Wilson v. . Lewiston Mill Co. , 150 N.Y. 314 ( 1896 )

[EDITORS' NOTE: THIS PAGE CONTAINS HEADNOTES. HEADNOTES ARE NOT AN OFFICIAL PRODUCT OF THE COURT, THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT DISPLAYED.] This action was brought to recover damages for an alleged breach of contract to purchase 1,000 bales of cotton of the plaintiffs, to be delivered to the defendant at Lewiston, Me. The answer contained a general denial, an allegation to the effect that the alleged contract was within the Maine Statute of Frauds and that by a custom of the cotton trade no contract of sale arose under an offer unless accepted on the same day that the offer was made. The plaintiffs were cotton brokers engaged in business in the city of New York; the defendant, a manufacturing corporation located at Lewiston, Me.

On the 1st day of November, 1890, one Hawley, in the employ of the plaintiffs as a salesman, called at the defendant's place of business in Lewiston, Me., and had a conversation with its president and treasurer with reference to selling cotton. In his testimony he states the conversation as follows:

"They had already bought a good deal of cotton, but that they were inclined to think well of the market and that they would be pleased to buy more cotton provided they would not have to pay for it before February 1st; that they had bought at present all that their bank facilities allowed them to pay for, but that by February 1st, they would be in position to pay for the cotton, and if they could buy cotton the payment of which would come at that time, they would be inclined to accept an offer. I told them we could do that by arranging to sell them cotton for January shipment, and I explained somewhat, also, our mode of operation and the modus operandi of doing that. * * * After all that they asked me to make an offer based on contracts, and I told them I would make such an offer; that we would base it in this way and that we would send them an offer; that I would write to the firm asking them to send them an offer based upon January contracts at a certain price, whatever that price happened to be at the time the firm made the offer, and that that, based on January contracts, would mean this, that if at the time when their reply to our offer reached the firm, if the market was higher by more than two points, we were not to be held by our offer; but that if the market should be lower by as much as six points, that is, 6/100 of a cent, they were to have the cotton at 1/16 cent of a pound less than our offer."

He then tells us that he forwarded to his firm, under date of November 1st, 1890, the following letter:

"DEAR PERCEY: * * * While at Lewiston, I also saw Mr. Barker, the Pres., and Mr. Parker, the Treas., (Eustis has resigned; make change in spinners' book) of the Lewiston Mills. They have already bought 3,500 bales, all they can pay for at present, but are bullish and would like to buy or engage a good part of the rest of the cotton. They need about 2,500 bales. I have arranged with them that you shall make them an offer of 500 B.C. middling and 500 B.C. strict middling, all January shipment. Terms of payment cash on arrival, so as to bring payments in February. Make the offer and say in your telegram to them, ``based on January contracts,' whatever the price is on Monday, the understanding between them and me being that, if they accept your offer and January contracts are not more than two points above the figure named in your telegram, the sale is to stand, with the proviso, however, that if January contracts are six points lower when you hear from them, the price is to be 1 1/6 cent below your offer. I will be in Lewiston about 3 P.M. Monday, but do not wait for that, but telegraph your best offer to them as early in the day as you can. If you can offer the middling @ 10 3/8 and the strict middling @ 10½, I am quite sure they will accept, and they may do so if you make a round price at 10½ cents. I do not think they will go higher than that. But if you cannot get down to the figures I have named, make the best offer you can. This order, if we get it, can be filled from Alabama, Southwest Georgia, Mississippi, Texas or Arkansas, at our option. Everybody I have met so far has had offers in hand of middling Texas at 10¼ and middling uplands at 10 cents to 10 1/8 cents. Mr. Barker, of the Lewiston Mills, handed me a telegram from Fowler, of Gadsden, Ala., offering him mid. at 10 cents, so Mr. Johnson had better hunt up another Gadsden correspondent for us and scratch Fowler off our books. This letter goes in the train leaving here 5 P.M. Saturday, and should reach you early Monday morning. Having two such large (and I will add hopeful) trades in prospect, I concluded to remain in this vicinity over Monday. If nothing happens, I will leave here for Marysville 11 o'clock Monday night. I sent you a second telegram from here announcing my purpose of remaining here and asking you to write to-day to this hotel.

