Case Name: Walsh vs. Gilmor, et al.
Court: Court of Appeals of Maryland
Jurisdiction: Maryland
Decision Date: 1813-12
Citations: 3 H. & J. 383
Docket Number: 
Parties: Walsh vs. Gilmor, et al.
Judges: Nicholson, J. consurred with the Chief Justice.
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the General Court and Court of Appeals of the State of Maryland, form 1800 ... [to 1826]
Volume: 3
Pages: 383–410

Head Matter:
Walsh vs. Gilmor, et al.
Appeal from Baltimore County Court. This was an action of assumpsit5 brought in tiie general court, by the appellees against the appellant The declaration con taine(j £ counts. In the fivst count it was stated, that where* as ^ic planjtlff, oh the 27th of July 1791, and long before and after, were joint partners in trade and commerce, trading under the name and firm of Robert Gihnor and company: And whereas the plaintiiih were the owners of a quantity of Brandy, to wit, 102 pipes, then shipped on board a certain ship called The Ann, and then on her voyage from Bourdeaux, in France, to the port of Baltimore, to wit, at the county aforesaid: And whereas on the said day and year aforesaid, at the county aforesaid, it was agreed between the plaintiffs, by the name of Robert Gihnor avid company, and the defendant, that the defendant would purchase of the plaintiffs whatever Brandy they might have on board the said ship called The Ann, from Bourdeaux, supposing the quantity of 90 pipes, or thereabouts, at the 'rate of one dollar and fifty cents per gallon, whatever the proof might be, provided the said Brandy arrived at the .said port of Bal/imore, in the county aforesaid, in six weeks from the said day and year last aforesaid.. The defendant also agreed to give the plaintiffs his, the defendant’s note, with John Carrere as his security, or his the defendant and John Carrere’s notes, payable at three and four months, for the amount of the said Brandy, the date of tiie said notes to commence from the delivery of the said Brandy by the plaintiffs to the defendant. And the plaintiffs do aver, that the said Brandy arrived in the port of Baltimore, in the county aforesaid, within six weeks after the day and year last aforesaid, to wit, on the 1st day of August 1795, and that the plaintiffs on the 5th day of An giiát ih the year aforésaid, at, &c. afterwards delivered the said Brandy to the defendant. And whereas afterwards* to wit, on the 19th day of August, in the year aforesaid, at, &c. certain differences and disagreement took place between the plaintiffs and the defendant, of ánd concerning the said Brandy, for the settlement and determination thereof the plaintiffs, by the name of 12. G. & Co. and the defendant, afterwards, to wit, on the 19th day of August 1T95, at, See. submitted themselves to the award of John Strieker and John Holmes, arbitrators* by them the plaintiff'» and the defendant indifferently chosen and named, ta award, order and adjudge, respecting the difference and disagreement between them the plaintiffs and the defendant, of and concerning the said Brandy; and in case the sáid John Strieker and John Holmes should differ in opinion* then they the said Strieker ánd Holmes may choose some third person. Upon which the defendant afterwards, that is to say, on, &c. at. See. in consideration that they the plaintiffs, at the special instance and request of the defendant, assumed upon themselves, and to the defendant, then and there faithfully promised to the defendant, that they* the plaintiffs, would well and faithfully perform and fulfil the award, order and determination* of them the said Strieker and Holmes, so as aforesaid to be made on the part of them, the plaintiffs, to be performed and fulfilled, the defendant’ Wpon himself assumed* and to the plaintiffs then and there faithfully promised, that he the defendant would well and faithfully perform and fulfil the award, order and determination, of the said Strieker and Holmes, so as aforesaid to be made, on the pari of him, the defendant* to be performed and fulfilled. And the plaintiffs in fact say, that the said Strieker and Holmes, on the 99d of August, in the year aforesaid, at, &c. took upon themselves the burthen of the said award, and then and there, in due manner, made and gave their award and final determination, in writing, of and concerning the premises so submitted to them as aforesaid, and by the said award did then and there award and order, that the defendant do choose, and that he is bound to take, ninety pipes, or ten thousand gallons, out of the Brandy delivered him by It. G. & Co. and that he ought to give an endorser, as by the agreement submitted to the. said Strieker and Holmes, and winch said agreement was acknowledged by the plaintiffs and the defendant, to the flaiéí Strieker and Hohiiesj of all which premises the defiifa ’ dant aftérWards, to wit, oh, Ac. at, Ac. had noti'cej where-fey the defendant ivas bound to choose the said 90 pipes, dr 10,000 gallons, out óf the