Leven v. Smith

Upon a sale of merchandize for cash to be paid on delivery, the defendant offered the plaintiffs’ servant, who made the delivery, a note of the plaintiffs which had become payable for nearly the amount, and cash for the residue, which the plaintiffs declining to receive, the defendant refused to give up the goods, or pay the money; held, that no title passed, and that the plaintiffs could maintain replevin for the properly. An erroneous charge upon an immaterial question affords no ground for a writ of error.

Error to the Kings common pleas, where Smith & Hartshorne brought replevin in the detinet against Leven for a quantity of boots and shoes. Plea, non detinet. On the trial, the plaintiffs proved that on the 18th day of January, 1845, the defendant, who kept a store in Brooklyn, called at their store in the same city and agreed to purchase of them a bill of boots and shoes, which he selected, amounting to $184,25, to be paid for in cash on the delivery at the defendant’s store. Lattimer, a person in the employ of the plaintiffs, and instructed by them to deliver the goods on payment of the money, and not otherwise, packed them in boxes and took them to the defendant’s store, where they were compared with the bill and found to be correct, and then the defendant offered Lattimer eight dollars in money and a note of the plaintiffs payable to the order of Young & Shultz, and by them endorsed in blank for $176,23, on which some interest had accrued, in payment of the goods. Lattimer refused to receive the money and note as payment, but proposed to go back and see Mr. Smith, one of the plaintiffs, on the subject, and receive his directions. He accordingly immediately went and consulted Smith, who declined to. receive payment in that way, and directed him to go and bring back the goods. He then went directly to the defendant’s store, not having been absent from it more than four or five minutes, and required the goods to be returned or the money paid; but the defendant refused to pay or to give up the goods. Lattimer left the note on the defendant’s desk on the same day, but not until after the service of the replevin, and he left the money there two days afterwards. The defendant moved for a nonsuit, which was denied, and he excepted. Some evidence tending to vary in unimportant particulars the case made by the plaintiffs was given by the defendant; and upon his resting the plaintiffs gave evidence tending to prove that the defendant obtained the note referred to, of Young-& Shultz, under an understanding that he was to pay the amount if he obtained the goods upon it, otherwise he was to return it. Several objections were made to the admission and rejection of testimony, and the defendant excepted to the ruling of the court upon these objections in several instances, which, however, present no questions of general interest. The court charged the jury, that if the goods were sold for cash, to be paid for on delivery, the sale was conditional and the property did not pass until the condition was complied with; and also, that if the note was in fact obtained from Young & Shultz under such agreement as is above mentioned, the plaintiffs would for that reason be entitled to recover. The defendant’s counsel excepted to the charge, and likewise presented several propositions according to which he desired that it might be modified; but the court declined to charge as requested, and the defendant excepted. The jury found a verdict for the plaintiffs, upon which the court rendered judgment. A bill of exceptions was duly signed.