Freeman v. Nichols

Decision Date21 November 1874
CourtUnited States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Supreme Court
PartiesKnowles Freeman & others v. William Nichols & another

Suffolk. Tort for the conversion of certain packages of fish.

At the trial in the Superior Court, before Dewey, J., the evidence tended to show that on December 10, 1872, the plaintiffs, doing business in Boston under the firm name of Knowles Freeman and Co., sold to one Hall, of Lowell, a trader, a large number of packages of fish, of which the lot in question was a part, and that the same were sold for cash; that part of the goods were delivered the same day, and the rest in four or five days afterwards, at the store of Hall, in Lowell; that Hall, a few days after, sold a portion of the fish, and subsequently the plaintiffs called for payment, but no payment was made; and that on January 1, 1873, Hall sold and delivered the fish, mentioned in the plaintiffs writ, to the defendants, who paid for the same, knowing nothing of the terms of the trade between Hall and the plaintiffs.

The defendants asked the judge to rule that although the sale was for cash, yet, the fish having been delivered to Hall at his place of business, the plaintiffs could not recover for the value of the same in the hands of the defendants. The judge declined so to rule, but instructed the jury that in a sale of goods for cash the title did not pass to the purchaser, notwithstanding the goods had been delivered, until the money was paid for the same, or there was a waiver of the cash payment.

The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiffs, and the defendants alleged exceptions.

Exceptions sustained.

G. F. Richardson, for the defendants.

J. C. Kimball, for the plaintiffs.

Gray, C. J. Wells & Devens, JJ., absent.

OPINION

Gray, C. J.

An unconditional delivery of goods sold for cash is a waiver of any condition in the sale, and the seller cannot afterwards assert a title to the goods. Upton v. Sturbridge Cotton Mills, 111 Mass. 446. Goodwin v. Boston & Lowell Railroad, Ib. 487. Haskins v. Warren, 115 Mass. 514. The evidence at the trial tended to prove a sale for cash, and a delivery without condition. The instruction given to the jury implied that some other evidence of waiver was necessary to prevent the maintenance of the action.

Exceptions sustained.

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13 cases
  • Johnson-Brinkman Commission Company v. Central Bank of Kansas City
    • United States
    • Missouri Supreme Court
    • June 13, 1893
    ...of the bill of lading. Cunningham v. Ashbrook, 20 Mo. 553; Williams v. Evans, 39 Mo. 207; Upton v. Cotton Mills, 111 Mass. 446; Freeman v. Nichols, 116 Mass. 309; Carleton Summer, 4 Pick. 516; Farlaw v. Ellis, 15 Gray 229; Scudder v. Bradbury, 106 Mass. 422; Goodwin v. Railroad, 111 Mass. 4......
  • Johnson-Brinkham Co. v. Central Bank
    • United States
    • Missouri Supreme Court
    • June 13, 1893
    ...Hammett v. Linneman, 48 N. Y. 399; Bowen v. Burk, 13 Pa. St. 146; Upton v. Mills, 111 Mass. 446; Mixer v. Cook, 31 Me. 340; Freeman v. Nichols, 116 Mass. 309; Haskins v. Warren, 115 Mass. 514; Goodwin v. Railroad, 111 Mass. In the case in hand a bill of lading for the wheat had been issued ......
  • Oester v. Sitlington
    • United States
    • Missouri Supreme Court
    • March 25, 1893
    ... ... purchaser." Cole v. Berry, 42 N.J.L. 308; ... Parmelee v. Catherwood, supra; 2 Kent's ... Commentaries, 496; Freeman v. Nichols, 116 Mass ... 309; Smith v. Lynes, 5 N.Y. 41; Pitts v ... Owen, 9 Wis. 152 ...          We ... think the evidence almost ... ...
  • Oester v. Sitlington
    • United States
    • Missouri Supreme Court
    • February 27, 1893
    ...the property will vest in the purchaser." Cole v. Berry, 42 N. J. Law, 310; Parmlee v. Catherwood, supra; 4 Kent, Comm. 496; Freeman v. Nichols, 116 Mass. 309; Smith v. Lynes, 5 N. Y. 41; Pitts v. Owen, 9 Wis. 152. We think the evidence almost conclusive that plaintiff did not rely upon the......
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