Becker Co. v. Davis Drug Co.

Statute op Frauds. Sales of personalty. Code 1906, § 4779. So far as concerns the statute of frauds, Code 1906, § 4779,' providing that a contract for the sale of any personal property, etc., for the price of fifty dollars and upwards, shall not be allowed to be good and valid unless the buyer shall receive part of the personal property, etc., the verbal sale for more than fifty dollars of a soda water fountain, with pitchers and paraphernalia, is valid, where a pitcher, a part of the outfit, was delivered.

From the circuit court of Washington county. Hon. Sydney Smith, Judge. The Drug Company, a corporation, appellee, was plaintiff in the court below; the Becker Company, also a corporation, appellant, was defendant there. From a judgment in plaintiff’s favor defendant appealed to the supreme court. The facts are stated in the opinion of the court. What constitutes a receipt of part of the personal property, or a delivery of part of the personal property ? The following is as clear and concise a statement of the rule as can be found: “There must' be on the one hand a delivery by the vendor and intent to vest the title and legal possession in the vendee, and, on the other hand, there must be, not only an actual receipt of the goods, or some part thereof, by the vendee, but also some act or conduct on his part clearly indicating an intent to accept them as owner in pursuance of the parol contract.” Ladnier v,. Ljadnier, 90 Miss. 475, 43 South. 946. This statement of the rule shows that there must be proof, of: 1. A delivery by the vendee, with intent to vest the title and legal j>ossession in the vendee. 2. Not only an actual receipt of the goods, or some part thereof, by the vendee, but, also; 3. Some act or conduct on the vendee’s part clearly indicating an intent to accept the goods as owner in performance of the parol contract. I think it is demonstrable from the testimony: First. That there was no delivery with intent to vest title and legal possession in plaintiff by receipt of the silver chocolate pitcher; and Second. That the testimony of plaintiff’s only witness also shows that it never received the pitcher as owner in performance of the parol contract. By its verdict the jury found “a delivery had been made bv the vendor, with intent to vest title and legal possession in the vendee, and that there was not only an actual receipt of the goods or some part thereof by the vendee, but also * * * conduct on his (vendee’s) part clearly indicating an intent to .accept them as owner in pursuance of the oral contract, as required in Ladnier v. Ladnier, 90 Miss. 475, 43 South. 946. As counsel for appellant cites the above case, we wish to call the court’s attention to the vast distinction between the one at bar and that case on the facts. In that ease, the plaintiff sold to the defendant for $400 a flock of sheep, “woods range delivered.” No money was paid, no writing made, nor any distinct understanding had as to the terms and times of payment; plaintiff relying on a constructive delivery of three sheep which were not in the flock, but pets lying near the house at the time. In the ease at bar, there was a distinct understanding, as testified to by Davis, as to terms and times of payment, and plaintiff relied on constructive delivery of the silver pitcher as if it were a part of the articles sold. In the case at bar there was: (a) A delivery by the vendor with the intent to vest the title and legal possession in the vendee. Dor, what other “delivery” was necessary, than for the purchaser to take possession of part of the very things sold, and carry it to his place of business, in the presence of, and with the full knowledge, acquiesence and •consent of the seller ? (b) Not only an actual receipt of the goods, or some part thereof, by the vendee, but also (e) Some act or conduct on the vendee’s part, clearly indicating an intent to accept the goods as owner, in performance of 'the oral contract.