Brandy delivered to him by the said It. G. & Co. and to give an endorser, according to the agreéWé'fft aforesaid between him the defendant and the plaintiffs,- arid acknowledged by them as aforesaid and according to the form arid effect of the said award, an'd tho promises and undertakings of the defendant SO" made as aforesaid. Yet the defendant, not regarding his said agreement, nor his said promises and undertakings, so by him in this behalf made,- but contriving, &c. the plaintiffs,- Ac. hath not yet chosen the said 90' pipes, or 10,000 gallons, «lit of the Brandy delivered to him the defendant, by the plaintiffs,- wor hath he the defendant given an endorser, as By the agreement aforesaid made' between the defendant and the plain tiffs-, and acknowledged by them as aforesaid, according to- the form arid effect of the said award, although ¡the defendant was thereto- requested' by the plaintiffs, tra wit,- on,- &e. and often- afterwards^ but to- choose the said SO pipes, or 10,000' gallons, Ac. delivered, Ac. according' to the said award of, Ac. or to- give an endorsen, Ac. the defendant hath hitherto wholly refused, Ac. The' second count.- And whereas'also, the'plaintiffs, on the said 27th of July 1795, and long before and after, were partners,- Ac. And whereas- the plaintiffs were- owners of a quantity of Brandy, to wit, Í02 pipes, then shipped on board a certain-ship called The Ann, and then and- there on her voyage from■Bourdemx, vn France,- to the port of Baltimore,-1& Wit, at the county aforesaid — And whereas on tire day,- Ac. it was agreed between the plaintiffs, by the name of It. G. &, Co. and the defendant, that he- the' defendant would purchase • of the plaintiffs whatever Brandy they the plaintiffs might have on board the said ship eaile<F The Ann, from- Boutdeaux, supposing the quantity of 99 pipes, or thereabouts, at the rate of one dollar and fifty cents per gallon, what' ever the proof might be, provided the said Brandy arrived at the said port of Baltimore, in the- county aforesaid,- i» six weeks-from the said day and year last aforesaid. And the defendant also agreed to give the plaintiffs his the-defendants note-, with J. C. as-his security, or his the defen- * dant and J. C’s notes, payable at. 3 and 4 months, for the amount of the said Brandy; the dates of the said notes t& commence fr.om fhe delivery of the said Brandy by the plaintiffs to the defendant. And the plaintiffs do aver, that, they xvcr.e owpe.f-s of the said 102 pipes of Brandy on board the said ship called The firm, on her voyage from Bourdpuux. in Franpp, to the port of Baltimore, and that the said 102 ¡lipes of Brandy afterwards, and within sis weeks from the said 27th of July 1795, to wit, on the 1st of August, in the year last aforesaid, arrived in the port of Baltimore, &c. And the plaintiffs do aver, that ttiey, confiding in the promise and undertaking of the defendant, made as aforesaid, afterwards, to wit, on the 5th of August, in the jear aforesaid, at, &p, delivered the said 102 pipes of Brandy to the defendant. iNevertheless the defendant, &c. refused to give his note to the plaintiffs, with the said ./. <7, as his security, or to give the notes of the defendant and J. C. to the plaintiffs, payable at 3 a.nd 4 months, for the amount of the said Brandy, or for the amount of any part thereof, the date of the said poles to commence from the delivery ot the said Brandy, according to tfie agreement aforesaid between the defendant and the plaintiffs, although the defendant was afterwards requested so to do by them the plaintiffs, on the 24th of August Í 795, and often afterwards, at, &c. But the defendant so to do hath hitherto wholly refused, and still doth refuse, to the damage, &c. The defendant pleaded the general issue.
Where the plaintiff had produced in evidence certain letters written to Mm by the defendant, relative to a contract for the sale of Brimlv, ambfor snbmítríng their dispute to arbitrators —Held, that the whole co respondence on the subject, if produced, w.iuld be reeeiv ed in evidence, so far as the same might he explanatory of the terms of the ref.uvnce, and what was intended to be submitted b3'the parties to the arbitrators. That if the plaintiff would not produce all the letters, the defendant might give evidence of their contents, so farasthev related to the refovenee. But if the letters were not produced, the jury ought not to presume that they would* if produced, operate against the plaintiff, and go to prove that the terms of the reference were different fVom those tie-* dared upon by him.
A paper signed by the defendant as a submission to reference, is competent evidence, although the ^.daimiff did not produce and read to the jury the letters of the defendant upon the subject oi the re-*
Whether the counsel for the plaintiff is bound to answer whether he has or has not in his possession, certain letters written by the def-ndant to the plaintiff* relative to the subject in dispute?
