13 Fla. 230 | Fla. | 1869
Lead Opinion
delivered the opinion of the Court.
The principal question in this case is, whether, as between the parties Johnston and Eichelberger, a partnership existed at the time of the institution of this suit in the goods, which is the subject matter of the controversy. If it did not exist, then the primary and essential equity in the case is wanting, and it must fail.
Eichelberger insists, first, that such partnership existed by virtue of an instrument of 'writing executed on the 2d of March, A. D. 1867.
In the second place, he contends that if under the written instrument a partnership did not then exist, it existed by virtue of the terms of this instrument, coupled with the acts of the parties, which transpired- between the date of its execution and the institution-of this suit.
To determine the first question, we have only to construe the written instrument executed by the parties. To determine the second question, involves a consideration of all the acts of the parties, including the instrument. The instrument is as follows: '
STATE OF
Mabion County. '
-f
This Indenture, Made this second day of March, in the ■year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, between Abner D. Johnston and Adam L. Eichelfeerger:
Now this indentwe, witnesseth, That the said Abner D. Johnston, for and in consideration of the covenants and agreements hereinafter entered into by the said Adam L. Eichelberger, hath bargained and sold, and doth by these presents bargain and sell unto the said Adam L. Eichelberger, one-half of the aforesaid stock of goods, wares and merchandise.
And the said Adam L. Eichelberger, for and in consideration of all the above, hath bargained, covenanted and agreed, and by these presents doth bargain, covenant and agree, to pay to the said Abner D. Johnson one-half of the original cost price of the said stock of goods, wares and merchandise, together with one-half the costs and charges that may or shall be expended in transporting the aforesaid stock of goods, wares and merchandise to the aforesaid town of Ocala.
And it is agreed between and by the parties to these presents, that the aforesaid Abner D. Johnston and Adam L. Eichelberger will sell the said stock of goods, wares and merchandise in the said town of Ocala as equal copartners; and also, that they shall and will bear, pay and discharge equally between them all rents and other expenses that may be required or incurred in the said stock of goods, wares and merchandise, and that all gains, profits and increase that shall come, grow or arise from or by means of the sale of said stock of goods, wares and merchandise shall be divided ' between them equally, and that all loss that shall happen through or by means of the selling of said stock of goods, wares and merchandise shall be borne and paid between them equally.
A. D. Johnston, [l. s.'J
A. L. Eichelberger. [l. s.]
Signed and sealed in the presence of Stephen C. DeBruhl,
W. J. McEddy.
This instrument, when executed, was left in the possession of a third party, the defendant, DeBruhl, and the answer of Johnston, which is responsive to the bill in this particular, alleges that it was left in the possession of this third party upon the distinct understanding between complainant and himself that it was to be in his (defendant’s) control until complainant complied with his agreement to pay for the goods.
Whatever inference may have arisen from a delivery of this instrument, therefore, to the vendee, Eiehelberger, cannot arise in this case.
The contract, so far as-' it relates to an acquisition of an interest in the goods by Eiehelberger, is contained in that portion of the instrument which precedes the mutual covenant that the parties will sell the goods in copartnership.
Eiehelberger could not be a partner unless he acquired an interest. This was certainly a condition precedent. If he did acquire an interest, its acquisition must have been under this part of the agreement.
Johnston bargains and sells one-half of the goods. That constitutes the contract upon his part; ETothing is said as to the price, or a method of ascertaining the price, or as to the mode or time of payment. The price is an essential element of a sale. In cases arising under the statute of frauds, it has been repeatedly held that the price enters into the legal contemplation of a bargain, and that a note or memorandum, which does not furnish evidence of the price agreed upon, is not sufficient to take a contract of sale out of the statute. 5 B. & C., 583 ; 2 Kent’s Com., 477 ; 15
Upon examination, we find that it consists of a “ bargain ’’ and agreement by the vendee to pay to the vendor one-lialf -oí -the original cost of the goods, together with one-half .of .the charges expended and to be expended in transporting -them to Ocala. The instrument, therefore, amounts to this: •X bargains and sells to E. one-lialf of a quantity of goods mot then in his actual possession. E. bargains to pay oneItalf ■ cost price and charges. The charges are not yet incurred, the cost not yet ascertained, the goods not yet arrived, so that these matters can be done by buyer and seller. The.contract as to payment was simply to pay without specifying time. There was no express agreement to extend .a, credit. The general rule in reference to payment is, that when no time is fixed for payment, the sale is for cash. In .-this case, as the price was to be ascertained at a future date, .the payment must be postponed to that time. There is nothing in the contract which can extend it beyond that time, . and it is extended to that time only beccmse the price was to - be then ascertained. In this case, on account of the character , of the interest which the vendee was to acquire, the interest • of a partner, there was to be no actual separation of the -goods or actual delivery of the one-half. •»
I-n -the sale of personal property, where anything remains fco. be done before the sale can be considered as complete, whether to be done by the vendor or vendee, as between the parties themselves, the right of property does not pass.
