Fuller v. Hope

Opinion by

Mb. Justice Fell,

In 1882 the defendant was a cattle broker, and his stock received over certain railroads was delivered to him at the Philadelphia Stock Yards, of which Martin, Fuller & Co. were lessees. They required of him, as of others, the payment of a fixed charge on all cattle received. In January, 1882, he made out a statement of the amount he had paid them, and demanded that repayment should be made on the ground that the charges exacted were unjust and illegal, as no accommodations had been furnished him, and the landing in their yards was the landing for delivery by the railroad companies.

The dispute between them was as to the right to-charge where no service had been rendered or supplies furnished, but the cattle merely driven through the yard after they were taken from the cars. On the day that the statement, which amounted to $1,241.40, was rendered by the defendant, he purchased of Martin, Fuller & Co. cattle amounting in price to over $4,000, and offered to pay for the same; first deducting the $1,241.40 which he claimed was due him.

At the suggestion of Alfred M. Fuller the defendant called at his house to see if they could adjust their difference. At this interview a settlement was reached on this basis : the defendant was allowed as a Credit on the amount due for cattle purchased the full amount of his claim, $1,241.40, and agreed that for'one year he would carry on his regular business of selling cattle at the Philadelphia Stock Yards, and as evidence of and as a means of enforcing this agreement the bond which is the subject of this controversy was given.

The bond is for the exact amount which was in controversj1-, $1,241.40, and the condition is : “ ... if the above named obligor do not sell any cattle or sheep at the North Penn Drove Yard within one year from the date hereof, and during that time carries on his regular business at the Philadelphia Stock Yard, then this obligation shall be void or else remain in full force and virtue.”

Judgment was entered on this bond, and a rule granted to show cause why it should not be opened and the defendant let into a defence was after hearing discharged. This action of the court is now assigned as error.

The breach of the condition is admitted,'and the defence is based solely on the ground that the condition is in restraint of trade, and that the restraint is unreasonable and without consideration.

This objection to the bond does not seem to be well founded. No general restraint upon trade is imposed, and the restrictions as to time and place are reasonable and.founded upon a sufficient consideration. Looking at the bond only, without any explanation of the circumstances which gave rise to it, it would be open to the objection that the only right created was that of restraint; but the testimony shows that the bond was intended to secure a right given to the plaintiff by the agreement.

The.position of the parties was this: Martin, Fuller & Co. were lessees of a stock yard, and engaged in a business the profits of which were derived from charges for handling, feeding and slaughtering cattle. The defendant received his cattle there, took them at once to other yards, and claimed to be exempt from any charges on the ground that it was the place of delivery of the railroad company. They desired to end all controversy as to past charges, and to secure his business for the future. Negotiating on this basis the parties reached an agreement; they paid him the money which he claimed they had improperly exacted, and he agreed for one year to carry on his business at their yards. To secure this the bond was given.

The restraint was to secure to the plaintiff the benefit of the agreement made. It was not the right created by the agreement, but incidental to it only, and necessary to its protection. The adjustment of the accounts and the payment by the defendant were' a sufficient consideration to sustain the agreement.

The judgment is affirmed.