Soloman v. Neidig

By the Court. Brady, J. The defendants purchased from the plaintiffs about three hundred dollars’ worth of bird cages. They were to be delivered at the store of the defendants, or one of them in Broadway, and were to be paid for in cash, five per cent, off, or by the note of the defendant Saas, at three months, endorsed by the defendant Heidig. The plaintiffs delivered about two hundred an d fifty-eight dollars worth of the goods, but did not deliver the balance “ because the defendants bad failed—one of them—and there was an assignee’s sale at the store.” The note was not demanded of either of the defendants, nor was any application made to either of them for the cash before suit brought. It was concluded that the three months’ credit to which. the defendants would have been en [201] titled, had the note been elected, had not expired when the action was commenced. On these facts, the defendants’ connsel moved to dismiss the complaint, upon the grounds, First. That the three months’ credit had not expired, and Secondly, “ because the plaintiffs had proved but one contract for the sale and delivery of goods, as an entirety, of which. goods a part only had been delivered, although it appeared that one of the defendants was solvent. The Judge denied the motion, and exception was taken. The exception was well taken. The contract was an entirety, and under the well-settled rule in this State, the plaintiffs were not entitled to a recovery until the whole of the goods were delivered. Champlain v. Rowley, 12 Wend. 258; 18 Id, 187; Mead v. Degolyer, 16 Wend. 632; Page v. Ott, 5 Denio, 406. I am inclined to think that if the plaintiffs had dealt with the defendants as copartner’s, although they were not in fact, that the failure of Saas would have excused a further perfonnance of the contract on their part. The plaintiffs had the right to require cash, and they would, under the eireumstances, have been justified in assuming that it was not in. the power of the defendants, a.failure having occurred, to pay cash for the goods when the balance was delivered. The plaintiff did not deal with them as copartners, hewever. The elder Solo-man knew that the defendants had done business as copartneis five years before the sale, and stated that the plaintiffs “ had not sold them any goods since the dissolution of their partnership. And it further appears that he considered the proposition that Saas would give his note, and Heidig endorse it, in payment for the goods which form the object of this con troversy. The sale was made to the defendants jointly, it is true, but the failure of one of them, the other being solvent, did not excuse the plaintiffs from delivering the whole of the mcrchandisc, and making the election either to take the noce or cash. This was not done, nor was there any offer co deliver to either of the defendants. It is true also, that when the balance of the purchase was taken to the store in Broadway, the younger Soloman found an auction sale going on, and saw HAdig, but ho did not communicate to him Ms readiness to do-liver iho goods o? make any demand for note or money. Hor [202] .did lio dó it at any subsequent time. If Rcidig, a solvent purchaser, were to be. held liable, it could only be based upon a compliance with the rules of law establishing such liability, •which were not observed. A tender to him would have been sufficient to charge him and to have completed the obligations of the plaintiffs to both defendants. Until the plaintiffs ’performed their contract, they were not in a situation to demand either note or money. I think the evidence discloses circumstances which render it desirable that this judgment should not be disturbed, but I cannot discover any rule of law by "which it can be upheld. -,vThe judgment must be.reversed.