As between buyer -and seller, there remained to be done in
If the interest to be acquired by the vendee had been such as admitted an actual delivery, and had the goods been actually present, payment and delivery under such a contract must have been simultaneous acts. 6 Cowen, 110. Because there was to be no actual delivery in this case, it does not follow that the property would pass without payment. The result is, that the vendee must have paid at the proper time,, before a property would pass.
Eo credit was agreed on here. Payment was a conditions precedent to the passing of the property. There could he no payment until the price was ascertained—no price could he ascertained until charges were incurred and the goods arrived. These things had to happen and to he ascertained as-, indispensable requisites to payment. It was urged in argument, and it is true, that a' covenant is a good considerations for a sale; but if the covenant itself is to pay generally,, specifying no time, it cannot be inferred from this that any eredit was to be extended. The rule is, that where no credit: is agreed on, or is necessarily implied, the property does not: pass without payment or actual delivery, which is generally a waiver. Looking at the entire instrument our conclusion is, that the contract was executory; that there was no completed sale, and that no present right of property passed to Eichelberger. The following cases sustain the correctness of this view. Some of them go much further than this case ~ 6 East, 614; 1 American Law Rev., 425 ; 1 Sand., 297; % Wend., 406 ; 15 Johns., 351; 3 Wend., 112; 3 Cowen, 84 ; 6 Cow., 101 ; 13 Mass., 88 ; 25 Penn., 208 ; 4 Seld., 291; 10 Hump., 337; 21 Vt., 147 ; 12 Pick., 83 ; Amer. Law Reg., May, 1869, 319; 1 Camp., 427. While the facts are not
Mr. Hilliard, in his treatise upon sales, remarks: “ With. regard to the payment of goods purchased in conformity te the general rule, which requires such payment to perfect & sale, a vendor is not bound, without special agreement, to receive anything for the price except cash”
The case of Lorin vs. Smith, 1 Denio, 573, was a sale <s£ merchandise for cash, to be paid for on delivery. The vendee tendered the overdue note of the vendor. It was held insufficient.
Had the property in the goods passed under this agreement, then in an action for the price, E. might have set off J.’s indebtedness, although his (E.’s) contract was to pay ready money. That is the case cited by appellees, and is net this case.
It only remains to consider the subsequent acts of the parties, coupled with this instrument.
Did a partnership exist by virtue of the two combined® The evidence upon the subject may be divided into tw© parts: Eirst. The acts and declarations of the parties before Johnston left for Hew York. Second. Acts and declarations of the parties after his return and before the commencement of the suit.
It appears that Johnston left Ocala for New York in &■
W. P. Trantham, an employee of Eichelberger, testifies that a short time after Johnston returned from the North, k© and Eichelberger came to me ; Johnston gave me the in-dices of all the goods, and said that he wanted me and Mr. Hoof to mark the goods when they arrived; he also said •Shat he wanted me to compare the prices with the prices of .gsjods Eichelberger had purchased about a year before ; Mr. Boof and I were then employed exclusively by Eichelberg>er • the goods, when they arrived, were opened, marked and left by us in charge of the clerks in A. D. Johnston’s store.