If an award, made in pursuance of a submission by the parties, exceeds the subject matter referred, st does not annul the original contract, which is the subject of the reference, further than the award ¿pur»ues and is eomformahle to the terms of the reference*
jfhe terms and stipulations between the parties on which their matters in dispute were to be sub° Siitted to reference, au* matters of fact to be determined by the jury
As to what is legal evidence of a sale made at auction — The entries made by a clerk to the auction-* eer» are not the best evidence.
ÜaoiMges cannot be recovered for noncompliance with an award, except so far as the award is com*' Sormable to the submission
If part only of a subject matter is^ referred to, and awarded upon by arbitrator, the party is at liberty to comply with the award, without also complying with all the terms of the original agreement»
The court will not permit a statement of facta, which is irrelevant to the subject matter# to be ad* to a bill of exceptions taken at the trial oí* a caps»?.
Whore the court refused to direct the fury, that the evidence offered was sufficient for 'them to find for live plaintiff’m an action upon an award for a mineo nptmnee therewith.
An award made in pursuance of a submission to arbitrators, either separate from, or connected with* the original contract, is not legal or competent evidence in support of a count in tlie declaration founded upon the original contract
\Vliere a party refuses to keep goods according to contract, after they have been delivered to him ..under the conn act, and the other party takes them iiom his waiehouse with his knowledge and anquí "iCtMice, for the purp ise of sale ai nuetiou, &e, the contract is not rescinded
In actions founded on contracts, the contract must he set out either m the vyords in which it is made* oi according tu the legal effect; and contracts being in their nature entire, it’the contract proved,and that ‘ec ared tipui. he different m any part, tin* van nice is fatal
Where an award iras ctuniden-d as being a ithin the submission of the matter in controversy
Whatever n alleged m a declaration a* inducement and is not impertinent and foreign to the action must be proved as alleged; and when a contract is alleged and described, a variance is equal'y fatal* ■w Ik ther the action be upon the contract itself or upon some collateral matter
Where an award directed that ihe defendant should give an endorser, *‘as per agreement submitted' to ‘lu* arbitrators and .icknow edged by the pat ties,v and though it may he susceptible of being made certain and good by relercnce to the agreement to which it relate*, if there he no sufficient averment in the di duration by w hich she defect h cured, both the declaration and award are had
The omission of an averment is sometimes,aided after verdict, on the ground that every thing may lie presumed to have been proved, winch \v.t-, i,m ^sary to sustain the action; but where the hill of exceptions contains all the evidence offered to the jury, and upon which the court are required to direct them, that the plaimJf is not entitled 10 recover, the verdict producer uo such effect
1. The first MU of exceptions. At October term 1803,in the general court, the plaintiffs at the trial gave in evidence a contract entered info by the defendant, being a letter dated the 27fh of July 1795, addressed by him to (he plaintiffs; it was as follows: “I agree to purchase from you whatever Brandy you may have on board 'The finn from Bonrdeaux, supposing the quantity 90 pipes, or thereabouts, at the rate of one dollar and fifty cents per gallon, whatever the proof pray be, provided it arrives here in six weeks from this date. I agree also to give you my note, with John Carrera as security, or mine and John Garrard’s pote, payable at 3 and 4 mouths, for tfie amoupt of the said Brandy: the date of the nptes ip commence from the delivery of the said Brandy.” The plaintiffs also gave in evidence, that the ship finn, ip the contract mentioned, arrived at the port of Baltimore within six weeks from the date of the contract, having a cargo of 102 pipes of Bran dy on board, the property of the plaintiffs, and that the Brandy was received by the defendant’s clerk, according ^‘s ci¡rections, in his warehouse, about the 1st of August 1795.1 That the defendant, after examining the Brandy, refused to comply with his contract, and in consequence thereof the dispute between the plaintiffs and the dcfen- . dant, concerning the Brandy, was submitted to John Strieker and John Holmes. And the plaintiffs offered in evidence the following written submission, executed by the defendant, on the 19th of August 1795, being a letter addressed by him to the plaintiffs: *T agree that Col. Strieker and Mr. J'ohn Holmes should be judges in the dispute respecting the Brandy, and in case of a disagreement in. opinion between those tyvo gentleman, that they may chuse a third.” And that the arbitrators took upon themselves the burthen of arbitrating betyveen the parties, and after foil hearing of each party, made the following award: *‘We the subscribers, being called upon to arbitrate a difference between Messrs. Robert Gilmor & Co. and Mr. Robert Walsh, relative to a sale of Brandy by the'former, to the latter- — after hearing the allegations of the parties, cSnsidering the contract, and all other circumstances relating thereto', do award that Mr. Walsh do chuse, and that he is bound to take, ninety pipes, or 10,000 gallons, opt of the Brandy delivered him by Robert Qilmor & Co, and that he ought to give an endorser, as per agreement submitted to us, and acknowledged by the parties.
