Case Name: Lucas v. Heaton and Another
Court: Supreme Court of Indiana
Jurisdiction: Indiana
Decision Date: 1849-01-12
Citations: 1 Ind. 264
Docket Number: 
Parties: Lucas v. Heaton and Another.
Judges: 
Reporter: Indiana Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 264–266

Head Matter:
Lucas v. Heaton and Another.
Friday, January 12, 1849.
In a suit against the defendants for the breach of a contract to pay for wheat in specified quantities of flour and bran, the value of the flour and bran, not that of the wheat, is the measure of the damages.
ERROR to the Tippecanoe Circuit Court.

Opinion:
Smith, J. —
Assumpsit, commenced before a justice of the peace, on the following bill of particulars as a cause of action:
William Heaton and Andrew T. Heaton,
To Martin Lucas, Dr.
February 25th, 1845, to 20 bush, and 48 lbs. wheat at 80c....................................$16 64
February 25th, 1845, to 20 bush, and 24 lbs. wheat at 80c.................................... 16 32
February 25th, 1845, to 20 bush, and 24 lbs. wheat at 80c.................................... 16 32
February 26th, 1845, to 18 bush, and — lbs. wheat at 80c.................................... 14 40
October 6th, 1845, to 76 bush, and 11 lbs. wheat at 80c.................................... 60 94|-
$124 62f
Cr. By flour got at different times, • • . $25 00
$99 62f
There was a trial before the justice on the general issue, and a judgment for the defendants. On appeal, in the Circuit Court, there was a trial with a similar result. Motion for a new trial overruled.
It appears, by a bill of exceptions, that the plaintiff offered in evidence several receipts for quantities of wheat, corresponding with those stated in the bill of particulars, worded as follows:
"Received of Martin Lucas 76 bush. 11 lbs. of wheat on deposit, subject to mill-book ac't.
" Wm. Heaton and Son."
The plaintiff proved that the quantities of wheat mentioned in said receipts were delivered in the mill of the defendants at the times therein specified; that the words " mill-book ac't.," meant that the plaintiff was to receive thirty-six pounds of flour and one bushel of bran for each bushel of wheat; that the wheat was to be credited to the plaintiff on the mill books, and the flour and bran, when obtained, charged to him; that the wheat, when put into the mill, was mixed with the common stock then on hand, and afterwards the whole stock was ground into flour, and the flour sold by the defendants.
The defendants objected to the reading of these receipts in evidence, and the objection was sustained. The plaintiff also offered to prove, that'he had made a demand for the flour and bran, and the value of the wheat at the time of its delivery and at the time the demand was made, which he was not permitted to do.
As the contract proved was a special one for the delivery of specified quantities of flour and bran, and does not appear to have been rescinded, the measure of the damages which the plaintiff would have been entitled to recover for a breach of it by the defendants, was the value of the flour and bran the former was to receive, and not the price or value of the wheat delivered by him. We think, therefore, the evidence thus offered and rejected would not have sustained the cause of action filed, and would not have entitled the plaintiff to a judgment if it had been admitted. See Ellison v. Dove, November term, 1847 .
S. A. Hiiff, for the plaintiff.
A. iff. Crane and E. H. Brackett, for the defendants.
Per Curiam. —
The judgment is affirmed with costs.
See 8 Blackf. 571.