Ulmer v. Ryan
Ulmer v. Ryan
Opinion of the Court
The parties to this action were dealers in pork, the appellant at Pottsville, Pa., and the appellees at Dubuque, Iowa. On the 8d of August, 1881, the latter authorized Roloson, a provision broker in Chicago, to “ offer five car loads of fully cured pickled shoulders, average not above twelve pounds, at not below six and one half cents, f. o. b. Dubuque.” On the 9th of August, he informed them that he had sold two cars of sweet-pickled shoulders “at 6.85, f. o. b. Dubuque,” and requested them to send the same to his order at Pottsville. The shoulders were shipped as he directed, and the bill of lading was sent to him. He reported this purchase and consignment to appellant, and indorsed and sent to him the bill of lading accompanied by a draft for r the price. The invoice received by the appellant, before he paid the draft, described the meat as “ sweet-pickled shoulders.”
In this transaction, Roloson was the agent of both parties ; he sold for the appellees, and bought for the appellant. When this case was here before, 108 Pa. 382, it was held that the facts above recited constituted a sale of sweet-pickled shoulders deliverable on board the cars at Dubuque, and that there was no implied warranty of quality in it. This is conclusive of all the questions now discussed, except such as arise from appellant’s telegram to Roloson, on the 5th of August. There was no claim on the first trial that the appellant had ordered or was entitled to receive choice sweet-pickled shoulders, and the appellees were not informed of such claim until nearly eight years after the sale. It now appears that on the 5th of August, 1881, the appellant authorized Roloson, by telegram, to “ buy two cars s. p. shoulders if choice seven,” and it is contended that “ seven ” refers to the price, and “ choice ” to the quality, of the pork. Assuming that this is a correct interpretation of the telegram, we are to consider whether the obligation of the vendors was enlarged by it.
It distinctly appears in the evidence produced by the appellant that he bought “ sweet-pickled shoulders at 6.85,” and not choice sweet-pickled shoulders at seven; that the sale was at Dubuque,'and completed by delivery on board the cars there, and that he had notice of its terms by his correspondence with Roloson, and the invoice in his possession when he paid the
The judgment is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- JACOB ULMER v. WILLIAM RYAN
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- (a) On August 3, 1881, tbe defendants, at Dubuque, authorized a broker in Chicago to “ offer five car loads of fully cured pickled shoulders, average not above twelve pounds, at not below six and one half cents, f. o. b. Dubuque. ” On August 5th, the plaintiff, at Pottsville, telegraphed to the broker to “ buy two cars s. p. shoulders if choice seven.” (5) On August 9th, the broker informed the defendants that he had sold two oar loads of sweet-pickled shoulders “ at 6.85 f. o. b. Dubuque,” and requested them to send the same to his order at Pottsville. The shoulders were shipped, and a bill of lading describing the meat as “ sweet-pickled shoulders” was forwarded to the broker, who reported the purchase and consignment to the plaintiff. (c) The bill of lading was indorsed by the broker, and forwarded with a draft on the plaintiff for the price, which was paid. Before the meat was shipped it was inspected and found to be in good condition. When it reached Pottsville, it was spoiled and found to be unmerchantable. The defendants had no knowledge of the plaintiff’s telegram to the broker at Chicago: 1. In such case, the telegram was not a part of the contract sued upon, nor an element in the decision of the cause; there was no implied warranty of the meat; the broker, when he bought, was acting for the plaintiff, but when he sold, he was acting for the defendants, and the rule, that notice to the agent is notice to the principal, had no application: Ryan v. Ulmer, 108 Pa. 332.