Campbell etc. Co. v. Hickok
Campbell etc. Co. v. Hickok
Opinion of the Court
Opinion,
It is contended that the effect of the two contracts of the seventh and twenty-seventh of August, 1888, was to constitute Hickok a bailee for hire of the printing and job presses, rollers, etc. The “ leases ” were not for any definite period of time; the space left for the insertion of the number of months constituting the term was left a blank. Nor was the price per month for the hire fixed in terms at any definite sum. In form, the writing plainly imports a bailment of the property. The Campbell Printing-Press & Manufacturing Company are styled lessors, and Hickok a lessee; the presses, rollers, etc., were, in terms, “ let and hired ” to the defendant for a “ term,” at a specified gross sum, payable monthly, with a provision for a surrender or return of the property by the lessee to the less
The agreement as to this was as follows:
“ And it is further agreed by and between the parties to these presents, that, if default shall be made in the payment of the first or any other of the above-named instalments, then it shall be lawful for, and the lessor may, re-enter into possession of the personal property above described; may enter upon the premises of the lessee, and upon any other premises where the same may be found, and take away, re-possess, and enjoy the said personal property as though these presents had never been made, without any liability, accountability, or responsibility of the lessor to the lessee, or any other person or persons for so doing.”
The rights of the parties were fixed by the agreement, which was the law to them. The company had these two remedies for the enforcement of their rights: one, in affirmance of the contract by suit upon the notes as they matured; the other, in rescission of it by re-possessing themselves of the property, in which ease the company were to have and enjoy the said personal property as though the contract “ had never been made.” The notes were not given in satisfaction of the agreement, or of the hire of the property. This seems to be conceded by both parties. The agreement and the notes were part and parcel of one transaction : if the agreement “ had never been made,” the notes would not have been given; and when the agreement is rescinded, with like effect as if it “ had never been made,” the notes fall with it for want of consideration.
We are of the opinion that upon a fair and reasonable con
The writ of error is dismissed at the cost of the plaintiff, but without prejudice to their right to trial by jury and a second writ of error after final judgment.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- CAMPBELL ETC. CO. v. W. H. HICKOK
- Cited By
- 13 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- (а) By an instrument styled a “lease,” the plaintiff “let and demised for use” to the defendant a printing press, at the rent or hire of $3,000, payable in monthly instalments of $100 each, “to be further evidenced by the lessee’s notes bearing legal interest.....which notes are not to be considered as payment of said instalments.” The lease stipulated further: (б) That if the lessee should fully perform his part of the agreement, he might purchase the press at the end of the term by paying $10 in addition to the payments for rent already made, and the lessee would thereupon give him a bill of sale for the press; but if the lessee should make default, the lessor might repossess himself of and enjoy said property “ as though these presents had never been made: ” 1. In a suit on certain of the notes given under the agreement, the affidavit of defence averred that the plaintiff, at a date subsequent to the maturity of the notes in suit, took possession of the press in the exercise of the right to do so reserved in the lease. In such case, it was not error to refuse to enter judgment for the plaintiff for want of a sufficient affidavit of defence. 2. The notes not being given in satisfaction of the agreement, or of the hire of the property, but the lease and the notes being part and parcel of one transaction, when the agreement was rescinded by the action of the plaintiff with like effect as though it “ had never been made” the notes fell with it for want of consideration, notwithstanding their prior maturity.