Wm. H. Anderson testifies, that the goods were opened ®d marked by Mr. Eichelberger’s clerks, assisted by himself asad Mr. Miller ; Johnston was absent during this time, and Eichelberger gave instructions and exercised general control. Eichelberger, who was examined, says nothing in reference to what happened between Johnston and himself before Johnston left. ■
Johnston testifies, in reference to this matter, that before Se left he received notice that the goods would arrive soozz.; &at he etnployed D. A. Miller as clezzk, and authorized Eichelberger to hire Anderson, and requested Eichelberger when the,goods came to hand to have them opened and let the clerks commence selling ; that he did not know when he would return, and he did not wish the goods to remain boxed up ; that he authorized Eichelbez’ger, as his agent, to receive, open and znark the goods on their az’rival; that he would have entz-usted him to do this if he had not been his agent, as he had the clerks to do so ; that he did not do this
Eichelberger states, in his bill, that Johnston was indebted to him at the time of the execution of the articles of agreement, and alleges that he “ has always been ready and willing and repeatedly offered to set off this amount against his indebtedness to Johnston,” which said Johnston refused to accept, “ but demands that your orator make his payments in cash,” while he himself refuses to pay any of his indebtedness to your orator, by reason of all of which your orator has always deemed himself excused from any further or other compliance with his said stipulation, and has deemed the said payment made, virtually and legally, by the existence of the said debt.
This is substantially what occurred, according to the allegations of the pleadings and the evidence of the witnesses.
Eichelberger’s control in Johnston’s absence, to have any effect, must be proved to have been done in accordance with authority from Johnston, and the authority, so far as proved, does not establish anything beyond a simple request to have the goods marked and opened. It appears for some reason, that Johnston was desirous that a price should be fixed upon his goods, with reference to the prices charged by Eichelberger for goods sold by him. This was perhaps to avoid any difficulty with E. as to estimates of charges. However this may be, Johnston, neither by his acts nor language, admitted a property of Eichelberger in the goods. He gave the instructions in his own name. He swears that he never intended E. should have an interest until payment, and E. admits that Johnston refused his repeated offers of his own paper in payment for the goods.
This evidence discloses no act which amounted to a waiver
After the latter part of May, it is admitted that Johnston took exclusive control of the goods, denying all interest in Eichelberger. Johnston returned from ETew York about the first of April. We proceed to examine the evidence covering this period, and to state its results as to the rights of the parties.
W. P. Trantham, an employee of Eiehelberger’s, and who was not connected with the store in which these goods were, says, in his direct examination, that during this time a mercantile business was carried on with these goods; that it was Ms wnd&rstcmdmg that the business was carried on by Johnston & Eichelberger. The subsequent portion of his direct examination relates to a division of the goods in the latter part of May, which we will consider subsequently in connection with all the testimony relating to that matter. Upon the cross-examination, the witness states that he was in the exclusive employment of Eichelberger, in E.’s individual store; that his understanding that the business was carried on by Johnston & Eichelberger was derived from Eichelberger, who told him so; that he was never told so by Johnston positively, but has heard Johnston speak of the mercantile business as our business, in speaking with Eichelberger at different and several times.
D. A. Miller.—This witness, upon his direct examination, testifies that he was a clerk in the store; was employed by Johnston early in March; that Johnston, when he employed him, said that a person named Oxner expected to be em
W. J. McEddy testifies, that he heard Johnston say that he had sold Eichelberger a half interest in his store, but did not know how about the fay; heard Eichelberger at one time ■say to J., let us get money for things for the plantation out ■of the common store; we then went to the store hnown as A. D. Johnston's store, and I got the money.
W. II. Anderson testifies: Was the book-keeper; store was known as A. D. Johnston’s store ; was so advertised; was employed as clerk by Eichelberger ; while Johnston was away, received instructions from Eichelberger until Johnston returned; on his return, he assumed control of the store; although present in the store, he cannot say that Eichelberger at any time after Johnston returned gave any directions as to the management of the store or the sale of goods, or exercised in any manner any control or authority in the store; he came and purchased goods, and they were charged to him; the clerks in the store canned it on as Oapt. Johnston’s store ; he had the principal management and control of it after Oapt. Johnston returned'; Eichelberger controlled the store until Johnston returned from the North; afterwards Johnston was at the store almost every day, and we regarded him as the manager; Mr. Eichelberger gave
Eichelberg’er, although examined as a witness, was not interrogated in reference to the particular matter of admissions as to partnership relations. His idea was, that he was entitled to an equal interest in the goods, because Johnston was indebted to him in an amount equal to the sum he was to pay.
