Charon v. George W. Roby Lumber Co.

Campbell, C. J. Plaintiffs sued for damages for the failure of defendant to allow them to complete a lumbering contract. The only material question is whether there was testimony to go to the jury of the continued existence of the agreement. On October 1,1882, plaintiffs agreed to get out and deliver afloat all the pine merchantable timber on section 3, township 16 north, of range 12 west, at $3.40 a thousand. One-half was to be got out during the winter and spring of 1882-83, and no time was set for the rest. The first half was got out and paid for. The winter of 1883-84 was passed without any dispute as to the propriety of the delay. The dispute arises chiefly on the winter of 1884-85. Defendant claims that a new agreement was made for that winter at a lower rate, which was $3.10 per thousand, which superseded the original contract entirely, and which was not carried out. Plaintiffs claim that this was merely provisional. Their version is that they wanted to complete the contract in 1884-85, but that defendant did not want the lumber then, and insisted that they should not deliver it unless at a rebate of 30 cents, but that, if they would wait till the next winter, they would get the full contract price. Upon this the testimony conflicts. Before the winter of 1885-86, plaintiffs, as they claim, upon inquiry as to their purpose, notified defendant they proposed to complete the work. Defendant, before the plaintiffs attempted to go in and cut the logs, sold the timber to other parties. We think there is no doubt that, if plaintiffs’ version of [70] the facts is true, the contract had not been abrogated, and they had a right to insist upon it. We think there was testimony enough to go to the jury, and that the contention of defendant’s counsel, that there was a mere scintilla, of such a character as to amount to nothing, is not correct. We cannot weigh testimony, but we consider the testimony on plaintiffs’ side as distinct, and sufficient to go to the jury, who seem to have acted on it. gome question was .made as to the admission of evidence tending to show the cost of lumbering and supplies during various winters, for the purpose of getting at the loss of profits. This testimony did not furnish by itself the means of figuring up results, and the balance was evidently reached by a more general showing of the cost of lumbering. We do not think the testimony was irrelevant, although it does not appear to have been of much consequence. ■ We think there is no error in the record, and the judgment should be affirmed. The other Justices concurred.