Abraham v. Karger

Pinney, J. This was an action for tlie recovery of a lot of merchandise stored by the defendant, Karger, at No. 559 East Water street, Milwaukee, and in charge of one Bing, a relative of Karger, to sell for him on commission. The plaintiff, Clara Abraham, was at this time conducting a business under the name of the “Milwaukee Knitting Works.” This business was managed for her by her father, Louis Abraham, as her agent, who a few days prior to August 26, 1896, began negotiations with Bing for the purchase of the merchandise belonging to the defendant, Karger. These negotiations were in part conducted, according to the evidence of the plaintiff, Abraham, in the presence of, and with the sanction of, the defendant, Karger. There was a dispute between the witnesses for the plaintiff, on the one side, and the defendant and his witnesses, on the other, as to the terms of sale finally agreed on between the plaintiff and defendant. On the part of the plaintiff, Louis Abraham testified that the agreement as finally made was that the plaintiff was to pay the defendant, Karger, for this stock $2,000 in cash, and to deliver to him the note of one W. A. Meyer for $500; and this was corroborated by the evidence of James L. Gates, a witness on the part of the plaintiff, who testified that the defendant, Karger, stated to him that such was the case. The testimony of Karger and his witnesses was that the plaintiff was to pay to the defendant $2,500 in cash, and that Karger did not agree or consent in any way to accept the note of Meyer in payment of part of the consideration; and it appeared that this dispute as to the terms of the sale was the only matter upon which there was any conflict of testimony. On all other points the witnesses substantially agreed. At the time when the bargain was made, Louis Abraham paid Bing $25 to bind the bargain. The nest day the plaintiff, Abraham, paid to Bing $1,500, and at the time Bing gave to Abraham, an invoice or statement, drawn up in Bing’s [389] band writing, which recites the Amaine of the merchandise at $4,100, the payment by cash and merchandise in exchange of $3,100; the balance of $1,000 to be paid, $500 in cash,, and $500 in W. A. Meyer’s note. Both Bing and Abraham admit that the purchase price was $2,500, and that no merchandise was given in exchange; that the bill or invoice Avas made out this way as a matter of convenience between the parties. And Bing further claims that the statement that the balance Avas to be $500 in cash and $500 in notes did not express the true understanding between them. August 24th, the plaintiff, through Louis Abraham, paid $500 more on the purchase; and, on the 26th of August, Louis Abraham tendered to the defendant, Karger, Meyer’s note for $500, payable to the Milwaukee Knitting Works, and indorsed, “ O. Abraham, proprietor.” This tender Avas refused, and Karger said to Abraham, “ If you don’t have the money before noon, I am going to store the goods, and you Avill have to pay the costs; ” Avhereupon the plaintiff, Clara Abraham, brought replevin, charging the unlawful and wrongful detention of the property. The court, in its charge to the jury, in effect told them that the question at issue was Avhether the sale was to be for cash and notes, as testified to by the plaintiff’s witnesses, or for cash solely, as testified to by the defendant and his witnesses ; that if they found the claim of the plaintiff to be correct, then the verdict should be in factor of the plaintiff; if they found the facts as to the sale or agreement to be as claimed by the defendant, then they should find for the defendant. The jury found for the plaintiff, and that she was the owner of, and entitled to the possession of, the goods seized under the writ; that the same were unlawfully detained from her by the defendant; that the value of the property was $3,500. The plaintiff had judgment against the defendant for the possession of the property, and for the recovery of the costs, together Avith the damages of six cents. The defendant asked the court to instruct the jury to find [390] a verdict in bis favor, and also that, under the evidence, tbe plaintiff could not maintain the action. These requests were •denied, and the case was submitted to the jury to find, as already stated, whether the terms of sale were complied with on the part of the plaintiff by the payment to the defendant of the required amount in money, $2,000, and the tender of the stipulated note of Meyer for $500. There was •evidence on the part of the plaintiff to maintain these contentions. It is established by the verdict as a verity that payment of the $2,000 in money, and tender of the note of Meyer for $500, were made. Such payment and tender of payment prior to the time of the commencement of the action had the same effect as actual payment upon the rights of the parties. There is nothing to show that the contract was executory, so far as anything remaining to be done to the goods was concerned. The evidence shows that they were ready for delivery, and set apart, and the price agreed upon, and a partial delivery made before the tender of the $500 note. The goods were in the sight of the parties, and were pointed out in the presence of Ecurg&r, the defendant, when it was agreed that he was to get $2,000 in cash and W. A. Meyer’s note for $500 for them. There can be no doubt but 'that, under the circumstances stated, the title to the goods, and the right of possession as well, passed to the plaintiff, and, if afterwards they were wrongfully detained, she might maintain replevin for them. “ When the terms of sale are ¡agreed on, and the bargain is struck, and everything the seller is to do with the goods is complete, the contract of sale becomes absolute as between the parties, without actual payment or delivery, and the property and the risk of accident to the goods vest in the buyer. He is entitled to the goods on payment or tender of the price, and not otherwise, when nothing is said at the sale as to the time of delivery or time of payment. . . . But if the goods are sold upon credit, and nothing is agreed upon as to the time of delivery of the goods, the vendee is immediately entitled to the possession, and the [391] right of property vests at once in him.” 2 Kent, Comm. (14th ed.), *492-*494; Hatch v. Oil Co. 100 U. S. 124. The evidence as to what actually did occur, or what was agreed on between the parties, is in some respects conflicting and contradictory. The case was rightly submitted to the jury to find upon the vital point in dispute and thus determine whether the property and right of possession passed to the plaintiff. The evidence was clearly sufficient to sustain the finding of the jury, and the court could not have properly directed a verdict for the defendant. “ Where the property in the goods has passed to the buyer and the contract is executed, ... he may maintain trover ” (21 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law, 627); or replevin (Bradley v. Michael, 1 Ind. 551, 552; Rhea v. Riner, 21 Ill. 526). The defendant presented a number of requests to charge, and has assigned various errors upon other rulings of the court, an examination of which does not disclose that any material error has intervened to the prejudice of the defendant. A discussion of the evidence contained in the printed case would serve no useful purpose. For these reasons, the judgment of the superior court of Milwaukee county must be affirmed. By the Court.— Judgment is ordered accordingly.