Newman v. Keith ( 1888 )

Bleckley, C. J. — This was a controversy involving the question of the soundness of a mule at the time it was sold. The evidence justified the verdict, and there is no complaint of any error of law committed by the court upon the trial; and the judgment refusing a new trial is therefore affirmed.

New trial. Evidence. Verdict. Before Judge Pow-;'Ell. City court of Newnan. January term, 1888.

Newman sued Keith for breach of warranty of a ’mule, and on the trial showed that he bought the mule :and gave for it his notes amounting to $110.00. Before -the -notes matured Keith disposed of them, and plaintiff "had to pay them. Defendant told plaintiff before he ^bought the mule that it was as sound as a silver dollar; -this statement of defendant being in response to one of ■plaintiff that he would buy the mule if defendant would ■ guarantee it to be sound. Plaintiff’bought on this representation. The next morning after he bought, he noticed that the mule could not drink; the water ran ,out of its nose. He carried the mule back to defendant .■■and tried to exchange it for another, but defendant asked for $100.00 difference between the mule in question and another mule, which other he had offered plaintiff before for $140.00. The defendant refused to take ■ the mule back or make exchange, except on the terms stated. He told plaintiff’ to raise his trough higher, which plaintiff’did, but found it did no good. The mule did not have distemper. No one from looking at it when plaintiff' bought it could tell that it was unsound. The evening plaintiff bought he drove the mule home, fourteen miles. It would eat but little that night; in three or four days it was discovered it could not drink; and in five or six weeks it died. It was kept in a dry stable and used in hauling rails, and driven back to town twice.

The judge of the city court gave judgment for defendant. Plaintiff' moved for a new trial, because the verdict was against evidence, weight of evidence, contrary to law and principles of justice and equity. The motion was overruled, and plaintiff excepted.