"Yours, c., "F.B. HAWLEY."

In answer to this letter, under date of November 3, 1890, the plaintiffs wired the defendant:

"We will sell 500 middling and 500 strict middling, January shipment, 10½ landed, based on January contracts nine sixty-three."

Late in the afternoon of Monday, Hawley returned to the defendant's, and was there shown the dispatch received from the plaintiffs. He then had a further talk with the defendant's president and treasurer, in which, as he testifies, they finally made a bid of 10 3/8 and told him that he could transmit it to the plaintiffs, and that they could have until Wednesday noon to reply, and that thereupon he wrote the plaintiffs as follows:

"LEWISTON, ME., November 3, 1890.

"DEAR PERCEY: * * * Here at Lewiston Mr. Barker had an offer from Blaisdell of mid. Texas at 10 1/8 cents. A week ago, when the contracts were some 30 points higher, Woodward Stillman offered them mid. and strict mid., January shipment, at 10½ cents. They would not, therefore, pay that price, nor even bid 10 7/16 cents, although I tried hard to get them to do so. They did, however, too late in the day to telegraph you, make me a bid of 10 3/8 cents, for 500 B.C. mid. and 500 B.C. strict mid., terms and conditions same as those mentioned in my letter of Saturday. I saw your telegram to them offering them these cottons at 10½ cents, based on January at 9 63/100, but 10 3/8 cents is just ¾ cents above contracts and certainly would seem to be a very good bid, but you can judge better than I both the tone of the market and whether the already marvelous difference between contracts and spots is likely to widen. Remember this order can be filled with good staple Alabama and Mississippi as well as with Texas and Arkansas. As to-morrow is a holiday I have not wired this bid to you, as you will not be at the office, and as this letter goes to Boston at 11.30 to-night, it is sure to reach you early Wednesday morning. You are to reply to Lewiston Mills Wednesday morning. I hope you will be able to accept their bid for the 1,000 bales, and I do not think they will pay more, certainly not 10½ cents, but if you cannot accept please so inform them by wire and name a price at which you will sell. It is possible that they would come up 1/16 cent if the market is not lower when they hear from you.

"Yours, c., "F.B. HAWLEY."

"You understand the Lewiston Mills bid is good until noon Wednesday, November 5th; that is, you are to telegraph at or before that time."

In answer to this letter the plaintiffs wired the defendant, under date of November 5th, 1890, as follows:

"Your offer accepted, 10 3/8, 500 middling and 500 strict middling, January shipment, delivered Lewiston."

And on the same day they wrote as follows:

"NEW YORK, November 5, 1890.

"LEWISTON MILLS CO., LEWISTON, ME.:

"DEAR SIRS: We hereby confirm our sale to you of 500 B.C. mid. landed Lewiston, January shipment, cash on arrival, at 10 3/8 per pound, and 500 B. cotton St. middling, January shipment, cash on arrival, at 10 3/8 per pound.

"Thanking you for the order,

"Yours truly, "R.T. WILSON CO., "Per WALKER."

To which the defendant replied, under date of December 5th, 1890, as follows:

"R.T. WILSON Co., NEW YORK:

"We find it will be impossible for us to take the 1,000 bales of cotton mentioned in yours of the 5th ult., as it is impossible to get the funds. Our payments for the next three months are all we can meet without taking any more burdens. The hope that the present stringency in the money market would cease soon seems certain not to be realized.

"Yours truly, "F.W. PARKER, Treas."

At the conclusion of the plaintiffs' evidence the defendant read in evidence the Statute of Frauds of Maine, together with the decision of the highest court of that state, made in the case of Jenness v. The Mt. Hope Iron Co. (53 Me. 20). The defendant then read in rebuttal the cases of Horton v.McCarty (53 Me. 394); Bird v. Munroe (66 Me. 337), andWilliams v. Robinson (73 Me. 186). The letters written by Hawley to the plaintiffs, to which we have alluded, were offered in evidence, but, under objection of the defendant, were excluded.

