Traver v. Shaefle

• Decision Date: 18 December 1891
• Parties: TRAVER v. SHAEFLE ET AL.
• Court: Nebraska Supreme Court

33 Neb. 531

50 N.W. 683

TRAVER

v.SHAEFLE ET AL.

Supreme Court of Nebraska.

Dec. 18, 1891.

Syllabus by the Court.

1. In an action based in part upon the fraudulent representations by the defendant as to the quality and value of goods sold and delivered, held, that evidence of the value of goods actually delivered was admissible.

2. A contract in writing, having been declared on and set out at length in the petition, which contained a clause providing that “all of said goods are to be selected by the said G. M. T.,” defendant, evidence by parol to the effect that plaintiffs had contracted with G. M. T., defendant, for goods of a different fashion, make, style, and quality from the goods actually selected by him, held erroneously admitted.

3. The rule of law is inflexible that the allegations and the proof, allegata et probata, must agree.

Error to district court, Lancaster county; FIELD, Judge.

Action by Benjamin F. Shaefle and Robert M. Thompson against George M. Traver to recover damages for deceit. Verdict and judgment for plaintiffs. Defendant brings error. Reversed.J. R. Webster and E. P. Holmes, for plaintiff in error.

Pound & Burr, for defendants in error.

COBB, C. J.

The plaintiffs below, on June 4, 1888, commenced this action in the district court of Lancaster county, alleging that on February 25, 1888, they entered into a contract with the defendant, as party of the first part, stating that he had sold to them goods, wares, and merchandise of certain quality, kinds, and amounts, mentioned in an inventory and Exhibit A, at a cost of $13,768, to be furnished the plaintiffs at the marked price, and all to be selected by the defendant. The plaintiffs were to pay for cooperage and cartage on the goods, delivered at defendant's store, in Lincoln, and to pay for all as follows: $5,000 in cash down, and $8,768 by the transfer of the following real estate: Lots 15 and 16 in block A in Davidson and Culver's addition to the town of Milford, in Seward county; also lot 3 in block No. I in Milford; also 640 acres of land in Cheyenne county, Neb., located 16 miles south of Kimball, being the same sold to the plaintiff Shaefle by the Union Pacific Railroad Company; also 12 lots in the city of Hastings, block 22 in Loman's addition to said city,--all of which the parties agreed to transfer or cause to be transferred to the defendant free of all incumbrance whatever, except that of $672 on the land in Cheyenne county, $1,000 on the block of lots in Hastings; the interest on the same to be paid to the date of contract; the goods to be selected and delivered by defendant on or before February 27, 1888. The following is a copy of the agreement herein referred to and of Exhibit A, thereto attached: “Memorandum of agreement, made and entered into this 23d day of February, 1888, by and between Geo. M. Traver, party of the first part, and B. F. Shaefle and R. M. Thompson of Sutton, Nebraska, parties of the second part, witnesseth: The said party of the first part has this day bargained and sold to the said parties of the second part goods, wares, and merchandise of the quality, kinds, and of the amounts as is fully shown by annexed inventory hereto attached, marked ‘Exhibit A,’ and made a part hereof; the aggregate and total cost thereof being the sum of thirteen thousand and seven hundred and sixty-eight dollars, ($13,768.00,) as also fully appears on the ‘Exhibit A.’ Said goods to be furnished to said parties at the marked price thereof. All of said goods are to be selected by the said Geo. M. Traver. The said parties of the second part are to pay for all boxes and the cost of drayage. Said goods to be delivered at the store of Geo. M. Traver in Lincoln, Nebraska. In payment of said amount and the cost of said goods said parties of the second part hereby agree and bind themselves herein to make payment for the same as follows, to-wit: Five thousand dollars cash in hand at the date of this contract, and the balance of said amount to be paid, to-wit, the sum of $6,768.00, in the transfer and conveyance of the following described real estate by the parties of the second part to the said Geo. M. Traver. [Here follows the description of several parcels of real property.] That said goods are to be selected and delivered by the said Geo. M. Traver on or before the 27th day of February, 1888. All former contracts heretofore made by the parties hereto are hereby revoked, and any suits at law now commenced by the said Traver shall be dismissed at once. In testimony whereof the said parties have unto set their hands, this 25 day of February, 1888.” Signed and witnessed.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
                ¦“Exhibit A.                                                                  ¦
                +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------¦
                ¦Ginghams                                                             ¦$ 100  ¦
                ¦                                                                     ¦00     ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Light brown muslin                                                   ¦100 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Pillow-case cotton & sheeting                                        ¦50 00  ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Prints                                                               ¦100 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Overalls, jumpers, coats                                             ¦100 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Cloaks & jerseys                                                     ¦567 25 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Underwear                                                            ¦400 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Table oil-cloth                                                      ¦5 70   ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Fans                                                                 ¦125 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Scarfs, jackets, hoods, leggins, etc                                 ¦200 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Cottonades                                                           ¦98 60  ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Cassimeres & jeans                                                   ¦300 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Oil clothing, etc                                                    ¦251 85 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Pipes                                                                ¦175 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Wh't goods dept                                                      ¦400 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Window curtains                                                      ¦175 50 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Skirts                                                               ¦76 77  ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Velvets, brocades, farmers' satin & velveteen                        ¦600 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Hosiery                                                              ¦300 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Gloves                                                               ¦600 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Laces                                                                ¦200 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Embroideries & allovers                                              ¦200 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Wallets & purses                                                     ¦100 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Ladies' neckwear                                                     ¦100 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Dress and cloak trimmings                                            ¦300 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Silks, satins & surahs                                               ¦600 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Soaps                                                                ¦100 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Jewelry                                                              ¦200 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Brushes                                                              ¦100 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Linens                                                               ¦150 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Tabling & napkins                                                    ¦150 00 ¦
                +---------------------------------------------------------------------+-------¦
                ¦Draperies

...