Lincoln v. Stowell

Mr. Justice Sheldon delivered the opinion of the Court:

This was an action of assumpsit brought by Stowell against Lincoln, to recover for services claimed to have been rendered by the former, for the latter, in selling a lumber yard, and stock of materials owned by Lincoln.

The declaration contains three special counts, and the common counts, and sets out in the special counts a contract under which the alleged services were rendered, in these terms: That if Stowell would bring about and effect the sale for Lincoln, of said yard and materials, Lincoln would permit Stowell to retain one-third interest in the premises and materials; and, in addition thereto, would give him one-third of one-half, for effecting the sale.

Stowell on the trial testified to the contract, as follows: “He (Lincoln) said if I would make a sale of two-thirds of the concern, he would retain one-third, and would give me one-half of that for selling the other two-thirds, and I might account for the rest.”

The testimony of Lincoln, on the trial, contradicted that of Stowell in every material point.

Lincoln testified that he never made such a contract; that he never asked Stowell to sell the property; never employed him to sell it, and never had any talk with him about selling it for him; that the only conversation they had was, that Stowell “said he was going to find some one with capital to buy out my (Lincoln’s) business, so as to give him employment. That he never offered him any thing for doing so.”

To entitle the plaintiff to recover, he must establish his cause of action by a preponderance of testimony.

The plaintiff’s statement of the contract in his declaration, and on the stand, differs.

The other testimony in the case is in corroboration of that of Lincoln. It appears from that of the two Colters, father and son, who purchased the property, and were witnesses on behalf of the plaintiff, that they made the purchase of Lincoln, and though Stowell was present at the sale, it was at their request, and it would seem rather in their interest and behalf. Thomas Culter testified that Stowell had nothing to do with the matter except to give them information when they asked him. He was taken into their employ immediately after the purchase. The services performed, if any, must have been slight, and there was no direct testimony as to their value.. We think the evidence clearly insufficient to1 sustain the verdict, and that a new trial should have been granted for that reason., N

The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.

Judgment reversed. -