Farmers' Co-operative Elevator Co. v. Medhus
Farmers' Co-operative Elevator Co. v. Medhus
Opinion of the Court
In the fall of 1909 defendant delivered at plaintiff’s elevator several thousand bushels of wheat, receiving therefor storage tickets. Among other such tickets was one dated November 6, 1909, for 873 bushels, net, known in this case as exhibit 32. Plaintiff contends that clerical error occurred at the time of the execution of this
Load of ..........................................
From .............................................
To................................................
Weighed ..........................................
Gross ........................................ Lbs.
Tare ......................................... Lbs.
Net .......................................... Lbs.'
Net........................................... Bus.
Price ..........:.............................. cts.
Amt. $ ...........................................
Man on — off. Test -
He testifies that when a load was received, each half of the slip was filled out, and the stub retained in the pad while the detached end was given to the farmer. He further testifies that those slips were preserved for the purpose of checking and auditing, and that none of the slips delivered were ever destroyed; that occasionally one of the slips would become soiled or otherwise rendered useless, and in those cases the entire slip was torn out of the pad and thrown away. He produced at the trial four of those scale books or pads, and identified them as the originals used in his elevator at or about the time of the transactions in dispute, and identified and offered in evidence all of the
7750
4210
7730
4180.
4990
6) 28,860 (481
8
473
Said agent testified that these figures were made by him, and that they represented the net pounds of five storage loads delivered to him November 3-6, 1909, and produced the stubs from the scale book corresponding therewith. He testified that the storage tickets and the scale book stubs tallied in all particulars excepting that exhibit 32 was for 400 bushels more than was shown by the stubs. Said agent testified that he had no independent recollection of the facts, but that he kept the scale book in the regular course of business, and never issued anything but scale tickets in regular form, and that the same were correct. He also testifies that when he had helpers in the elevator, they conformed in all respects to these rules. All of the scale book stubs and storage tickets issued to defendant were offered and received in evidence over objection, and the agent using the same as memoranda testified as aforesaid. The specific objection to the scale book stubs was that they were mutilated, and that the scale tickets had been issued to the farmer and were the original, the stubs being merely secondary evidence. We do not believe there is anything in these objections. The agent testified that the scale ticket was made in duplicate, one delivered to the farmer and one kept. In such case each would be an original. Kelly v. Cargill Elevator Co. 7 N. D. 343, 75 N. W. 264.
Campbell v. Holland, 22 Neb. 587, 35 N. W. 871; Weigle v. Brautigam, 74 Ill. App. 285; Levine v. Lancashire Ins. Co. 66 Minn. 138, 68 N. W. 855. See also chap. 118, Sess. Laws 1907, now § 909, Comp. Laws 1913. And in Eobinson v. Dibble, 17 Fla. 457, it is held that where there are erasures and interlineations, the trial court determines as a matter of discretion whether or not they shall be submitted to the jury, and this discretion will not be reversed excepting for abuse. Peck v. Pierce, 63 Conn. 310, 28 Atl. 524, being a case especially in point, and there is a note in 52 L.R.A. 575, giving a full synopsis of the cases upon this question.
We are satisfied that the exhibits were admissible and should have been received in evidence.
Concurring Opinion
(specially concurring). To my mind this case presents a much closer issue than appears from the facts as written in the main opinion. The issue of fact turns on whether a storage ticket issued for 873 bushels was 400 bushels in excess of wheat received. The
Defendant claims that the record should not have been received, because offered as negative testimony; that is, to prove the nonreceipt of the 400 bushels, the alleged excess. An examination of cases and text books seems to establish their admissibility. Earlier cases are to the contrary, but the tendency of later authorities is to admit them for what they are worth. Elliott, Ev. § 467; 3 Chamberlayne, Ev. § 1757; 2 Ene. Ev. p. 660. But their admissibility does not turn alone upon that. Hpon the back of the wheat ticket in question are found the figures set out in the majority opinion. There is testimony that these figures were upon that exhibit when it was delivered to defendant. The records, if admissible at all, then are receivable as corroboration of this affirmative testimony of the fact of error, and not alone as
Reference
- Full Case Name
- FARMERS' CO-OPERATIVE ELEVATOR COMPANY, a Corporation v. E. S. MEDHUS
- Status
- Published