Jno. Holmes,
John Strieker.
JBuldmore, August 22, 1795.1’ ■
The plaintiffs further offered evidence, that after the award was made and delivered to the defendant, they applied to him to comply with it, and that he refused to do so, declaring that he wouli} not take any of the Brandy apcortling to the terms of the contract and the award; and that thereupon the plaintiffs informed the defendant, that unless he took the Brandy, according to the contract and pward, they would send the Brandy to public vendue, and there have it sold on his aepount, apd bold him answerable foi the difference between the price for pbich it should sell, and the sum’ which, by the contract, the defendant was to give for it. That the plaintiffs did accordingly pppd foe Brandy to Messrs, ffoes and Campbell, auc iíoneers in the city of Baltimore, by whom it was sold at public auction for a less sum than the defendant had con- * tracted to give for it. The defendant then offered evidence, that the communications between the plaintiffs and himself respecting the contract, were, by letters from one to the other, and notin person: That the proposition for referring the dispute between them was first made by the plaintiffs to him, by letter from 11. G. one of the plaintiffs, dated the 17th of August 1795, as follows; “I received your note of this morning, and observe the new ground you have taken as a reason for not complying with your contract. It will answer no good end for me to enter into a discussion with you on the business, as it is not probable that it would tend to a settlement of it. You are, as a man of honour and 9 merchant, bound to abide by your contract, unless you can show such reasons as will justify a noncompliance; those now adduced appear to me totally inadequate to this purpose. There is then bat one course left, which is, to lay our several pretensions before indifferent roen, and to abide by their determination. If you agree to this, let two men be named, they choosing a third, and let us enter in bonds for abiding by their award. Let me have an answer as early this morning as convenient, as I want the business terminated without loss of time, that something may be immediately dong with the Brandy.i? That this letter speaks of one from the defendant to the plaintiffs; and that this letter from the plaintiff's produced an answer from the defendant to them, of the 18(h of August 1795, in which they offered to prove that he consented to a reference, and speaks of the terms of the submission, and refuses to let the arbitrators determine whether the defendant shall or shall not give an endorser to the plaintiffs; ;vhich facts are inferred from the following letter of 11. G. one of the plaintiff's, to the defendant, dated the 18th of August 1795: <■‘1 received yours of this morning. The gentlemen who may be appointed will judge of every circumstance you Lave to oiler as a justification for your refusal to taka the Brandy. If they think they are valid, I shall cheerfully acquiesce. Bqt 011 the other hand, should they determine that you are bound to take the whole, or a part of the Brandy, J cannot doubt for a moment your Acquiescence upon the principles of our contract. You voluntarily named Mr. Carrera as the endorser of y our notes» I could pot doubt but Jie had authorised you so to do; for of his pwn apcerd he tpld me that he would be security for you if you purchased .the Brandy. I therefore will not harbour ?t thought of a refusal of (his kind, as I think it would be injurious to your honour, i shall name Col. Smith, or Mr, Patterson, if you have no objection; or you may choose whieh you like, and name to me two gentlemen, ■ and I will pliooge onppf them, For obvious reasons you willge-e the necessity of having'this business pa ply finished, and .1 beg you will speak to the gentleman you way choose this afternoon, as I shall, provided you inform me you have no objection tp those I have pained, sp thattjiey may go upon it next day*” Tb.e defendant alsp read in evidence another letter of R. G. one of the plaintiffs,- to the defendants dated 19th of August 1795, and which w?is as follows: “£ cannot believe that, you will refuse to comply with your own engagement, provided indifferent men spy ypu ought; however, you will do in that as you think proper. I have no objection to any of the gentlemen you have parued,and therefore naipe Col. Strieker. As you have named the whole of them I suppose you can have np objection tpMr, JJohnes being the other. If this is agreeable, let them be requested to serve to-day. and they may meet op the busi-pess to morrow.” That this last letter,produced thp note from the defendant ta the plaintiffs, and by them herein before stated as having jipen written on the 19th of August 1795. The defendant then proved by Robert Gilmoi:, Junior, a witness summoned and sworn by the plaintiffs, that the above mentioned letters from the defendant to the plaintiffs, of the dates of the 17th and 18th of August, '1795, did relate tp the matter in dispute between the parties, and did also relate to the agreement between the plaintiffs and the defendant, for submitting such matter tp the arbitrament of the persons before named, and that the letters from the defendant tq the plaintiffs were pow here ‘ in court, and in the possession of the counsel for the plaintiffs. The defendant then preyed the court to make an order upon the pounsel for the plaintiffs to pppduce those leL ters, for the purpose pf biding the same read to the jury as evidence.
