Wolfe City Milling Co. v. Ward
Wolfe City Milling Co. v. Ward
Opinion of the Court
About the 18th of December, 1914, plaintiff ordered from defendant two cars of flour, to be shipped from Wolfe City, Tex., to plaintiff, at Beeville, Tex., for which plaintiff was to pay, at Bee-ville, a draft drawn by defendant with the bill of lading attached. Cars to be sent at *664 different times. January 7, 1915, defendant delivered to the railroad company at Wolfe Oity one car of flour consigned to shipper’s order at Beeville, with instructions to notify plaintiff. On the same day, January 7, 1915, defendant drew against plaintiff a draft for the amount of the purchase price of the car of flour. This draft, with hill of lading attached, was presented for payment to plaintiff at Beeville, January 13,1915. Plaintiff refused payment. Draft was regularly protested for nonpayment. The car of flour arrived at Beeville January 15, 1915, and remained there until January 23, 1915. After that date, the car of flour, on defendant’s order, was shipped from Beeville. The second car of flour was never shipped. The price of flour advanced about $300 a car after January 15, 1915. Defendant alleged that plaintiff was to pay the draft when demanded. Plaintiff alleged that he was to pay the draft after the car of flour arrived at Beeville; that the car had not arrived when the draft was presented to him-for payment. A jury answered all special issues submitted to it. The court thereuppn rendered judgment in favor of plaintiff against defendant for $735, together with all costs. Appellant’s motion for new trial being overruled by the court, this appeal was perfected.
“Did the Wolfe City Milling Company fix the terms of the order dated December 18, 1914, as follows: Demand protest draft for the contract price of the flour, with bill of lading attached? Answer Yes or No.”
“Did plaintiff, Ward, comply with the terms of his contract dated December 18, 1914, and pay said draft when same was presented to him? Answer Yes or No.”
The court refused to submit either. An important part of the purchase agreement was the condition of payment. Was plaintiff obligated to pay on demand after shipment, or on demand after arrival of the ear of flour at Beeville? This question is raised by the pleadings. In support of defendant’s plea, Thomas, the broker, who received the order for 'the .flour, testified that he told plaintiff, at the time the flour was ordered, that witness had no authority to grant terms for payment, but that defendant would make draft; that on January 5, 1915, before the flour was shipped, plaintiff told witness to notify defendant that plaintiff had the money in the bank to pay for the flour; and that defendant could make any kind of draft he wanted to. Defendant was so notified on the 5th of January, 1915, and replied that a demand protest draft would be made. Plaintiff, on the other hand, testified that the agreement was that he was to pay the draft only after the flour arrived. This issue was made by both the pleadings and the evidence. This issue was material because: If payment was to be made by plaintiff as determined by defendant, and defendant determined payment should be made by demand protest draft and plaintiff refused to pay the draft op demand, defendant was not liable for damages. If payment for the flour was to be made on demand after arrival of the flour at Beeville, and plaintiff, as he testified, did not pay for the flour after it did arrive, defendant was not liable for damages unless plaintiff pleaded and proved a sufficient legal excuse. As this special issue was raised by the pleadings, supported by evidence, and was material, the court should have submitted it after objection was made and the special issue required in writing by the defendant.
“If you have answered the previous question in the affirmative, then answer, Dicl the Wolfe City Milling Company fail or refuse to deliver the first car of said flour 'to the said Ward according to the terms of the contract? Answer Yes or No.”
Eor the error of the court, complained of in appellant’s second assignment, as will appear -in the foregoing discussion, we must reverse the judgment of the trial court.
Inasmuch as the case will be reversed, it is unnecessary' to discuss any of the other assignments presented by appellant, for the errors assigned are not likely to arise again.
The judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded.
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