Limehouse v. Gray
Limehouse v. Gray
Opinion of the Court
As to the first ground in this case, I think it was perfectly correct to admit parol evidence to do away the effect, which, it was contended, should be. produced by the advertisement. For I will suppose that it could have been proved that the negro in question was not included in the advertisement; that the vendue-master had not the possession of her until the sale, and that she did not belong to the same person who owned those alluded to in the advertisement. It would certainly have been unjust to attach, in this way, an express warranty to property which it was never the intention of the vendor to warrant.
As to the second ground, after the most deliberate consideration of the case, I see nothing which distinguishes it from a number of cases decided on the same principles in our courts, and particularly the case of Timrod v. Shoolbred, 1 Bay, 324, in which it was decided, that when the seeds of the disorder were proved to have existed at the time of the sale, and the negro afterwards died of that disorder, the vendor should be liable.
But it was contended, that the negro had the appearance of unhealthiness at the time of the sale, and that where defects are visible, the law will not relieve. Of this I am fully aware, but by an examination of the cases decided on this ground, it will be found’.
I have said thus much on the ground of implied warranty, because, it was contended, that although she was advertised as “ prime,” that expression, by general consent, in this country, did not carry any warranty as to soundness. But this is beyond my powers of comprehension, for the word must apply to qualification alone ; and I am inclined to think, if the vendue-master had expressly said he offered a prime wench, but very sickly, for sale, he would have had very few bidders. ^ 1 conceive that there was an express warranty, and, in such cases, the law is clear, that the purchaser need not use any uncommon diligence to ascertain whether the warranty is correct. I am, therefore, of opinion a new trial should be granted.
In this case my opinion is, that the motion ought to be rejected; and fot* the reasons following : The advertisement of the defendant, that at such a place, on such a day, he would expose for sale, a number of prime negro slaves, I consider in the light of a notice to persons wishing to purchase slaves, in order to attract bidders, and not as intending to hold out the terms or conditions of the proposed sale. I cannot believe the defendant intended, by his advertisement, to warrant the soundness of every slave, to be sold on the day, and at the place mentioned ; and that every such slave should answer the description given in the'adver
In the present case, the testimony of two or three witnesses yas given in evidence, to prove that it was expressly declared at the sale, that the buyer was to run the risk 6f unsoundness,, and of every defect, save that of title, and that the appearance of the slave in question, indicated unsoundness. This evidence was objected to, upon the authority or reason of the case of G,unnis. v. Erhart, which I have already noticed, and which appears to me very distinguishable from this case. I am of opinion, .that' in cases like the. present, the advertisement of sale is never intended to state the conditions of sale ; but that the conditions are to be made known at the time of sale, unless otherwise plainly and clearly .expressed ; and that it is not necessary to prove particular and personal notice
In the view I have taken of this case, with all its circumstances, it appears to me that the evidence given at the trial was properly admitted, and was fairly left to the jury: and I do not feel autho. sized, from the impressions made on my mind by the evidence stated and commented on, to say that the verdict is not supported by suf. ficient evidence.
A new trial is moved for in this case, because pa-rol evidence was admitted .by the judge, to contradict an advertisement, in which the negroes to be sold were described to be prime; but the defendant proved, that when the wench was put up for sale, she appeared emaciated, that it was visible to the eye of every one, that she was diseased, and that, therefore, unless there was án express warranty of soundness, notwithstanding, and in contradiction to the sickly appearance of the wench, plaintiff could not recover. He also proved, that at the sale, it was declared, that nothing but the title would be warranted; but he did not bring home to the plaintiff, the hearing of this declaration.
The plaintiff now alleges, that such evidence ought not to have been received; and quotes a case from 1 H. Black. 289, where ah advertisement declared that a certain tenement, which was for sale, was free from incumbrance. But although it did appear, that the plaintiffs could have proved that a counter declaration to the advertisement was made at the time of sale, ás in this case, yet there was no' proof that the' declaration had come to the ears of the purchaser,' cif that he could have been, by any thing which happened at the sale, put on his guard, or been informed of the circumstance. This case, then, does not tally with the one before us ; for here, the very sight of the wench was sufficiently indicativé of a Very bad slate of health ; and the law lays it down, that there is a class of cases Where, although a man is deceived, he can maintain no action : as where the affirmation is, that the thing sold has not a defect, which is a visible one, there the imposition, the fraudulent intent is' admitted, but it is no tort. 3 D. and E. 54. We are, therefore, of opinion that no new trial should be granted.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Robert Limehouse v. William Gray
- Status
- Published