Dome, J. (Surigg, J. concurred,) . The Court are pf opinion, that the whole correspondence on this subjects if produced, will be received in evidence so far as tlie samé shall be explanatory of the terms of the reference, and What was intended to be srtbmitted by the parties; and that if tlie plaintiffs7 counsel will not produce the letters from the defendant to the plaintiffs, the defendant ntaf give evidence of the contents of the Same, so Csf as they relate to' the reference. The plaintiffs excepted.
2. Phc second bill of exceptions. The court Having received evidence that certain letters, bearing date on the 17th, 18th and 19lh of August 1795, respectively, pSs^ed from the defendant to the plaintiffs, and from the plaintiffs, relating td the agreement between them for submitting the matter irt dispute between thérn (upon which this suit is founded,) to reference; in virtue of which submission, the award in this suit declared upon was made; and the defendant having on his parí produced the letters from the plaintiffs to him,- and having proved liy the admission stated in the former bill of exceptions, and also offered to prove by the testimony ®f Robert Gihrtor, junior, (who deposed that hs had seer» those letters in Baltimore about ten days ago, and had them in his possession,- and delivered them over at that time to one of the counsel for the plaintiffs,) that the letters from him, the defendant, to the plaintiffs, are in the possession ef the plaintiff’s counsel, and now in coúrt here: And the court having decided that those letters from the defendant to the plaintiffs are proper and competent evidence to be produced and read to the jury — am! the plaintiffs having refused to produce any, except that stated to have been written on the 19th of August 1795, the defendant then prayed the court to direct the jury, that if they are satisfi * ed that the letters from the defendant to the plaintiffs, of the 17th arid 18th of August 1793, do relate to the agreement for submitting the dispute to reference, and that' Said letters are in the possession of the counsel lor the plaintiffs and in their power to be produced here, and the same are not produced, that then the, jury may and ought to presume, that the same, if produced, would operate against the plaintiffs, and go to prove that the terms of the submission to reference, agreed upon between the parties, were different from those declared upon by the plaie^ tiffs. 1 ?
Mason, and PV. Dorsey, for the Defendant,
cited 2 Esp. Dig. 780, 782; and Armory vs. Delamine, 1 Stra. 505.
Purvlttnce and S. Chase, jr. for the plaintiffs,
referred to the act of 1798, ch. 84.
Mason, for the Defendant*
cited 2 Esp. Dig. 780.
Chase Ch. J. ovvin'g to indisposition, did npt attend.

Opinion:
The Court
refused to give the direction prayed for. The defendant excepted,
S', The third hill of exceptions. The defendant then prayed the court to dire'et the jury, that the paper dated the Í9lh of August 1795, and admitted to be written and signed by the defendant, and by him sent to the plaintiffs, and produced and read by the plaintiffs to the jury, was not admissible evidence, and ought not to be' regarded by them, unless the plaintiffs also produced and read to the jury the letters of the defendant to the plaintiffs upon the subject of the reference, dated the 1 fifth and Í 9th of August l795.
The Court
refused to give the direction. The defendant excepted.
4. The defendant's counsel having sworft John Purviancc, Esquire, one of the plaintiffs' counsel, offered to put to him the following question': "Have you in your possession the letters mentioned to have been written by the defendant to the plaintiffs of the 18th and 19th of August 1795?" To this qestion being put to the witness, the counsel for the plaintiffs objected.
Done, J.
It is not proper for the counsel to answer the question, unless he is willing to answer it.
Sprigg, J.
I think the' question ought to be answered.