Johnston testifies that he does not recollect all the conversations he may have had upon the subject, but that he never intended that Eichelberger should have any interest until he paid for the goods, and that he repeatedly told him so. This agrees with Eichelberger’s admissions in the bill. Johnston says : “ I refused all the time to let him have the goods until he paid for them, both before I went and after I z’etizzmed.”
Jas. H. Johnstozi’s testiznony relates almost exclusively to znattez'S occun-ing in view of agreements made looking to an arbitration. His testimony, so far as it relates to the matter of paz’tnership, is that the store was known by common reports as the store of Johnston & Eichelberger; that a book in which accounts were kept was marked A. D. Johnston & Co., and that during his presence in the store for a few days in the latter part of May, when the parties had- agreed to divide the goods, and to an arbitration of all matter’s of difference, they both appeared to exercise equal control over the goods. They spoke of the stock or store as our stock and our store.
What does this testimony amount to ? Leaving out Trantham’s understanding, derived from what Eichelberger told him, his testimony amounts to no more than that he heard Johnston, in conversing with Eichelberger at different and several times, speak of the business as our business.
The other witness, Miller, says that Johnston, when he employed him, which was no doubt befoz-e he went
Anderson, who was the book-keeper, says that the store was advertised as the store of A. D. Johnston, and was s® known by the clerks, but that they believed that Eiehelber-ger had some interest; that Johnston, on his return froM New York, assumed control of the store ; that although ths witness was present in the store most of the time, he cannot; say that Eichelberger gave any general directions or exercised any control after Johnston returned; that he recollects one instance only in which Eichelberger gave instructions,-, and that Johnston countermanded them ; that he has heard Johnston say that Eichelberger had not come up to ike agreement, and he was therefore unwilling to allow him aan interest in the goods.
Eichelberger says nothing upon the subject when exaoar ined as a witness, while in his bill he admits that Johnstoau demanded cash for his goods; and Johnston states expressly that while he did not recollect all the conversations he had with Eichelberger, he did refuse at all times to allow him .a®, interest until he paid for it.
Jas. H. Johnston testifies that the parties spoke of iias store as our store, and that a book in which accounts wee© kept was marked Abner D. Johnston & Co.
What appears here is not sufficient to’prove a waiver fay Johnston of his right to payment .for the goods, or aa acknowledgment that he consented to Eichelberger’s having; the interest of a copartner without, payment according to the agreement. Calling the store our store, our business,
'These views and conclusions are fully ■sustained.by the adjudications of the courts in like cases.
We find this case in 1 Freeman’s Chy., 351: A agreed f«»give his notes for a certain sum to B for half of B’s stock mdrade, the t wo to be partners thereafter. B, believing that ArCOuld execute the notes at any time, suffered him to act as A,partner, and to buy and sell goods in the partnership Bame.' A failed to execute the notes for his share of the
Even if it was admitted that the parties, Johnston and Eichelberger, held themselves out to the world as copartners, which is not the fact, yet Johnston’s always demanding payment before he would admit Eichelberger’s interest, and E.’s noncompliance with his part of the bargain and agreement, would prevent the existence of the relation of copartners inter se. The case of Bird vs. Hamilton, 1 Walker’s Chy., 361. In this case the books were kept for thirty days in the name of the contemplated firm. The language of the articles was, that the parties “ agreed to enter hereby into partnership.” The articles, however, provided that Bird was to furnish one-third of the capital stock. This he neglected to do. The court held that where the question of partnership arises, not with third persons, but between the parties themselves, the agreement out of which the supposed partnership arises is to be construed as any other instrument between the parties; that is, that their intention should control, and that while in this case the letter of the agreement imported a partnership in presentí, yet it was apparent from the whole instrument that the contribution of one-third of the capital stock by Bird was a condition precedent to the existence of a partnership inter se. The court held further, that the fact that the business was carried on for the period of thirty days in the name of the proposed firm, was no waiver, and that the party in default was not entitled to the rights of a part
in „the latter part of May, it appears that the parties agreed to submit all their business matters to arbitration for settlement, and it is claimed that what transpired on that occasion is material in this connection.
Everything which occurred at this time which may be considered as admissions of the relation of partnership, has been considered. The matter of arbitration, with all agreements entered into with strict reference to it, became inoperative by revocation of the authority given by Johnston, and it is not perceived how this matter is material. The parties did not seek to form a partnership at this time, but to settle all mutual accounts. We will, however, examine the testimony, and state our views in reference to it.
