Carter, Rice & Co. v. Cream of Wheat Co.

COLLINS, .1.

Action in claim and delivery; the plaintiff being a Massachusetts corporation, with its office in Boston. It was the owner of a “Babcock Optimus” printing press; and in November, 1896, the North Dakota Milling Company, a corporation doing business at Grand Forks, North Dakota, opened a correspondence looking towards a purchase thereof. Letters and telegrams were exchanged, and on November 17 the milling company accepted a proposition made by plaintiff, and directed that the press be shipped at once to Grand Forks. According to the terms of the contract, as found in the correspondence, the press was to be the Optimus, latest series or make, with two revolutions. The price was to be $1,600; one-fourth to be paid in cash, and the balance in monthly or quarterly payments, with interest-bearing notes. When the press reached the milling company, and was set up, it was discovered that it was not one of the latest series or make, but was of an older style; and the company declined to accept it, or to pay as agreed upon.

After investigating the matter, the plaintiff’s president, who had acted in good faith when making the sale, and in the belief that the press was of the latest make, offered to discount $150 or $200 from the agreed price if the milling company would keep it; but this offer does not seem to have received any consideration, and from the evidence it conclusively appears that in no manner was it accepted. Several letters were written by the plaintiff, and evasively answered by the milling company, prior to April 12, 1897, when the latter made an assignment for the benefit of its creditors. The assignee took possession of the press, sold and delivered it to one Daniels, and he leased and delivered it to defendant, a Minnesota corporation. On findings of fact made by the court, trying the case without jury, a judgment was ordered in plaintiff’s favor.

The order denying defendant’s motion for a new trial must be affirmed. The plaintiff agreed to furnish, and the milling company agreed to accept, and pay for, a press of the latest series or make. The former did not send the article agreed upon. The latter declined to accept the press sent, or to pay for it, at any price, or upon any terms. Nor did it at any time waive its right to insist upon a strict performance of the contract, and a literal compliance with the plaintiff’s representations and warranties as to the kind of press it would ship. Payment of the contract price, or of that price less the proposed discount, or of the reasonable value, could not have been compelled, had an action been brought by plaintiff; for there never was a meeting of the minds of the parties as to a. sale of the press in question. Prior to the assignment the company had an option to purchase, which it failed to exercise, and which terminated when the assignment was made.

But even if the press sent had fulfilled the conditions of the contract, or if the offer to discount had been accepted, the title would not have passed to the purchaser, except upon compliance with the terms as to payment, for one-fourth of the price was to be paid in cash, and notes were to be given for the balance. Delivery of the press, payment of the money, and delivery of the notes would have been concurrent and mutually dependent facts. Delivery of the press by shipment thereof in expectation of immediate payment of one-fourth of the purchase price, and an execution and delivery of the notes, would have been conditional only; and, if the conditions had not been complied with, the right to reclaim the press would have remained in the plaintiff vendor.

Where payment of the purchase price, or giving security for its payment, and the delivery of goods, are expressly or impliedly agreed to be simultaneous, and, upon getting possession, the payment or giving security is omitted, evaded or refused by thé purchaser, the seller may immediately reclaim the goods; the title in such cases not passing, the delivery being conditional, and the would-be purchaser taking simply as trustee for the seller until the condition is performed. Fishback v. Van Dusen, 33 Minn. 111, 22 N. W. 244; National Bank v. Chicago, B. & N. R. Co., 44 Minn. 224, 46 N. W. 342, 560. See also Pond M. Tool Co. v. Robinson, 38 Minn. 272, 37 N. W. 99; Coggill v. Hartford, 3 Gray, 545; Benjamin, Sales, §§ 334, 335.

Nor was the right to reclaim waived by plaintiff. It promptly and earnestly attempted to discover whether an error had been made when it represented the press as one of the newest make, and, on being satisfied on this point, honestly "endeavored to adjust the difficulty, and to satisfy the company. There was no testimony upon which waiver could have been predicated. In any event the question of a waiver was one of fact for the court below to dispose of.

The milling company could not convey title to its assignee, for it had no title itself; and it follows that the purchaser from the assignee did not acquire title, or right of possession, as against the true owner. Baker v. Taylor, 54 Minn. 71, 55 N. W. 823; Bjork v. Bean, 56 Minn. 244, 57 N. W. 657.

Order affirmed.