5. The fourth hill of exceptions. The plaintiffs- having given In evidence the contract before mentioned* then gave in evidence the following letter from the defendant to- the • plaintiffs dated the 17th of August 179oi "When I agreed to purchase the Brandy which you should receive by the ship Arm, at the rate Of one dollar and fifty cents p. gallon, it was intended by Mr. Gilmor and myself that it should be of the quality generally received from Bourdcaux, and called Bourdeaux Brandy, that the quantity was about 9(5 pipes; and under an assurance from Mr. Gilmor. that no more Brandy' would arrive in the ship, but that which Was consigned to your house, to wit, the ninety pipes, and a email quantity of oldCogniac, which Mr. Gihnor had ordered for his own use, and the use of two other friends — J therefore Calculated that the amount in money of the purchase would be from 14 to 15,000 dollars, counting the guage of the Bourdeaux pipes,, as usual, not more than 100 to 110 gallons, and had prepared an endorser for my notes accordingly. Being in Phi* laddphia when the Ann arrived, and the Brandy landed, it was received in my warehouse — On my return home, two or three days after it was landed, and on examining it, I found the quality not Bourdeaux Brandy; the quantity about one half more than was expected, and about 50 pipe» of Brandy offered for sale in the town, in other handst which were imported in the Jinn. I therefore inform you, that I do not hold myself bound to the purchase, because the quality is not Bourdeaux Brandy; the quantity is much more than 1 counted upon, or had a right to count upon, and because a considerable quantity has been imported in the ship, and put into the market, more than that received by your house." The plaintiffs also gave in evidence the letter from them to the defendant, dated the 17th of August 1795, as herein before stated, and also the following letter from the defendant to the plaintiffs, dated the 1 Stfe, of August 1795: "In your note of yesterday you say 1 have taken a new ground as a reason for my not complying with my contract, and that as a man of honour and a merchant, I am bound to abide by my contract, unless I can show such reasons as will justify anoncorapliance,and that, to you, those adduced appear totally inadequate to the purpose — and you observe, that there is but one way left, which is, to lay our several pretensions before indifferent men, and to abide by their determination, and if I agree, to let you know, that two men may be named, and let us enter into bonds for abiding by their award. In answer, I observe, that I have taken no new ground; that my objections are true, two of them you will not, I believe, deny — those are, that the quantity is more than about ninety pipes, and that you assured me no other Brandy would be imported in the ship. I am not afraid to meet the decision of indifferent judges; they may be named when you please; and as to our entering into bonds, I feel myself at a loss t<¡> know what I should bind you to. If my objections are considered as suilicient to clear me from being bound to the purchase, I have then no other claim olí you, but to pay for tíié-pórterage of the Brandy to my warehouse, ántl fmf your doing So; I desire no bond. If the gentlemen who ínay be chosen would say that my objections are not well founded* and that, therefore, I must be bound to the purchase of the Brandy, I shall agree,- so far as relates to any act within my own power; but I must observe, it may not be in my power to' obtain the endorser you called for." The, plaintiffs also .gave in evidence the'letter from them to the defendant, dated the'18th of August 1795, herein before stated; arid also the following letter from the defendant t© the plaintiffs, dated the 19th of August 1795: "I repeat* that if it is judged that I shall be obliged to keep the Brandy, or,any part of it, which Í think scarcely possible,! will offer you no endorser. I da believe¡jhat neither Gen. Sinith or Mr. Patterson would act on this occasion, as I'suppose they would consider themselves not conversant enough with Brandies to determine whether this in question is Bourdeaux or Straights Brandy; either of these gentlemen could very readily discover that this Brandy is not as good as they are accustomed to use, but not being in habits, perhaps, of oh-* serving nicely the different qualities, would be at a loss to give your's a name. I therefore object to either of these gentlemen; and propose for your choice of ofie, three gentlemen, dealers in the article — they are Mr. John Holmes, Col. Strieker, and Mr. Engélhard Yeise'rThe plaintiffs also offered in evidence the letter from them to the defendant, dated the 19th of August 1795, herein before stated; also the submission entered into after the letters, dated the 19th of August 1795, and herein before stated; and also tljé award made in pursuance thereof. The plaintiffs then prayed tbedirection of the court to the jury, that the award was authorised by the submission, and within the terms of it.
Martin, .(Attorney-General,) for the Plaintiffs,
cited Green vs. Warren, 1 Blk. Rep. 475.
Doné, J.
The court are of Opinion, that the terms and Stipulations between the parties, on which their matters in dispute were to be submitted to reference, are matters of fact to be determined by the jury, on evidence adduced to them. The court, therefore, cannot give the direction prayed for by the counsel of the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs excepted.
6, The fifth bill of exceptions. The plaintiffs further proved, that on the 12th of October 1795, they drew the fallowing written order on the defendant, to deliver the Brandy to Yates and Campbell: "You will deliver Messrs. Yates and Campbell the 10,1 pieces ofRrandy, and you will account with me for the piece that was staved. My son Robert will calluponyou to-day or to-morrow for that purpose." That in pursuance of that order, the Brandy was delivered, on the 13th of October 1795, to Yates and Campbell, and by them sold at public auction, by order of the plaintiffs, on the 16th of October 1795. The plaintiffs then produced, and offered to read to the jury, a paper purporting to be the original list or memorandum, upon which was entered the different casks containing the Brandy, and upon which the entries were afterwards made that v/ere transferred to the books of Yates and CampJiflL the persons to whom the same were sold by Yales and Campbell, and the prices at which the same were sold; and proved that the same waft made out in the handwriting of one-^ ]^atrick,x who at that time acted as clerk of Yates and Campbell, and hq being present qt the sale, made out the same by thek order; and that Patrick was now dead. To the reading, of this paper to the jury, the defendant objected, on the ground qf its being inadmissible evidence.
