National Cash Register Co. v. Petsas

Root, J. On the 15th day of December, 1903, the respondent purchased from appellant a cash register, and signed a written order embodying the terms of the purchase. By the provisions of this instrument respondent was to- piay the sum of $275, $30 in cash down, $25 upon delivery, and the balance in monthly payments of .$25 each. The written order [377] contained the following: “You to allow me $43.75 for No. 8-139147 on D design to return it on arrival of new register.” This provision referred to an old cash register then owned by respondent. Pursuant to this order, the new cash register was delivered to respondent and certain payments were made. On February 4, 1904, appellant sent a notice to respondent containing the following: “We have this day sent to the Scandinavian American Bank of your city sight draft for $25 for cash payment, and one note amounting to $176.25, for signature, payable in seven installments, as per terms of your signed order. Should you desire to discount the above, the bank has been authorized to accept $189.69 in full payment of draft and note.” Pursuant to said notice respondent paid the bank the sum $189.69, and took up said draft and note. The amount of the draft, $25, and of the note, $176.25, together with the cash payment of $30, added to the sum of $43.75, the credit to be allowed for the old cash register, make up the $275 contract price of ,the new register. Respondent did not deliver the old register to appellant, nor did he pay the $43.75, which was to be allowed as a credit in case the old register should be turned over to- appellant. Respondent claimed, and the trial court found, that the payment of $189.69 to the bank was a full settlement, and payment of the purchase price. Respondent argues that the judgment of the trial court is correct upon either of two grounds: (1) That the bank was authorized to accept $189.69 as payment in full, or that said bank did as a matter of fact accept said sum as payment in full and complete satisfaction, and that it had such apparent authority as to bind appellant; (2) that aprpellant cannot recover the new machine, but that if it has any right of action it is for the recovery of the old register or its value, to wit, $43.75. Respondent testified that the bank official told him that payment of the draft and note would be accepted as full settlement of the transaction. This is flatly denied by the bank [378] official, who says that he knew nothing about the terms of the contract, but accepted the money merely as. payment of the note and draft. We -think the testimony of the- bank official to be the more credible; and the burden being upon respondent to prove payment and satisfaction by a fair preponderance of the evidence, we think ha failed to establish such facts. Regardless of this, we cannot find in the written communication offering to accept $189.69 “in full payment of draft and note,” any intention of accepting said sum as full payment for the register, or any authority authorizing the bank to so accept said sum. As to the second proposition, we do not think it can be maintained. The written order signed by respondent when purchasing the new register reserved to respondent the option of “turning in” the old register, and receiving a credit of $43.75 therefor. In other words, respondent had the privilege of paying $43.75 by delivering the old register to appellant. He never made said payment. Consequently full payment for the new register has never been made. Said written order or agreement provided that the title to the new register should not pass until the purchase price should be paid in full. Said purchase price not having been paid, appellant was justified in bringing this action. The judgment of the honorable superior court is reversed, and the cause remanded to the trial court with instructions to grant judgment for the recovery of the new cash register, together with damages for its being withheld, unless within thirty days from the'filing of the remittitur in. the lower court the respondent shall deliver to. appellant the old cash register in as good a condition as it was. at the time of the commencement of this action, or pay to- the appellant the sum of $43.75 with legal interest thereon from the date of the commencement ¡of this action. Costs in both courts to appellant. Mount, C. J., Crow, Fullerton, Dunbar, and Rudkin, JJ., concur.