Slayton v. McDonald , 1881 Me. LEXIS 9 ( 1881 )

Virgin, J.

Assumpsit on an account annexed comprising fourteen items of various articles of iron casting, of different dates, running from December 16,1878, to the following August. The plaintiff is an iron founder, and the defendants — William. McDonald and his son James — machinists, having a shop where-they manufacture and repair mill and other kinds of machinery. 'The defendants admit their liability for items numbered 2, 8, "9 and 12, and for these charges the action is well brought in the usual form of indebitatus assumpsit for goods sold and delivered ‘.but they deny all connection with the remaining items. ^

The remaining items, except 3, 4, 5 and 6 comprised four setts _ ‘of "lathe castings” — that is a sufficent number and quantity to make four lathes when finished. In relation to these, the plaintiff testified in substance — that he delivered them in accordance with a verbal contract with one W. Randolph McDonald (son of William and brother of James, the defendants, one of their workmen and book-keeper,) whereby .it., was agTeed that the defendants should have three of the setts for finishing andjitting the other for the plaintiff; that in making^this contract Randolph profess•edly acted as agent of the defendants; that pri<m thereto Randolph had frequently come to the plaintiff’s foundry and.,.ordered castings for the defendants which they had invariably paid for; that the defendants, in June 1879, on complaint being made to .them of the delay in fitting up the plaintiff’s lathe, declared it ■ should be done right away; but that they still neglecting to finish it, he on August 26, 1879, brought this action. _

Assuming this testimony to be true, and that Randolph had ¡authority to make the contract in behalf of the defendants, this fform of action cannot be maintained for the recovery of the value <of the lathe castings. Foigthe general principle pf).law is_ well settled, that where goods are sold to be paid for wholly or .impart by other goods or by the defendant’s labor, or otherwise than in money, the action must be by special count on the agreement, and for a breach of it, and not for goods sold and delivered — otherwise the proper rule of damages cannot be applied. 1 Chit. Plead. (16 ed.) 357, and notes; Mitchell v. Gile, 12 N. H. 390, and theu numerous cases there cited; Holden S. Mill v. Westervelt, 67 Maine, 446, 450, and cases. The verdict is therefore against law.

But if the declaration had contained a special count for the lathe castings, we do not think the jury were warranted in finding that Randolph was authorized to make the contract in behalf of the defendants.

Our opinion therefore is that the verdict is against law and the the evidence.

Motion sustained.

Appleton, C. J., Barrows, Peters, Libbey and Symonds, JJ., concurred.