Bone, J.
The court are of opinion, that the objection is not a good one, and they permitted the paper to be read to the jury. The defendant excepted,
7. The plaintiffs then prayed the opinion of. the court,, and their direction to the jury, that if the jury should believe that no part of the contract was submitted to the arbitrators, except whether the defendant should take any, and what quantity of the Brandy, that then the award made cannot operate to, change, alter qr annul, the contract, either as to the price to, be paid,, the time when the payments were to be made, or the manner in which the payments were, to be secured, those parts, of the contract not being submitted to the arbitrators,.
Bone, J.
The court are, of opinion, that the award does not destroy or annul the original contract between th.e parties, further than the award pursues, and conforma-; Pi? to the tenp of the rejerepge.
The court are also of opinion, that the plaintiffs camigt on the first count in their declaration recover damages, except for a noncompliance with the award, so far as the same is conformable to the submission.
8. The sixth bill of exceptions. The plaintiffs offered in evidence, that the defendant, on the 27th of July 1795, entered into a contract with the plaintiffs, by the two following letters: [The first being a letter from the plaintiffs to the defendant, and the other from the' defendant to the plaintiffs.] "Agreeable to our promise, we now conclude on selling you whatever Brandy we may have on board the Jinn from Bourdeaux, upon the terms you proposed; that is, you are to pay us at the rate of one dollar anti fifty cents per gallon for the whole, which we estimate at about 90 pipes, (exclusive of some old cogniac we have on board which is not meant to be sold,) whatever the proof may be, provided the ship arrives in six weeks from this timéi Ón, the delivery of the Brandy you are to' give us your and Mr. J. Carre.rc's notes for'the whole, at S and 4 months from the' commencement of the delivery — Your agreéing to the preceding terms wilt be binding on," &c.'" Then the ' other letter from the ' defendant to the plaintiffs was dated the 27th of July 1795, and is before stated in the first bill of exceptions. ' The plaintiffs also offered in evidence, that the said vessel did arrive within six weeks, having on board 18,025 gallons,' equal to 124 pipes of Brandy, which in the absence of the defendant was received at his warehouse according to the defendant's directions. They also offered'the' Several letters which 'passed between the plaintiffs and' defendant, herein before set' forth, dated the 17th,' 18th/and 19th of August 1795; also the submission to the ¿rbitrators and theirawardi'and gave iñ evidencé that a copy of the ¿ward was delivered to the parties, ' The plaintiffs' then prayed the opinion of the court, 'and their direction to the jury, that supposing no part of the contract was submitted to' the' arbitrators, except whether the defendant should take any and What quantity'of the Brandy, in that case the 'defendant by' the ¿ward was bound to take 90 pipes, or 10,000 gallons, of the Brandy, but at the same time was not by the 'award entitled to take the same without complying with/the terms el. the contract as to the price, the times of payment, and the manner in which the payment was to be secured.
Sprigg, J. [Dons, J. not present,)
refused to give the direction prayed for. The plaintiffs excepted.
9. The seventh hill of exceptions. The plaintiffs having offered in evidence, that on the 10th of October 1795, being Saturday, the plaintiffs called upon the defendant, and demanded of him whether he would retain the! Brandy, so delivered into his warehouse, on the terms of the contract, and the award, to which the defendant replied that he would not, that'he had never-considered the Brandy as his, and that the plaintiffs might take it away whenever they pleased. That the plaintiffs then told the defendant, that they would take away the Brandy the next Monday, and if on a resale any loss should arise they, the plaintiffs, should consider the defendant responsible, and act accordingly. To which the defendant made no reply. The plaintiffs then proved, that on Monday the Í2th of October 1795, they drew an order in writing for the Brandy, on the defendant. That in consequence of that order the Brandy was delivered by the defendant to Messrs Fates and Campbell, the persons in the order named. The defendant having offered to subjoin the above statement of the evidence, admitted to have been given, to the statement of facts made by the plaintiffs, as the foundation of their prayer for the opinion of the court given on the preceding bill of exceptions,
The Court, [<S'prigg, J.]]
refused to have the same added, on this ground, that the same had no relation to the subject matter by the prayer submitted for the consideration of the court. The defendant excepted.
