Bell v. Harvey ( 1883 )

Graves, C. J.

Under the style of A. Harvey & Son the defendant negotiated with the plaintiffs to put up an elevator in their soap factory, and it terminated in a proposal by the defendant of the following tenor, which the plaintiff accepted:

“Detroit, Mich., Feb. 2, 1881.

Detroit Soap Gompa/vy — Gentlemen : ¥e propose to build and set up in your factory one elevator, so constructed to run either by steam or hand power, with wooden posts, iron ratchets and safety catch, elevator to lift two thousand pounds easily, by steam or hand power; hoisting ropes hemp, and lifting rope either hemp or wire.

We also agree to furnish all material or labor necessary to put the. same in complete running order, except belting and main shaft, for the sum of three hundred and seventy-five dollars.

Eespectfully submitted. Andrew Harvey & Son.

No pay until tested and in perfect running order.

A. Harvey & Son.”

Under this arrangement the defendant proceeded to put in an elevator, but it soon fell, and, as claimed by the plaintiffs, wholly failed to answer any purpose. They contended that the contract was absolute and imposed on the defendant an imperative obligation that the elevator put in should correspond with the proposal and actually perform properly, and acting on this construction they brought this action for damages.

While the case was in progress before the jury the defendant raised the objection that the contract was not an absolute undertaking that the elevator should operate well, but was merely an arrangement for having it set up to undergo a trial as a preliminary to liability to pay for it or have it. The court on full consideration sustained the objection and directed a verdict for the defendant.

The only question now is whether this construction is correct, and we think it is. The accepted proposal was to provide nearly all the materials and appliances and erect an elevator to be tested and not paid for unless found to be in perfect running order. The meaning was that the plaintiff should hare opportunity by actual trial to ascertain about tbe fitness of the machine and not be liable to pay anything for it unless it was proved to answer the specifications, and that the defendant should be chargeable only with his own loss in case the trial should be unfavorable. The clause providing for a “ test ” was evidently looked upon as important, but on the view now taken by the plaintiffs it is difficult to see how it could have much, if any, influence. The only way to give it proper effect is to give the arrangement the character here ascribed to it.

There being no error the judgment should be affirmed with costs.

The other Justices concurred.