McCollum v. Central Granaries Co.

Root, J. This is an action for the reasonable value of wheat sold and delivered by plaintiff to defendant. Defendant asks judgment for plaintiff’s alleged failure to deliver 1,800 bushels of wheat. There was judgment for plaintiff, and defendant appeals. The pleadings are somewhat inartificial; but, in substance, defendant contends that it made an oral contract with plaintiff for the purchase of 1,700 to 2,000 bushels of wheat, two wagon-loads whereof were delivered, whereby the transaction was taken without the statute of frauds. Plaintiff asserts that no specific contract was made between the parties hereto, but that he merely asked defendant’s agent what defendant was paying for wheat, and informed him that the witness had about 2,000 bushels of said grain which he intended to market. Plaintiff further alleges that he sold defendant two wagon-loads of wheat on the market, without reference to any specific agreement. 1. It is strenously urged that the verdict is not sustained by the evidence. Plaintiff and defendant’s agent, Mr. Whittaker, each gave his version of what Avas said and done at their conference, and it is impossible to reconcile their testimony. Some corroborating circumstances appear in support of each witness, and it may be fairly said that defendant produced more relevant evidence than did the plaintiff. The jury, however, believed the plaintiff, and he is not so strongly impeached [674] as to justify us in rejecting his testimony.- It is true, as urged, that plaintiff does not directly contradict some important testimony given by Mr. Whittaker and corroborated by the witness Mussleman, but, if plaintiff’s testimony concerning the transaction is correct, Whit-taker’s is not, and there is a contradiction in effect, if not in terms. 2. The court committed no error in refusing to give instruction numbered 1 requested by defendant. The issue was whether a contract had been made, not whether a reasonable person might consider from plaintiff’s conduct that a contract had been entered into. There is no error in the record prejudicial to defendant, and the judgment of the district court is Affirmed.