Jas. H. Johnston testifies : I was instructed to take an account and make an equal division of stock, one part to be set aside for A. D. Johnston, the other for A. L. Eichelberger ; tiiis division was made in the latter part of May ; I received these instructions from A. D. Johnston, A. L. Eichelberger being with him ; with the assistance of the clerks I took the stock, and after several days’ labor, divided the goods ; I set apart one-half for Johnston and the other for Eichelberger, each so marked as to distinguish them : each of the parties took goods from their respective parts, and spoke of the shares as their shares ; having divided the goods according to instructions, I left them in the store in charge of the clerks.
S. D. McConnell testifies : Was called on. by Eichelber
"W. P. Trantham testifies to the fact of division, and that he received goods from the store, at Eichelberger’s request, from a pile which one of the clerks pointed out as belonging to Eichelberger. Miller testifies that he was instructed by Johnston to divide the goods in two piles, one for himself and the other for Eichelberger ; that Johnston said that he and Eichelberger could not get along together ; that he was afraid E. would swindle him ; that he would rather have five dollars than a thousand with some one else. The goods were divided and remained so several days, when Johnston instructed me to put them together again, and I did so; I delivered some of the goods after they were divided to Eiehelberger; Johnston gave as his reason for putting the goods together again, that he had sold E. a halfi interest, but that he could not “ ante up,” and that he would not allow him an interest in the goods until he did.
Anderson testifies that he knew of the division, and that
Eichelberger, in his amended bill, alleges that at the time of the sale and thereafter, Johnston was indebted to him in a sum equal to the amount due for the goods, and that he has always been ready and willing to set off this amount against his indebtedness to Johnston, “ which said Johnston refuses to accept, but demands that he pay in cash, while he refuses to pay any of his indebtedness to your orator; by reason of all of which, your orator has deemed himself, as he still does, discharged and excused from, any further or other compliance with his said stipulation to pay his proportion of the amount of said goods and expenses to said Johnston, and has deemed this said payment as made virtually and legally, by virtue of the existence of the said unpaid debt.” As a matter of course, these admissions in the bill of the plaintiff are evidence of the best character.
In his testimony, Eichelberger says that Johnston and himself, agreed to submit all of our matters of account to arbitration, and we agreed there, in the presence of the arbitrators, that any balance that was due to me was to be credited to me as a payment for the share which I had purchased in the stock of goods. According to this, Johnston had never agreed, up to this time, .to a payment in his own paper, and it negatives the view that Johnston supposed or consented to Eichelberger’s having such an interest without payment. But from the answer, as well as from the bill and the evidence, we derive no confirmation of this statement of Eichelberger, as we shall presently show.
Johnston testifies that he authorized Jas. Johnston, Anderson and Miller to divide the goods in his store; that his reason for so doing was to let Eichelberger have one-half of the goods, provided he paid for them; that while he does not recollect all the conversations he may have had on the subject, he never has recognized any interest of Eichelberger
James H. Johnston’s permitting Eichelberger to take a part of the goods without payment, when his authority did not extend to a delivery, but only to a division, is not a waiver by Johnston of his right of payment, nor did these acts pass the property to Eichelberger. The proper inference, even if it is established that Johnston consented to his taking the part, is, that Johnston did this with the belief that Eichelberger would pay for the whole when all of the part which Johnston intended to let him have was delivered. Johnston testifies that as soon as he found that Eichelberger was not going to pay, he instructed the clerks to put the goods together, and the clerks say that this was about his language at the time. Lord Ellenhorough, in a similar case, held that the vendor, by such an act as a delivery of a part, did not change his rights or his property in the remainder. 1 Camp., 427.
Submitting all accounts to arbitration, agreeing to an inventory and division of the goods in the store, expressing nothing as to Eichelberger’s paying in cash, and saying expressly that it was not right that Eichelberger should get Ms (Johnston’s) goods at cost, which is about what the testimony of McConnell amounts to, does not establish an agreement upon Johnston’s part to accept any debt to be ascertained by the arbitrators as a payment, nor do these things constitute a waiver of his rights by Johnston. It is true that this witness, after stating what did occur, gives his opinion of
. The admissions of the bill, which are consistent with the answer’and the testimony of Johnston, to the effect that he always demanded cash for one-half of the goods, are certainly sufficient to establish the fact that Johnston never waived his right to payment in cash.
