered at Sherwood’s residence, and at that time the note was not offered nor required. Sherwood was allowed to go on and test the machine without any claim'by Hecox that the note should be given first. He did test it and found it a failure. He caused Hecox to be notified, and boxed up the machine as when delivered to him, set it one side and completed his harvest by other means. Hecox came on and Sherwood offered to re-deliver the machine at Kalamazoo, but Hecox refused and demanded the
The judgment must be reversed, with costs of both courts,, and a new trial ordered.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- James N. Sherwood v. Hamden A. Hecox
- Status
- Published