237 Mass. 86 | Mass. | 1921
The plaintiff seeks to recover damages for the defendant’s refusal to deliver certain barrels alleged to have been sold by it, under the terms of the following letter:
“March 6,1918.
The Geo. H. Morrill Co., Norwood, Mass.
Gentlemen: We will purchase of you as many of the empty Oil, Alcohol, Whiskey and Wine barrels which Mr. Bagley showed the
1. Alcohol, Whiskey and Wine......$2.10 each
2. Oil and other barrels......... 2.05 each
The above prices are net and we will pay for the same in advance. We hand you herewith cheque for $500 as payment on account.
We will furnish you shipping directions on or before a week from today and the barrels are to be shipped as soon thereafter as you are able to procure the cars from the Railroad.
The barrels are to be consigned as per our instructions and all invoices and Bills of Lading are to be sent to us at 36 Harwood Street, Dorchester, Mass.
It is understood that it is optional with you whether you sell any of the Alcohol, Whiskey and Wine barrels or not.
Very truly yours,
Charles Brodsky & Co.
Per
M
Accepted — Geo. H. Morrill Co.
Frederick P. Bagley
Treasurer and General Manager.”
On March 9 the defendant notified the plaintiff that it had decided not to sell any of the empty barrels, and returned the $500 paid on March 6.
The letter contained all the evidence of the agreement, and its construction was for the court. The question whether it constituted an enforceable contract or only an offer or option, is not raised by the exceptions, as the trial judge ruled to the plaintiff’s advantage that there was a contract. See Burgess Sulphite Fibre Co. v. Broomfield, 180 Mass. 283. The question before us is, what are the obligations of the defendant and the rights of the plaintiff under the terms of the letter.
The interpretation of the first and principal paragraph is clear. The offer was to purchase as many of the empty barrels as the defendant was “willing to ship.” At most this imposed on the defendant the obligation to sell to the plaintiff any of said barrels which it might sell to any one. This obligation, however, was
In view of our construction of the contract, it is unnecessary to consider the plaintiff’s exceptions to the judge’s charge and his refusal to give the rulings or instructions requested.
Exceptions overruled.