Case Name: J. T. Renoe, as Administrator of the estate of J. C. Renoe, deceased, v. The Western Star Milling Company
Court: Kansas Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Kansas
Decision Date: 1894-01
Citations: 53 Kan. 255
Docket Number: 
Parties: J. T. Renoe, as Administrator of the estate of J. C. Renoe, deceased, v. The Western Star Milling Company.
Judges: All the Justices concurring.
Reporter: Kansas Reports
Volume: 53
Pages: 255–257

Head Matter:
J. T. Renoe, as Administrator of the estate of J. C. Renoe, deceased, v. The Western Star Milling Company.
Goods on Commission — Conditional Sale. Where a merchant receives a consignment of flour or other goods to sell on commission only, for the benefit of the owner thereof, he does not hold the property under a conditional sale. Therefore, § 1, chapter 255, Laws of 1889, has no application.
Error from Norton District Court.
During the year 1889, Tilden & Baum were doing a general merchandise business at Norton, in this state. On May 10, 1889, they received a consignment of flour from The Western Star Milling Company, doing business at Salina, in this state. On June 17, 1889, Tilden & Baum received another consignment of flour from the same company. Til-den & Baum became indebted to J. C. Renoe, and, to secure the indebtedness, gave Renoe a chattel mortgage on the flour. August 10, 1889, the milling company made a demand on J. C. Renoe for the flour, and, on refusal to give it up, brought an action in replevin for 27 50-pound sacks of Magnolia flour; 75 50-pound sacks of Snowflake flour; 42 50-pound sacks of Prairie Elower flour, of the value of $155.81. Before the cause was tried, J. C. Renoe died, and J. T. Renoe, administrator of his estate, was substituted. Trial before the court, a jury being waived, at the October term of the court for 1889. Judgment was rendered in favor of the milling company for the flour described in the petition. J. T. Renoe, the administrator, excepted, and brings the case here.
L. H. Thompson, for plaintiff in error.
John R. Hamilton, for defendant in error.

Opinion:
The opinion of the court was delivered by
HortoN, C. J.:
The contention is that the Western Star Milling Company made an absolute sale of the flour in controversy to Tilden & Baum, and that they had authority to execute a chattel mortgage thereon. It is next contended that, if there was no absolute sale, then that there was a conditional sale of the flour, and that such conditional sale was void as to J. C. Renoe, a creditor of Tilden & Baum, under the statute of 1889, chapter 255, §1, ¶ 3916, Gen. Stat. of 1889.
On the other hand, it is claimed by the milling company that the flour was received and held by Tilden & Baum on commission only, and that there was no absolute sale made thereof. The trial court seems to have found that Tilden & Baum received and held the flour on commission only. The only wriiing between the parties reads as follows:
" Tilden & Baum, Norton, Kas., in account with the Western Star Milling Company for the following invoice of flour, etc., to be sold for their account, proceeds to be remitted for as sold. A full statement of sales and amount of flour on hand to be rendered in 30 days from date of invoice. Iu case flour is sold before that time, the proceeds to be remitted and statement to be made at once." [Here follow the dates of the consignments of flour to Tilden & Baum, the amounts, and prices thereof.]
This writing does not establish any sale to Tilden & Baum. It shows that the flour was to be sold for the account of the milling company, and the proceeds to be remitted to such company as soon as the flour was sold.
G. A. York, the traveling agent for the milliug company, testified:
"Ques. Was this flour left with them [Tilden & Baum] on commission, or sold to them? Ans. It was left with them on commission; it was our flour any time we came and called for it; it never went out of our possession.
"Q,. What is the custom of your mill not selling flour in this western country? A. That has been the custom of our mill in new territory where we are not acquainted.
"Q,. It was to be sold for their account; whose account? A. The Western Star Company's.
"Q,. Proceeds to be remitted and full account of flour on hand to be rendered within 30 days from date of invoice? A. Yes, sir.
"Q,. In case flour sold before that time, proceeds to be remitted and statement to be made at once? A. Yes, sir."
There was sufficient testimony introduced upon the trial to sustain the finding of the trial court that the flour belonged to the milling company, and that Tilden & Baum had no authority to mortgage it to pay their old debt. The judgment will be affirmed.
All the Justices concurring.