This is in substance the evidence bearing upon the questions presented for review. The defendant moved for a direction of a verdict on the ground that no contract had been proved binding upon the defendant and upon the ground that it was in conflict with the laws of the state of Maine. This motion was granted and an exception was taken by the plaintiffs.

It is now contended that the contract was a New York contract and not a Maine contract, and that consequently it is not controlled by the Statute of Frauds of Maine. Owing to the great number of cases appearing in the books bearing upon this question its solution is involved in some difficulty. The transactions of the business world are so numerous and of such a variety that it is difficult, if not impossible, to formulate a general rule that should control in all cases in the determination of such a question. In some cases the place where the contract was accepted has been considered as controlling. In others, where the contract of affreightment was made, and still others, the place where the contract is to be performed. (Mactier v. Frith, 6 Wend. 103;Vassar v. Camp, 11 N.Y. 441; Crown Point Iron Co. v. ÆtnaIns. Co., 127 N.Y. 618; Trevor v. Wood, 36 N.Y. 307;Howard v. Daly, 61 N.Y. 362; Sanders v. P.B.F. Co.,144 N.Y. 209; Waldron v. Ritchings, 9 Abb. Pr. [N.S.] 359;Backman v. Jenks, 55 Barb. 468; Schuenfeldt v.Junkermann, 20 Fed. Rep. 359; Hyde v. Goodnow, 3 N.Y. 266;Liverpool Steam Co. v. Phenix Ins. Co., 129 U.S. 397; WayneCo. Savings Bk. v. Low, 81 N.Y. 566; Jewell v. Wright,30 N.Y. 259; Curtis v. D., L. W.R.R. Co., 74 N.Y. 116;Dickinson v. Edwards, 77 N.Y. 573; Hibernia Natl. Bank v. Lacombe,84 N.Y. 367; Green v. Lewis, 26 U.C. [Q.B.] 618; In re MissouriSteamship Co., 42 Chancery Div. 321; Hamlyn Co. v. TaliskerDistillery, L.R. [App. Cas. 1894] 208.)

There are numerous other cases, but those above cited sufficiently call attention to the various subjects that have controlled the minds of the courts in determining like questions to that under consideration. A further discussion of them we do not deem necessary or profitable, for, as has well been stated, the question must be determined with reference to the facts and circumstances surrounding the parties in each case presented, and the intention of the parties so far as it is disclosed must control. The place where the contract is accepted is important. It fixes the time that the minds of the parties met and the contract consummated. It does not, however, necessarily determine the place, or the law under which the contract must be executed. So, also, is the place important where the contract was talked over, and its substantial details arranged. Yet this, standing alone, may not control, for the place in which the contract is to be executed is of equal importance in determining what must have been the intention and purpose of the parties. The lex locisolutionis and the lex loci contractus must both be taken into consideration, neither of itself being conclusive, but the two must be considered in connection with the whole contract, and the circumstances under which the parties acted in determining the question of their intent. We have in much detail already called attention to the facts. We have but briefly to refer to them again in order to make reasonably certain the intention of the parties. The plaintiffs were not merchants selling goods from their store located in the city of New York, or as such receiving orders from salesmen for their approval. They were dealers in cotton, which they purchased and shipped from Alabama, Mississippi, Texas or Arkansas. The goods were not in store where they could be examined and their quality tested. This could only be done upon the arrival of the cotton at its destination. The plaintiffs sent Hawley, their servant and agent, to the defendant to sell cotton. Its officers had already purchased heavily and did not care to purchase more before February. Much discussion appears to have taken place between the defendant's president and the plaintiffs' salesman, all at the company's mills in Maine. All the details with reference to the January shipments and payments, and to the modus operandi, were there talked over and arranged. The defendant's officers then announced their willingness to entertain an offer for January shipments, and then the first letter was written by Hawley to his firm asking that an offer be made. An offer of 10½ cents was forwarded by the plaintiffs to the defendant's officers. Had they accepted the offer the acceptance would have been made in the state of Maine, and then, under the plaintiffs' theory, it would have been a Maine contract. But this offer was not accepted. The plaintiffs' agent again returned to the defendant's mill, had another interview with its president and treasurer, and finally succeeded in getting a bid, which he says he was authorized to transmit to the plaintiffs, of 10 3/8, and which was accepted. This bid was received in Maine by the plaintiffs' agent. All the talk and negotiation had taken place in Maine. The cotton was to be delivered to the defendant in Maine, there to be inspected and paid for; and it appears to us that there is no escape from the conclusion that it must have been within the contemplation of the parties that the contract should be considered a Maine contract and controlled by the laws of that state. This was evidently the understanding of the parties at the time of the trial. The defendant interposed in its answer the Statute of Frauds of that state. Both parties introduced decisions of the highest court of that state bearing upon the construction of the Statute of Frauds of that state. The motion for a direction of a verdict was based upon that ground, and there is not a word or a suggestion appearing in the record on behalf of the plaintiffs claiming or intimating that it was a New York contract.

