Pewett v. Richardson

Hill, C. J. Pewett sold Richardson a carload of whippoorwill peas at the price of $1.95 per bushel f. O. b. Hoxie, Arkansas. Bill of lading was attached to draft drawn on Richardson, but Richardson refused to accept the peas without an opportunity of inspection. Pewett agreed to this, and came personally and opened the car, and he and Richardson examined six sacks at different places on the top of the load. There were 211 sacks. The evidence leaves in doubt whether Richardson examined until he was satisfied, or whether he was satisfied with the sacks opened, and took the car with the understanding that the balance would be as good as those examined. There was evidence tending to prove that the peas were, with the exception of 30 sacks, of a grade known as clay mixed, worth about 45 or 50 cents less than whippoorwill peas; and there was evidence tending to prove this entire car was a good grade of whippoorwills. Richardson demanded a car of whippoorwills in lieu of this one, and was not willing for this car to be sold at Walnut Ridge (his place of business), as he claimed the market there would not stand two cars of peas. There was testimony as to other differences between the parties as to the disposition of this car and replacing another one, which is not material to the case. Richardson paid the draft, and sued for alleged difference in value between whippoorwill peas at $1.95 and the peas in question, and recovered a judgment for $140. Appellant contends that an implied warranty is waived where there is an inspection, or an opportunity for inspection is demanded and afforded. It is contended that in such cases the maxim caveat emptor applies, and there can be no recovery on the implied warranty which goes with the sale of a specific article by name or sample or grade. The appellant asked several instructions, embodying in different form the principles contended for; the substance of each being that if Richardson examined the peas or obtained an opportunity of examining them, he could not recover if they did not come up to the grade purchased. Abstractly, the above contention and said instructions are the law, but there was a disputed question of fact rendering such instructions applicable or inapplicable according to the determination of that question; and that question was submitted to the jury in the following instruction: “You are instructed that if, at the time plaintiff accepted the peas, he did so with the agreement that the whole lot of peas were of the same kind and quality as those which he had examined at the time, and that [if] in fact the whole lot of peas were not of such kind and quality as those examined, and that [if], within a reasonable time after making such discovery, plaintiff informed the defendant, and made a demand for compensation for such difference in kind and quality, if there was such difference, then there would be no waiver on plaintiff’s part.” If, in truth, the car was, as contended, “plated” with a few sacks of whippoorwills on top, of an inferior grade, and Richardson’s examination only led to these few sacks of good peas, and he then abandoned’ further examination under an agreement or understanding that the remainder of the car was as good as those examined, there is no reason why the parties were not competent and capacitated to make such agreement, nor any reason why it should not be enforced. The finding of the jury under this instruction necessarily means that such an agreement was made; and, while the evidence -is not as satisfactory as it might be on that point, yet there is evidence from which the jury may have fairly ■ arrived at this conclusion. This question of fact being in the case, the court was right in refusing instructions which would have necessarily excluded it from the jury. The appellant has only set out the instruction above quoted in his abstract, and, of course, the court must presume that the other instructions properly instructed the jury on all the issues. Koch v. Kimberling, 55 Ark. 547; Carpenter v. Hammer, 75 Ark. 347; St. Louis, I. M. & S. Ry. Co. v. Boyles, 77 Ark. 374. If Richardson had a warranty which was not waived, he was within his rights in keeping this car and suing for difference in value between what he paid and what the car was worth; and the other matters presented, about Richardson’s demands that this car be not sold on the Walnut Ridge market, and wanting guaranty of delivery of another car of whippoorwills before he would turn back these, were mere negotiations for a new contract, and did not affect this one. Judgment affirmed.