Eichelberger’s testimony, to the effect that Johnston and himself agreed, in the presence of the arbitrators, that any balance that was due to him was to be credited as a payment on these goods, is not corroborated by the testimony of the arbitrators in his behalf It is in conflict with the allegations in his bill, and is denied by the answer and evidence of the defendant. It is, besides, established by the testimony of Miller, as well as the testimony of Anderson, that Johnston directed the goods to be placed together, and gave as his reason for so doing that he would not allow E. an interest until he came up to the agreement; that E. could not “ ante up ” or pay, &c.
In addition to this, it is true that either Johnston or Eichelberger could have withdrawn their consent to the arbitration at any time. 2 Tidd’s Prac., 823. Upon the revocation of the authority of the arbitrators in this case, this agreement, even if proved, being made in reference to and in view of the arbitration, could not be effective as a general agreement to accept payment in his own paper. This was the case, also, with all agreements made in strict refer
•The decree is reversed, and the cause remanded for such proceedings as are conformable to this opinion.
Concurrence Opinion
delivered the following concurring opinion :
Johnston and Eiehelberger were partners in a plantation. Johnston owed Eiehelberger. Eiehelberger had a bar-room business also. Johnston determined to get a stock of merchandise for sale; rented a house from Eiehelberger for that purpose; went to New York, purchased the goods, returned to Ocala, and, before the goods were shipped, made the said contract of sale of half of them, and of partnership, the written contract being left' with the attorney who wrote.it; and Johnston went away again.
The goods were brought to Ocala in Johnston’s absence, and were opened and marked by Eiehelberger and his clerk, acting with Johnston’s clerk. Johnston returned, and the business of selling the goods was conducted by both Johnston and Eiehelberger; the latter alleging now that he was a partner under and by virtue of the said written contract of sale and partnership, and Johnston alleging now that although he humored Eiehelberger along, in hopes that he would perform his contract by paying for half the goods, and thus become a partner, yet he never considered him as such; and that, in fact, as between the two, he never was such; and that he (Johnston) even consented, after awhile, to divide the goods with him, still hoping that he would pay cash for said half; but that, finding at last that he would not so pay for them, he broke up the dividing arrangement-while it was in progress, denied any partnership, kept the whole stock, and still denies that there was any partnership between them, Eiehelberger having had ample time and
Eichelberger contends that under the said contract, and by the part he took in opening and selling the goods, he became the owner and had possession of half of them, and was a partner.
If the contract was an- executed sale, and established a partnership, Eichelberger had a remedy in chancery as to that partnership, and all the affairs connected with it. If not, the remedies of the parties for their claims against each other lay only in a court of law, and the court of chancery had no jurisdiction. The doubt can be solved only by a correct legal interpretation of the aforesaid written contract.
The Circuit Court construed the contract to be an executed sale, and to have established a partnership, and that tribunal also allowed a set off, which was pleaded in an amended bill, after answer, to prevail, and thus to add to the amount decreed against Johnston. It is from that construction, ruling, and consequent decree against Johnston, that this appeal is taken.
What was the intention of the parties to this agreement, as gathered from the writing itself ? It is difficult to'construe it, as though the subsequent acts of the parties were unknown. They are known, and leave their impressions upon the mind, in spite of efforts to disregard them. The idea that Johnston intended to have a cash payment from Eichelberger for half of these goods before the partnership was to begin, without regard or reference to any debt then due or owing by him to Eichelberger, and that Eichelberger intended to pay Johnston for said half of the goods, not in money, but with said debt; in other words, that one of the parties meant one thing and the other the reverse of that thing, without either of them using any words in the written instrument expressive of his intention, is found only in their subsequent acts and allegations detailed in the record of the case, which resulted in the decree of the Circuit Court ap
The writing itself states nothing about any other business transactions by or between the parties, or obligations or claims by one to or against the other. It is strictly confined to this particular stock of goods, and to what is to be done with it.
It is contended by the appellant that the word pay-, in the writing in question, means payment in money, and that from the language used the partnership was to commence only at the time of payment; and by the appellee, that it may be legitimately construed to mean the equivalent of money, to-wit: the said debt due by Johnston to Eichelberger, and that the sale was complete and finished, and the partnership established at the date of the instrument of writing.
