Griesheimer v. Meyers

Mr. Justice Adams delivered the opinion of the court. Appellants’ counsel assign as error the overruling of their motion to strike the cause from the short cause calendar, made when the cause was called for trial, and also their motion to the same effect, at the close of the plaintiffs’ case, when the trial, apparently; had lasted more than an hour. The first motion was made on the alleged ground that it was apparent from depositions filed in the cause, that the cause could not be tried in an hour. When a case regularly on the short cause calendar is called for trial, it is not the practice, nor does the statute contemplate that the court will hear evidence or examine the files of the cause for the purpose of ascertaining whether more than an hour will be consumed in the trial, and although if the case occupies more than an hour’s time, the court may strike it from the short cause calendar, this, by the terms of the statute, rests in the discretion of the court. It is contended that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence, and that this is especially true as to the liability of the appellant Strauss. Omitting discussion of the evidence, except in so far as may hereafter be necessary in passing on appellants’ objections, suffice it to say, that after careful, reading and consideration of the evidence and the arguments of counsel, we can not sustain this contention. On the contrary, we are of opinion that the evidence is suf-, ficient to sustain the finding that the goods were purchased by appellant G-riesheimer for the firm of M. G-riesheimer & Co., and that appellants are jointly liable therefor. The witness Charles Meyers was interrogated and answered as follows: Q. “Did you, or did you not, ever have any business relations with Morris G-riesheimer & Company of Lake and Clark streets, Chicago, Illinois?” A. “ I did.” Q. “When?” A. “I sold them a bill on the 21st day of December, 1897. Sent the order to my house, Charles Meyers & Bro., 506 Market street, to be shipped in March. At the time I sold them they were to be paid in ninety days from shipment, and up to the present time we have not received one cent on account of this bill.” The last answer appellants moved to strike out, on the ground that it attempted to state the fact and terms of sale, and consisted of conclusions of the witness, and because it was not responsive. It is not responsive, but it is relevant and material, and the question, to whom were the goods sold, is a question of fact. While the answer is obnoxious to criticism, we do not deem the ruling reversible error. Appellants’ counsel also object to the testimony of the witness Charles Meyers as to the meaning of the figures and words in the order. The cause was being tried before a jury, and while business men, such as the parties to the suit, might readily understand the abbreviated expressions and the figures in the order, it is very doubtful, to say the least, whether the jury would understand them. It is not contended that the meaning of the words and figures as stated b}r the witness is not as he stated. There is no controversy whatever about the meaning, and appellants could not, in any way, be prejudiced by the answer. Anthony Seckinger, packer and shipper for appellees, testified that he received the order heretofore mentioned from appellee Daniel Meyers, and packed the goods ordered; that he made two shipments in boxes, the first shipment March 7, 1898, the second March 17, .1898; that he marked on each box the figures 5039, and addressed each box “ M. Griesheimer & Co., Lake and Clark streets, Chicago, Illinois,” and that the boxes were taken, so marked and addressed, to the Pennsylvania Eailroad, and were shipped to M. Griesheimer & Co., Lake and Clark streets, Chicago, Illinois, over the Star Union line. Griesheimer testified: “Why, if I remember well, the goods were marked Griesheimer & Co., and not M. Griesheimer & Co.” Another witness for appellants testified that the address on the box wTas Griesheimer & Co. Appellees, on rebuttal, called M. V". Lightcap, chief clerk in the office of the Union Star line in Chicago, who produced two way bills made out in Philadelphia, one of date March 7 and the other March 17, 1898; the first being “ Way bill Mo. 65,” and the second “Way bill Mo. 154.” The March 7th waybill contained the following: “Through way bill from Philadelphia to Chicago, March 7, 1898. Special marking 5039. Consignees M. Griesheimer & Co., Lake and Clark Sts. Articles: 1 case of clothing. Weight 150 lbs.” The other way bill contains the same, except that the date is March 17th and the weight 190 pounds. Appellants’ counsel object to this evidence as incompetent. The number in each way bill, 5039, the dates, and the address, M. Griesheimer & Co., correspond with the number and address in the bill of lading put in evidence by appellees. The way bills appear to have been made out in the usual course of business of the carrier, and, in our opinion, were competent evidence in rebuttal. The Arthur Dixon Transfer Co. received goods for Griesheimer & Co. and also for M. Griesheimer & Co., as testified to by John H. Holden, shipping and receiving clerk for Griesheimer & Co. Appellees further called as a witness in rebuttal Frank Duer, a driver for the Arthur Dixon Transfer Co., who identified a receipt and freight notice, dated March 11, 1898, and a receipt and notice dated March 14, 1898. In both receipts and notices the address is M. Griesheimer & Co. In the first the description is, “1 case clothing, weight 520;” in the second, “ 1 case clothing, weight 190.” The witness Duer testified the receipts were in his handwriting. The receipts and notices were put in evidence over appellants’ objection. We think the evidence competent. Appellants’ counsel lay great stress on the alleged fact that no invoice came with the goods, and that appellants were unable to tell from whom they came. Morris Griesheimer and several of Jais employes so testified. On the part of appellees two witnesses testified that an invoice of the goods was sent to M. Griesheimer & Co., and 'that the goods were charged to that firm on appellees’ books. We are at a loss to understand why appellants should have had any difficulty in knowing from whom the goods came; the copy of the order given by Charles Meyers to Morris Griesheimer remained in the possession of the latter and was produced by him on the trial, and he testified that the list of goods in his order book, which were delivered, corresponded with the list in tlie order. lie also had in his possession the postal card sent by appellees, acknowledging the receipt of the order, because, he testified that, January 18, 1898, the word “ canceled ” was written on it by his direction. We find no material error in the giving or refusing of any instruction. The judgment will be affirmed.