Johnson v. Wade , 61 Tenn. 480 ( 1873 )

Nicholson, C. J.,

delivered the opinion of the Court.

McFarland, J., dissenting.

On the 24th of April, 1866, Levi Wade drew his bill for $5,000 on Wm. A. Johnson, at New Orleans, payable in thirty days, that is, on the 24th of May, 1866. On the 28th of April, 1866, he shipped to Wm. A. Johnson thirty-eight bales of cotton, which were received by him in New Orleans on the 4th of May, 1866, twenty days before the bill matured.

On the day of the shipment of the cotton, to-wit, on the 28th of April, 1866, Wade, through his agents, McAlister & Co., advised Wm. A. Johnson of the shipment, and said to him: “Also thirty-eight bales cotton on account Levi Wade, wbo bas drawn on you for $5,000, at thirty days, we' believe. Mr. Wade leaves tbe sale of bis cotton to your discretion. Of course be wants to meet bis bill.”

Tbe cotton was not sold at tbe maturity of the bill, and not until tbe 13th of July, 1866, at which time it brought about $3,500. Johnson having paid tbe bill at maturity, applied tbe $3,500 to re-emburse bis advancement, and for tbe balance, $1,500, brings suit in tbe Circuit Court of Rutherford.

Wade resisted tbe suit below, upon tbe ground that be was damaged by tbe failure of Johnson to sell the cotton before or at tbe maturity of tbe bill, at which time tbe cotton could have been sold for an amount sufficient, or nearly so, to pay tbe bill; but that by delaying to sell until tbe 13th of July, 1866, on account of tbe decline in cotton, it only brought $3,500.

Tbe deposition of Johnson was taken, and he states:

“We made every effort to sell this cotton in time to meet tbe bill for $5,000, and bad it on the market daily, from the date of its receipt until sold, on the 13th of July, 1866; but tbe cotton being low in quality,stained, dirty, and deficient in staple, was difficult of sale. It is our custom, when we accept bills drawn against shipments of cotton, to meet tbe bills at maturity by sale of tbe cotton. This we would have done in Wade’s case, bad it been possible to have found a purchaser; but tbe cotton was of an unsalable dis-cription, being, as we have stated, low in quality, stained, and deficient in staple, and for this reason could not be sold sooner, and I sold it for tbe best price I was -abje to obtain after its receipt.”

On cross-examination Johnson states that at the time the bill fell due — 24th May, 1866 — “good ordinary cotton could have been sold for from twenty-seven to thirty-three cents, but I could not make a sale of "Wade’s at an earlier date, because of its condition and quality.

It is clear from Johnson’s testimony that he understood himself as being required, either by the instructions given him, or by his custom in such cases, to sell before or at the maturity of the bill. He excuses > himself upon the ground alone of his inability to sell, in consequence of the unsalable condition of the cotton, and puts no reliance on the fact that he was intrusted with a discretion as to the time of selling.

The Circuit Judge charged the jury “ that if they found that Johnson could not sell the cotton as instructed, and used ordinary diligence to effect a sale, but could not do so, you will find for him.”

"Wade had adduced evidence to show that the cotton was of good quality, and not stained, and that at the date of the maturity of the bill it was worth from thirty-one to thirty-three cents.

Upon the issue so made by Johnson, the jury found for Wade — unless they were controlled in their verdict by the construction placed by the Court on the instructions to Johnson.

On this point the Circuit Judge charged: “The Court is of opinion that the letter of instructions .read to you as evidence limits the plaintiff’s discretion as to time of sale to the maturity of the bill which defendant had drawn on him, and that he was bound to sell in time to meet it at maturity.”

It is clear that Wade’s object in making the shipment of cotton, was to have funds in Johnson’s hands, ready to meet 'the bill at its maturity. The cotton was received by Johnson about twenty days before the bill matured. We think the meaning of the instructions was, that Wade gave Johnson a discretion from the date of the receipt of the cotton until the maturity, as to the sale of the cotton, “but, of course, he wants the cotton to meet the bill,” that is, if Johnson, in his discretion, should not sell before the maturity of the bill; that then the bill should be met by a sale of the cotton. Such was, manifestly, the understanding of the instructions by Johnson, and we think he understood them correctly, and that they wére correctly construed by the Circuit Judge in his charge to the jury. Whether, therefore, the jury based their verdict on the charge of the Court as to the proper construction of the instructions, or on the evidence, as to the excuse relied on by Johnson for his failure to sell in time, we are of opinion there is no error, and the judgment must be affirmed.