Case: WONG KO, Administrator Estate of WONG KIM, Deceased, vs. THE HAWAIIAN GOVERNMENT
Abbreviation: Wong Ko v. Hawaiian Government
Court: Supreme Court of the State of Hawaii
Jurisdiction: Hawaii
Decision Date: 1889-07
Docket Number: 
Citation: 7 Haw. 690
Volume: 7
Reporter: Hawaii Reports
Parties: WONG KO, Administrator Estate of WONG KIM, Deceased, vs. THE HAWAIIAN GOVERNMENT.
Pages: 690–693

WONG KO, Administrator Estate of WONG KIM, Deceased, vs. THE HAWAIIAN GOVERNMENT.
Appeal from Decision of Bickerton, J.
July Term, 1889.
Judd, C.J., McCully, Preston, Bickerton and Dole, JJ.
The Hawaiian Government sold a quantity of opium to plaintiff, conditioned that it remain in bond until exported by plaintiff. The plaintiff had paid the purchase-money for the opium, but before it was delivered to him it was destroyed by fire.
Held, that defendant in holding the opium was not a mere gratuitous bailee; also, that the destruction of the opium before delivery makes the. deposit of the purchase price without consideration.
W. R. Castle, for plaintiff.
C. W. Ashford (Attorney-General), for defendant.

Opinion of the Court.
Upon a careful consideration of this case and the briefs submitted, we are of opinion that the decision of Mr. Justice Bickerton, filed on the 4th of April. 1889, should be affirmed, and we accordingly affirm the same and order judgment for the plaintiff for the amount claimed.
The Government in holding the opium was not a mere gratuitous bailee. The condition of sale was that the opium should remain in bond until exported by the vendee to China or the United States, and the Government’s retention of the opium until the vendee should signify his readiness to so export it, prevented the delivery.
The destruction of the opium before delivery makes the deposit of the purchase price without consideraiion.