Davis v. Maltz
Davis v. Maltz
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiff .in this case brings this action to recover of the defendant for a quantity of saw-logs, which he claims to have sold to the defendant in the month of May, 1883. The action was in form assumpsit. The declaration ■as filed contained two special counts setting up in detail the transaction between the parties, and added thereto were the
The contention between the parties was principally as to ■the construction and legal effect of the transaction had between them on the 21st of May, 1883. The plaintiff contended on that day he sold to the defendant 22,440 logs, rated and sold as follows: “1,146,434ft. white pine logs at $7 per 1000 ft., and $632,617 ft. Norway, at $5.00 per M. that these amounts were delivered to the defendant in pursuance of such sale, and had not been paid for. The defendant insisted that the transaction was not a sale, but that the defendant took title to the logs to secure to the plaintiff his pay for the same from the Prentiss Lumber Company -at Alpena, which was the real purchaser, and did not become personally liable therefor. Upon these two theories the case was tried by jury before Judge Emerick, in the Alpena circuit, where the plaintiff had judgment for $8454.07. The case is now before us on writ of error.
The record shows that George Prentiss was president of the Prentiss Lumber Company, and its treasurer, and had the .principal management of the business of the company; that the defendant has for many years been engaged in banking business, and was president of the Alpena National Bank at .the time the alleged sale of plaintiff’s timber was made, and had the principal charge of all its transactions. It further .appears that Prentiss and the defendant were old acquaintances, and that the former had been in the habit of borrowing money from the latter for years; that at the "time of the sale of the lumber in question the Prentiss Lumber Company and Prentiss owed Maltz and the bank ten or fifteen thousand dollars; that at this time Maltz had Prentiss’ promise that lie should have the mill property as security for money which Maltz or the bank might advance for the company; and that Prentiss did subsequently, on the 7th day of September ¡thereafter, give the Prentiss Lumber Company’s chattel mortgage to Maltz, in the sum of $125,000, upon all the
The defendant’s testimony contradicts the plaintiff’s on-many material points, as also does that of Prentiss. It is-conceded, however, by counsel for Maltz, or, rather, was so conceded upon the trial, and I think very properly so, that there is no question but that the plaintiff can recover if he-shows a sale to Maltz, and this must necessarily dispense with all other theories in the case. The conflicting testimony upon this point was all submitted to the jury, and their spe
There remains but one other question for examination: Did the court commit any error in receiving or rejecting the testimony which could have reasonably prejudiced the jury in coming to the conclusion they did in the case ? The record and briefs of counsel have been carefully examined, and I find none of which the defendant can seriously complain. It is a clear case upon its facts. The charge of the circuit judge is full and explicit, and covers all the legal points involved, and, no error appearing,
The judgment at the circuit must be affirmed.
-In my opinion the case against Maltz was not that Tie was a purchaser, but merely a trustee, and no liability was made out against him on the case as presented on either side. I think there should be a new trial.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Alonzo E. Davis v. George L. Maltz
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published