The language of the instrument alone shows that it was the intention of Johnston, in consideration of the covenants and agreements of Eichelberger, to sell half of the said stock of goods to him, and establish a partnership with him in the sale of this stock of goods ; and of Eichelberger, to purchase and to pay for said' half, and to establish said partnership. The main question is, whether Eichelberger was bound “ to pay ” in money, or whether it was optional with him l£ to pay ” in something else, to-wit: in an unliquidated demand which he daims that Johnston owed him.
The law of the interpretation of written contracts, applicable to this question, is stated by the judges and commen
“ A sale of goods is the exchange thereof for money. More precisely, it is the transfer of the property in goods from a seller to a buyer for a price paid or to be paid in money. It differs from an exchange in law; for that is the transfer of chattels for other chattels, while a sale is the transfer of chattels for that which is the representation of aU value.” Ibid, 41, and notes. Counsel for appellant cite Hill vs. Austin, 19 Ark., 230; Green vs. Storm, 3 Sandf. Ch., 305.
Counsel for appellee contend that even if it were true that the sale depended upon a condition precedent of payment in cash, there was a delivery of the goods, by which the condition was waived, and cite 2 Story on Con., 803, et seq., and 1 Parsons on Con. 435 and 6, 441, 443. It is the written instrument alone that is now under consideration. “Articles of agreement and deeds of conveyance are to be construed by themselves, and not by subsequent acts of particular parties.” 3 Barr, 72. The reference to 1 Parsons on Con., is an unfortunate one for appellee. Yiewed from the position of the appellant, the law as there announced is strongly in his favor, nor is it seen how the counsel for appellee can construe it otherwise. The written instrument states substantially that Johnston, who had purchased the goods in Hew York, and which were to be shipped and transported to Ocala in Florida, in consideration of the covenants and agreements entered into by Eichelberger, sold half of them to him; and Eichelberger, in consideration thereof, bargained, covenanted and agreed to pay Johnston half the
In this agreement it may have been intended that “ convenient leisure” should be “ waited,” not only to “ count the money,” but to ascertain the amount to be paid, provided the invoices of the purchase in New York had not been previously examined, and the expenses of shipment and transportation had not been satisfactorily estimated. This, however, being uncertain, no clue to the true intention as to the time of payment can be obtained from it. It does seem, however, from the language, that the time of the arrival of the goods at Ocala, uncertain as it -was, was the time at which it should be held that the payment was intended to be made. Under the law governing the interpretation of such a contrived instrument as this is, the time for the payment was immediately, unless some other inference can be reasonably drawn from the language used. The goods were to be shipped, (no time mentioned,) transferred to Ocala, (no time specified.) The half of the original cost of the whole stock was to be paid, with half the cost and charges that may or shall be expended (by Johnston, of course,) in transporting the stock to Ocala. Now if any time of payment other than immediately can be presumed to have been intended by such expressions, it is the time of the arrival of the goods at Ocala. And the language will bear the construction that such was the intention. There are but two constructions, either that
But it is contended that the subsequent acts of Johnston constituted a recognition of the partnership under the said written agreement; a waiver of the breach of payment and a postponement of payment, which amounted to letting Eichelberger have the half of the goods as such partner on credit, which credit authorizes payment by set-off. That though Johnston was absent when the goods arrived, and Eichelberger took charge of them, yet when he returned he did not rescind the contract for non-payment, but allowed Eichelberger to continue to act as partner for several months, and until they disagreed about some other business transactions ; and that even then, Johnston further recognized the said partnership by consenting to a division of the remainder of the stock of goods with Eiehelberger, on the basis of said equal partnership, which division he, Johnston, broke up while in progress.
These acts of Johnston’s might bind him to a partnership as to third persons, who are presumed not to know the agreement nor the breach of it; but Eiehelberger knew the agreement and avers that lie intended to pay Johnston only with a set-off. Under the true legal meaning of the written agreement, this intention of Eichelberger’s was a deception upon Johnston. It was an effort to obtain pay for an unliquidated
It is unnecessary to go into a statement of the accounts, transactions, and demands by and between these parties, nor to decide all the points made in argument by counsel. The case is not one in which a court of equity could have exercised its jurisdiction for relief to Eichelberger, and the bill should be dismissed.
