Harris v. Bradley

• Court: Indiana Supreme Court
• Writing for the Court: Davison, J.
• Citation: Harris v. Bradley, 9 Ind. 159 (Ind. 1857)
• Decision Date: 29 May 1857
• Parties: Harris v. Bradley and Others

9 Ind. 159

Harris v. Bradley and Others

Supreme Court of Indiana

May 29, 1857

From the Hamilton Circuit Court.

The judgment is affirmed, with 5 per cent. damages and costs.

Gustavus H. Voss, for appellant.

OPINION

Davison J.

The appellees, who were the plaintiffs below, are the assignees of one George N. Hinchman. Harris was the defendant. The complaint contains two paragraphs--the first is upon a special contract--the second, for money had and received. There was an answer to the complaint, and a reply to the answer.

The evidence adduced on the trial, disclosed the following fact On the 17th of February, 1854, Harris and Hinchman entered into a written agreement, whereby the former sold to the latter one thousand bushels of merchantable corn, to be sacked, weighed, and delivered on board the cars at Noblesville, within three months from that date; for which Hinchman was to pay 37 cents per bushel, sixty-eight pounds to be a bushel. The corn was to be delivered in the cars. Twenty-five dollars was paid at the date of the contract; and the balance, 345 dollars, was to be paid in fifteen days.

The plaintiffs failed to pay the 345 dollars, within the time stipulated; but, on the 21st of March, 1854, they paid the defendant 300 dollars. On the 19th of April, the defendant having then on hand one thousand bushels of corn, sent the plaintiffs a letter, therein stating that the corn was ready for delivery, and would be re-sold, unless they made full payment within six or seven days from the last named date. The evidence does not show that the plaintiffs ever received the letter. The corn thus on hand was sold by the defendant, as follows: six hundred bushels on the 29th of April, at 30 cents per bushel, and about two weeks thereafter, four hundred bushels at the same price. The plaintiffs, on the 2d of May, fourteen days before the expiration of the time within which the corn was to be delivered, called on the defendant and tendered him 45 dollars, the balance due on the contract, which he refused to receive, and in reply to their demand of the corn, distinctly told them that he would not deliver it, unless in addition to the price agreed on, they would pay him 30 dollars. The defendant failed to show that he ever had the corn, or any part of it, at the place of delivery.

The Court, to whom the cause was submitted, found for the plaintiffs 332 dollars and 50 cents, being the amount advanced on the contract, with interest from the 2d of May, 1854. And thereupon, the defendant moved for a new trial; but his motion was overruled. Judgment was accordingly rendered, etc. The appellant contends, that the case made by the evidence entitles him to a reduction of the moneys which he received, to an amount equal to the difference between the contract price and that for which the corn was actually sold. And further, that the allowance of interest was erroneous.

These positions, if the present suit is at all maintainable, are not well taken. The plaintiffs having failed to pay at the time stipulated, had no right of action, unless in consequence of such failure the defendant has rescinded the agreement. If he has, they were entitled to recover the money advanced without deduction, and with...