Starr Piano Co. v. Jimmerson ( 1925 )

HODGES, J.

The appellant, Starr Piano Company, a private corporation, brought this suit against Mack Jimmerson and the First National Bank, of Henderson to recover the value of some pianos of which it claimed the ownership, and which it alleges had been converted by the bank and Jimmerson.

The facts show that about March, 1920, Jimmerson owed the Starr Piano Company approximately $1,040, evidenced by a note, what are called “trade acceptances,” and upon open account. The debt was based upon purchases of pianos made by Jimmerson from the Starr Piano Company in the previous course of business. By way of settlement with the company for his debt, Jimmerson executed the following instrument:

“For a consideration of $1 cash in hand, the receipt hereby is acknowledged, and other valuable considerations, I hereby sell and transfer to the Starr Piano Company, of Richmond, Ind., the following pianos and player pianos: One Remington piano No. 134882, price $165; one Remington piano No. 139180, price $165; one Richmond piano No. 142571, price $230; one Remington player No. 141173, price $280.

“It is understood and agreed that these instruments are to remain on hand with Mr. Jim-merson until July 1, 1920, unless sold by him in the meantime, and, if sold, the entire proceeds of each sale are to be remitted to the Starr Piano Company, at Richmond, Ind.

“In the event the pianos are not sold by him July 1, 1920, then he is to reship these instruments to- Dallas, Tex., prepaying the freight on them to this place. .These instruments are to be kept insured in some reliable insurance company against loss by fire; said policy to be payable to the Starr Piano Company as their interests appear.

“This agreement is taken subject to the approval of the Starr Piano Company.

“[Signed] Mack Jimmerson.

“Witness: G. H. Jackson.”

That agreement was executed at the instance of G.' H. Jackson, an agent of the Starr Piano Company. It was not registered in the office of the county clerk. Some time later Jimmerson executed a mortgage on the same pianos to secure an indebtedness to the First National Bank of Henderson. At the maturity of the debt to the bank, the latter, with Jimmerson’s consent, took possession of two of the pianos embraced in the bill of sale to the Starr Piano Company.

In a trial before a jury, a judgment was rendered in favor of the bank against the piano company, and in favor of the piano company against Jimmerson on the alternative prayer for judgment for its debt aggregating $830.

Jimmerson testified in his case by deposition. Among the interrogatories propounded to him was the following:

“If, in answer to interrogatories 5, 6, and 7 you say that you did sell, transfer, and deliver certain pianos to the First National Bank of Henderson, Tex., either in the year 1919 or 1920, then please state whether or not, at the time you sold said pianos to said bank, you notified or told said bank, or its cashier, or other officials thereof, that the plaintiff in this Case had any valid . or subsisting lien against same.”

To which he answered:

“At the time the transfer was made, I informed the cashier of the First National Bank of Henderson, Tex., that the Starr Piano Company had taken a bill of sale to the four pianos as aforesaid. (Explanation.) The bill of sale was given’with the understanding that, if the Starr Piano Company accepted the same I was to receive by return mail my trade acceptance notes; and, if the Starr Piano Company did not accept the bill of sale for the pianos, they were to hold the trade acceptance notes. Three months after I had turned over the pianos to the First National Bank of Henderson, Tex., and after I had gone out of business, the Starr Piano Company mailed me the notes, or trade acceptance notes, which were the same notes that the Starr Piano Company was to send pie by return mail, immediately after giving bill of sale to the four pianos as aforesaid, provided the bill of sale was accepted as a settlement between the Starr Piano Company and Mack Jim-merson (myself).”

Appellant objected to the introduction of that portion of the above answer following the word “Explanation” mainly upon the ground that the answer was not responsive to the interrogatory. We think the objection should have been sustained, for clearly, the “explanation” given was not called for by the question. In addition to being a voluntary statement, it related to the controlling issue in the case. According to that statement, the bill of sale, which passed the titlfe to the pianos to the Starr Piano Company, never became effective, and they were the property of Jimmerson at the time he delivered them to the bank. Notice of an unaccepted bill of sale could not affect the right of the bank to take the pianos in part settlement of its claim against Jimmerson.

If, at the time the property was mortgaged or delivered to the bank it belonged to the appellant, Jimmerson had no right to mortgage or sell it in satisfaction of his pre-ex-isting debt. On the other hand, if at that time the title to the property was still in Jimmerson, he did have the right. If, as stated by Jimmerson, the appellant had failed to accept the terms of the bill of sale till some months after the transaction with the bank, then Jimmerson had not parted with his former title, and his transfer was valid.

There are other rulings assigned as error, but they need not be discussed.

For the i*easons stated, the entire judgment will be reversed, and the cause remanded. '