Harrison, Judd & Co. v. Crocker

(1) Exceptions. (2) Waiver of breach of warranty by giving notes for full price. (S) Instructions as to burden of -proof. 1. On a single exception to a refusal to give Wo instructions asked by the appellant, this court can only consider whether both instructions, taken together, are a correct statement of the law. 2. Defendant gave his notes here in suit for the full purchase price of a reaper, after he had used and tested it during one season; but defends against the notes for breach of warranty as to the quality and capacity of the reaper. There was evidence that he gave them at the solicitation of plaintiff's agent, to enable the latter to settle with his principals, and upon a promise that it should malee no difference in his liability. Held, that the giving of the notes was not per se a waiver of the breach of ' warranty. 3. There being conflicting evidence as to whether defendant used ordinary care and skill in testing said reaper, the jury were instructed that “the presumption is that, the machine was operated with ordinary care and skill, and, unless the contrary be shown, the jury must assume such to be the fact;” and that, “in the absence of testimony to the contrary, the presumption would be that ordinary care and slrill were used” in this case. Held, that in the actual state of the proofs, the question what presumption would arise in the absence of all evidence, was not involved in the cause; the question of fact should have been submitted to the jury upon the evidence; and the instructions were erroneous, because calculated to mislead the jury to plaintiff’s prejudice.

APPEAL from the Circuit Court for Dwrm County. Action on two promissory notes of the defendant, dated August 22, 1870, for $100 each, with interest, payable June 1, 1871, and June 1, 1872, repectively. Answer, in substance, that the notes were given for a combined reaper and mower sold by plaintiffs, through their agent, to defendant, and warranted to be sound and perfect in all its parts, and capable of doing as good wort as any other similar machine in use in this state; and that sucli warranty was fraudulent, and the machine worthless. Defendant also set up a counterclaim for damages from such breach of warranty, in the sum of $200. Reply, in denial of the counterclaim. On the trial, defendant was permitted, against objection, to open and close. It appeared that the machine was purchased before the harvest of 1870, with warranty as alleged, and that it was put up by one "Wallace, plaintiff’s agent. Defendant’s evidence tended to show that the machine was run by persons who had had some experience in working with such machines; and that it did not do good work as a reaper, and broke down with gi’eat frequency, and was of little or no value. Defendant testified: “ Giving the notes was delayed sometime, as I was not satisfied. Mr. Wallace claimed the company were crowding him up, and said it would make no difference, and I gave the notes.” “ Wallace told me that in order to make it all right with the company, I had better give the notes, and he would make it all right with me about the machine; that if it was not all right, he would make it right; and I gave the notes.” It appeared from the evidence that the machine had been used by defendant at least three years after his purchase, and was still on his farm. Defendant testified that when it was purchased, nothing was said about returning it, and that he never had offered to return it. Mr. Wallace, called as a Avitness for the defendant, testified on his cross examination: “ The defendant found no fault with the machine at the time he gave the notes. I don’t remember- my saying anything about his keeping the machine another year when I took the notes. I supposed it was a sale, and the warranty fulfilled; that is the way I imderstood it when I took the notes. The reason why I did not get them sooner was that I could not find the defendant ready. He made no objection to giving the notes.” The same witness, being called for the plaintiffs, tes-fled: “I asked defendant for the notes so that I could settle witb tbe company, and be gave them to me. That is all the conversation we had.” There was some evidence tending to show that after the first note fell due the defendant promised to pay it, although he then complained of the machine. Eor the plaintiffs, one Munden, who acted as their agent instead of Wallace in 1871, testified that in June of that year defendant applied to him for certain “ extras ” for the machine in question, and complained that he had had trouble with it, and it had frequently broken. “ I told him I thought the pitman box was not screwed tight. If it was loose, the sickle eyes would break as fast as he could put them in. * * I saw the machine that year -after harvest, in defendant’s field, and found it in running order, except that the pitman box was loose. You could chuck it around so that it would break sickle eyes as fast as they were put in. That is all I discovered out of the way, with it. * * Defendant complained of the sickle eyes breaking; he made no complaint about the rake, only about the sickle eyes. I said the cause of it was the pitman box being loose. * * I saw the machine. It could be put in order in ten minutes, and was worth as much as ever: $200 and freight. * * If the boxes are kept tight, the sickle eyes are not liable to break. The nuts are liable to get loose, and want to be watched. * * I do not consider that the way I saw the machine, it would be running it with competent care and skill.” To rebut this evidence, the person who drove the machine the first season for defendant, testified that the nuts to the boxes were kept screwed up, and he took pains with it, and did as near what Mr. Wallace told him as he knew how. The person who ran the machine the second year, also testified that he “ kept the boxes tight.” The plaintiffs requested the court to charge the jury as follows: “ 1. That a warranty that a machine will do good work is upon the condition that it shall be well operated and managed; and before the jury can find that this machine did not do good work, they must find that it was well operated and managed. 2. That if any defect existed in the machine after the sale, which defendant claimed was a breach of the warranty or representations made at the time of sale, it was defendant’s duty to inform the plaintiffs of their existence at the time of giving the notes; and if defendant gave the notes without claiming any deductions from the contract price on account of them, or making any new contract respecting the machine, then the giving of the notes was a waiver of the warranty or fraud, if any, and the jury must find for the plaintiff for the amount of the notes and interest.” The court refused so to charge. Certain instructions given to the jury as to the presumption that defendant had operated the machine with ordinary care and skill, are sufficiently stated in the second paragraph of the opinion, imfra. The jury found that plaintiffs had no cause of action; a new trial was denied; and plaintiffs appealed from a judgment on the verdict. The case was submitted by both sides on briefs. contended, among other things, 1. That there is no presumption that defendant operated the machine with ordinary care and skill, or that he employed suitable persons to operate it; and he should have made proof of the fact at the trial. Chamberlain v. BaUway Co., 7 "Wis., 431; Lehman v. City of Brooklyn, 29 Barb., 236; Fordv. Swmions, 13 La. Ann., 397; Great Western B’y Co. v. Bacon, 30 Ill., 347. 2. That in view of defendant’s giving the notes after a trial of the reaper for a whole season, without condition or complaint about the machine, and his subsequent promise to pay, the second instruction asked by plaintiffs should have been given. Boothby v. Seales, 27 Wis., 638; Booth v. Byan, 31 id., 45; Beed v. Bandall,.29 N. Y., 362, 363; Gaylord Mam,. Co. v. Allen, 53 id., 519; Cassidy v. Be-few'e, 57 Barb., 313. 3. That the evidence was not such as to warrant the finding of the jury. 1. After an executed sale of the machine to him with express warranty, the subsequent giving of notes by defendant for the price was not necessarily a waiver of the terms of the warranty. The property vested in him from the delivery; and he could retain it and sue on his warranty without notice. Getty' <o. Rountree, 2 Pin., 379. In fact this was his only remedy. Sedgw. on Dam., 287. The giving of the notes could therefore make no difference in the rights of the parties (Chitty on Con., 407, note 1); though it might be some evidence that the terms of the warranty were complied with, and sufficient to call for explanation on defendant’s part. In this case the reason why the notes were given are fully explained. 2. Ordinary care and diligence are always presumed, until the contrary appears. Men are presumed to act for their own interest, and to use ordinary care and diligence in prosecuting their business. Shearm. & Redf. on ETeg., §§ 43, 44, and cases there cited. M. <& G. R R. Go. v. Hunter, 11 Wis., 160.