Was there any note or memorandum of the contract made and signed by the defendant's officers or agents? It is not claimed that they made or signed any paper in connection with the transaction. The only thing that it is claimed that they did do was to authorize Hawley, the plaintiffs' salesman, to transmit to his firm the offer mentioned; that in writing these letters he was their agent and that they were bound thereby. The statute, however, was to prevent frauds. Oral contracts for sales in small amounts are not fraudulent. It is only where the amount exceeds a certain fixed sum that the statute requires some written memorandum signed by the party to be bound or by his agent. The alleged contract in this case was for the purchase of goods to an amount of $50,000. The answer denies that any contract whatever was made. Hawley, according to his own testimony, was concededly working for the interests of the plaintiffs. He says: "I was anxious to secure an order from the defendant; that was what I went there for." If he by his oral testimony can establish his authority to make offers of purchase on behalf of the defendant, then the Statute of Frauds would be of but little use or protection; for a party, or his agent, could prepare the memorandum in his own interest and then by his oral testimony establish its validity as against the opposing party. Browne on the Statute of Frauds, at sec. 367, says: "The statute does not require the party's own signature to the memorandum, but allows it to be signed by some other person thereunto by him lawfully authorized. * * * One rule, however, has been settled, both under the 4th and 17th sections, that neither party can be the other's agent to bind him by signing the memorandum."

Reed on Statute of Frauds, at sec. 369, says: "One of the contracting parties cannot be the agent to make the memorandum."

In 1 Greenleaf on Evidence, sec. 268, it is said: "It is not necessary that the written evidence required by the Statute of Frauds should be comprised in a single document, nor that it should be drawn up in any particular form. It is sufficient if the contract can be plainly made out in all its terms from any writings of the party, or even from his correspondence, but it must all be collected from the writings, verbal testimony notbeing admissible to supply any defects or omissions in thewritten evidence. For the policy of the law is to prevent fraud and perjury by taking all the enumerated transactions entirely out of the reach of any verbal testimony whatever."

In Jenness v. Mt. Hope Iron Co. (53 Me. 20-24), WALTON, J., says: "Such a memorandum may be contained in the written correspondence of the party, but the correspondence taken together must establish the contract plainly in all its terms or it will not be sufficient. It can receive no aid from parol evidence. The policy of the law is to prevent perjury by making it impossible for a party to profit by it."

In Hinckley v. Arey (27 Me. 362) it was held as a general principle that the same individual cannot be the agent of both parties.

In Strong v. Dodds (47 Vt. 348) it was held that the agent of the plaintiff to sell goods could not be regarded as the agent of the defendant in writing a letter ordering goods for the defendant; that the letter was not such a memorandum or note of the contract as was contemplated by the Statute of Frauds.

The defendant's letter of December 5th is not a recognition of the plaintiffs' contract. It does refer to the plaintiffs' communication of the "5th ult.," but it does not admit the making of the contract therein alluded to. It merely says, "We find it will be impossible for us to take the 1,000 bales of cotton mentioned in yours of the 5th ult." It then gives reasons, want of funds, etc. It nowhere concedes that an offer had been made by them and accepted by the plaintiffs.

The judgment should be affirmed, with costs.

All concur (BARTLETT, J., in result).

Judgment affirmed.