Source: http://masscases.com/cases/sjc/196/196mass204.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 18:15:15+00:00

Document:
NORTH PACKING AND PROVISION COMPANY vs. MARGARET E. LYNCH.
Evidence, Extrinsic affecting writings. Sale. Contract.
At the time of the making of an agreement as to the sale of merchandise, the vendee signed and gave to the vendor an instrument in writing stating some of its terms. The vendor did not sign and was not mentioned in the instrument. Held, that the instrument was not a contract of sale in writing the terms of which could not be added to by evidence showing that there were agreements between the parties other than those stated therein.
evidence on the ground that the contract between the parties was in writing and could not be varied by parol evidence. Held, that the evidence should have been admitted, the instrument being a mere bill of parcels, as to which the rule that extrinsic evidence is not admissible to vary or control a contract in writing did not apply.
CONTRACT for the price of one hundred cases of eggs alleged to have been sold to the defendant by the plaintiff. Writ in the Municipal Court of the City of Boston dated March 17, 1906.
"100 Cases Eggs, 3000-19c. Storage rate of 42c. per case for season. He to make deposits of $1. per case upon delivery into storage. He to pay interest at 6 % on amount exceeding deposits of $1 per case."
Rate of storage expires Jan. 1st.
The defendant offered evidence tending to show that the agreement between the parties was that the plaintiff should deliver to the defendant eggs of a certain grade, and that the plaintiff had not done so. The presiding judge ruled that "the writing was a written contract and the entire contract between the parties" and could not be varied "by parol evidence," and excluded the evidence. The defendant excepted.
F. P. Garland & E. D. Wright, for the defendant.
W. J. Gaffney, for the plaintiff.
memorandum signed by the defendant, which would be competent but not exclusive evidence as to the terms of the contract entered into between the parties. No question arises under the statute of frauds.
Without putting the decision upon this ground, we pass to another consideration, which is decisive. The paper does not purport to be a contract of sale. It is a detailed description of the terms and conditions upon which eggs may be stored. If there is cut out of the paper all that relates to this subject, there remains, outside date and name of defendant, only this: "100 Cases Eggs 3000-19c. . . . He to pay interest at 6 % on amount exceeding deposits of $1.00 per case. . . ." This amounts to nothing more than a mere bill of parcels with a statement as to interest to be charged. This is a class of paper commonly used in trade and commerce, and has never been held to be a contract in writing. The rule that parol evidence is inadmissible to vary or control a contract in writing is not applicable to such a paper. A bill of parcels is informal, not designed or employed to set forth the terms of the bargain or sale. Fletcher v. Willard, 14 Pick. 464. Hildreth v. O'Brien, 10 Allen 104. Stacy v. Kemp, 97 Mass. 166. Hazard v. Loring, 10 Cush. 267. Edgar v. Breck Sons Corp. 172 Mass. 581. Dunham v. Barnes, 9 Allen 352. Shenck v. Saunders, 13 Gray 37. Atwater v. Clancy, 107 Mass. 369. Commonwealth v. Jeffries, 7 Allen 548, 564. Walker v. Staples, 5 Allen 34. Caswell v. Keith, 12 Gray 351. Harper v. Ross, 10 Allen 332. The evidence offered by the defendant as to what the terms of the contract were should have been received.

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