Jasper County Bank v. Barts

BEOADDUS, P. J. This is a suit on two negotiable promissory notes. The petition contains a separate count on each note. The first declares on a note for $465 executed October 3, 1905, due December 20, 1905, bearing interest at eight per cent per annum from maturity; the second one a note for $75 dated October 3, [637] 1905j and due December 20, 1905, bearing interest at eight per cent per annum from maturity. These notes were made payable to the order of the Parsons Band Cutter & Self Feeder Company, a corporation of the State of Iowa and endorsed to the plaintiff before due. The consideration for the first mentioned note was what was designated as a “Success Shredder with Canyas Coyerthe consideration for the second note was what was called a “Wind Stacker or Shredder.” The defendant haying failed to pay the notes at maturity, the plaintiff instituted the suit to enforce their collection. The company warranted that the shredder would serve the purpose for which it was intended as well or better than any other machine of like kind. It was one of the conditions however that if it did not come up to the warranty the defendant was to give notice of the fact to the company and return the machine to the place where he purchased it. The machine was bought from the general agent of the company at Kansas City, Missouri. The defendant’s testimony tended to show that the machine did not comply with the warranty, but instead of returning it to Kansas City he took it to Rich Hill and gave the company notice of the fact and asked instructions. The evidence tended to show that the plaintiff bank had notice of the failure of consideration of the note before purchase. The stacker for which the second note was given was sold without any special warranty but as there was no testimony that it did not work satisfactorily the defendant failed in making any sort of defense as to the second count of the petition. The court at the close of all the evidence instructed the jury to find for plaintiff on each count of the petition. From remarks made to counsel when discussing the law relating to the giving,of instructions we infer that the court adopted the theory that it was the duty of defendant to have returned the machines to the place where he purchased them from the company as the [638] contract specified and sncli is the law. It was a condition precedent to bis right to recover. “In a sale of chattel with warranty accompanied by stipulation making the warranty conditional upon certain acts of the purchaser, it was incumbent upon the purchaser to show the fulfillment of the condition before he .could hold the vendor liable on the warranty.” [Nichols-Shepard Co. v. Rhoadman, 112 Mo. App. 299; and so it is held in Nichols v. Larkin, 79 Mo. 264.] The rule is different where there is a warrant/ without condition precedent, where it is shown that the chattel is worthless for the purpose for which it is purchased. [Compton v. Parsons, 76 Mo. 455; Miles v. Withers, 76 Mo. App. 87; June & Co. v. Falkinburg, 89 Mo. App. 563; The New Birdsall Co. v. Keys, 99 Mo. App. 458.] The cause is affirmed. All concur.