10. The eighth hill of exceptions. Upon the. statement in the sixth tall of exceptions, and the court having previously directed the jury, that by the award the defendant was bound to take 90 pipes, or 10,000 gallons, of the Brandy, the plaintiffs then prayed the opinion of the court, and their direction to the juryj whether, supposing no part of the contract "way submitted to arbitrators, except whether the defendant should take, any and what quantity of the Brandy, the defendant way in consequence cf the av/ard. entitled to take the same, without complying with the terms of the contract,
' Sprigs, J. (Done, J. not present.)
The Court are of opinion, that under the award the defendant was at liberty to keep the Brandy without complying with all the terms of the original agreement herein recited- The plaintiffs excepted.
11. The ninth hill of exceptions. The defendant, by hi* counsel, proposed to add the statement in the seventh hill, of exceptions, to the last above statement; but the court refused to permit it to be added, upon the same ground it was refused to the statement in the sixth bill of exceptions, The defendant excepted.
12. The tenth hill of exceptions. The plaintiffs then gave in evidence, by Colonel John Strieker, one of the arbitrators, that previous to the award they the arbitrators never received.any papers relative to the matter in dispute, from either of the parties, but in the presence of the opposite party; that the arbitrators, previous to the giving the award, had but one interview with the parties, when each made a verbal statement of their case, and the plaintiffs left with the arbitrators the letter from the defendant to them, dated the 2,7th July 1795, herein before stated. That he the witness, did not know whether the defendant saw that paper when it was delivered to the arbitrators by the,plaintiffs, or not, and that he does not recollect whether the defendant did or did not agree to submit to the arbitrators whether he the defendant should give to, the plaintiffs, an endorser for the price of the Brandy, in case he should be. adjudged by the arbitrators to take the same, or any part M.flmretjf. That the letter from the defendant to, the.plaintfbpve stated, on the 27th July 1795, was the. paperupftrf/which the arbitrators acted'; and that having- deterpjtjn^ljbat the defendant should keep 90 pipes, or 1,0,000. gallons,*of the Brandy, th.e arbitrators determined that he .¿ought to give an endorser, it being so provided by the contract,. . The plaintiffs then prayed the opinion of the court : 'to.the'jury, that if they believed such evidence, that then such evidence is sufficient, in point of law, to. support the first count in the plaintiff*' declaration,
• Sphigg, J. (Done, J. not present.)
The couYt having already determined, "that the terms and stipulation* t¡* tween the parties, on which their matters in dispute wet© to be submitted to reference, .a»!»matters of fact to be determined by the jury," and the validity of the award thus depending on the opinion of the jury, they cannot give the direction as prayed. The plaintiffs excepted.
TP. Dorsey and Harper, for the Appellant,
stated, that the question to be argued on the fifth bill of exceptions, was, Whether the memorandum or original list of the sales of the Brandy ought not to have been admitted in evidence? They contended that it ought not, as it did not fall within the exception to the genera! rule'of law, that the best evidence, of which the nature of the case was susceptible, must be given. That Yates or Campbell, both of •were alive, ought to have been produced to prove They cited Peake's Evid. 10. Price vs. The Earl of Torrington, 1 Salk. 285. Bull. N. P. 282, 283. Cooper vs. Marsden, 1 Esp. Rep. 1. Warren vs. Greenville, 1 Stra. 1129. Smartle vs. Williams, 1 Salk. 245 & 280. Williams vs. The East India Company, 3 East, 192; and Davis vs. Batty, 1 Harr. & Johns. 264.
Martin, Pur víante, and S. Chase; jun. for the Appellees,
cited Digby vs. Stedman, 1 Esp. Rep. 829. Pitman vs Maddox, 2 Salk. 690. 1 Lofft's Gilb. ch. 1, p. 5; and Biggs vs. Lawrence, 3 T. R. 454.
13. The eleventh bill of exceptions. The defendant then prayed the opinion of the court to the jury, that the award produced and given in evidence to them is not admissible evidence to them upon the second count in the plaintiffs? declaration; and that upon that count it ought to be disregarded by them.
Done, J.
The court are of opinion, that the award, ef'
ther separate from or connected with the original contract in this case, is not legal or competent evidence to be admitted in support of the second count in the plaintiffs' declaration. The plaintiff's excepted; and the verdict and judgment being for the plaintiffs, the defendant appealed to this court. 1 he cause was argued on the fifth bill of exceptions, at December term 1806, before Chase, €h. X. and Buchanan, and Gantt, J. by PP¡ Dorsey and Harper, for the Appellant; and S'. Chase, jr. for the Appellees, and was reargued at December term 1807, before Chase, Ch. X» and Txlgiiman, Buchanan, Nichouson, and Gantt, J.