Fulwiler Electric v. Jinks McGee
Fulwiler Electric v. Jinks McGee
Opinion of the Court
This suit was originally brought in the justice of the peace court by appellee, Jinks McGee & Co., to recover of appellant, Fulwiler Electric Company, $150, the value of one mule claimed to have been purchased without inspection by appellee from appellant on representations of appellant that said mule was sound and without blemish, when in truth and in fact said representations were false, and that one of the fore legs of said mule had been broken, so *481 that one leg was shorter than the other, thereby decreasing the valvie of the mule. The case was appealed to the county court, aud there tried with the aid of a jury, resulting in a verdict in favor of appellee in the sum of $75, on which judgment was rendered.
The facts necessary to a decision of the issues presented here are substantially as follows: John Hart (claimed by appellee to be the agent and representative of appellant, who, in fact, made the false representations as to the sound condition of the mule) said to W. J. Eulwiler, president of appellant company, that he knew a man who was in the market for a motortruck, and that if appellant would treat him right he thought he could make the sale for him of the truck. Eulwiler said to Hart that if he, Hart, would bring the man to his office, and he, Eulwiler, could make the sale, he would pay Hart for his trouble. Hart told Fulwiler that the man was Allen who lived at Lawn. Hart brought Allen to see Eulwiler. Allen wanted to trade in some mules, and so told Eulwiler. Fulwiler replied that he could not use the mules, but that if he could place them'at Allen’s price he would make the trade; Fulwiler inquired of - Hart whether he knew of any one who was buying mules, and Hart replied that he thought Price would buy them (Price was buying mules for appellee). Eulwiler requested Hart to have Price come to his office, and that he would take Price out to show him the mules. Hart took Price to Fulwiler’s office. Fulwiler, Hart, Rollins, and Price went to Allen’s place to look at the mules. Price was at the pens, the witnesses said from twenty minutes to one hour, looked at the mules, trotted them around in the lot, looked in their mouths, and looked them over generally. Eulwiler was not present or assisting in the examination of the mules. Hart did not know the mule was lame, and had no connection with the deal other than as stated. Price said to Hart that he would go out to Allen’s and look at the mules if they were good, straight stuff. Hart replied that Allen told him they were all right. Hart was in no wise connected with appellant’s business, did not work for the company, was never asked or authorized to act for the company in any capacity, except as stated. Hart’s object and interest in assisting in effecting the trade was that appellant, in the event the deal was consummated, would pay him for his services in making a sale of the motortruck. Appellant, represented in the transaction by the president, Fulwiler, knew nothing whatever about mules, their value, condition, or fitness and so told Allen, but agreed with Allen that appellant would take mules in on the deal on condition that appellant could find some one who would buy the mules from appellant at the same price. With that end in view appellant went to appellee to sell ap-pellee said mules and to have appellee examine the mules and pass on their condition, fitness, etc., and to make appellant an offer thereon. Appellee sent Price, an expert in buying and selling mules, to examine the mules. After Price had examined the mules for appellee, appellee (with other mules included in the deal) offered appellant the sum of $150 for the mule in controversy, and on the offer so made appellant took the mule from Allen on the deal at the price offered, and sold or accepted appellee’s offer of $150 for the mule. Appellee knew that Eulwiler had never seen the mule. Ful-wiler in person made no representation to appellee, or to Price, as to the condition, fitness, or value of the mule.
Eor reasons stated the case is reversed, and here rendered for appellant.
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Reference
- Full Case Name
- FULWILER ELECTRIC CO. v. JINKS McGEE & CO.
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published