Case Name: Van Alen and another against Vanderpool and others
Court: New York Supreme Court of Judicature
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1810-05
Citations: 6 Johns. 69
Docket Number: 
Parties: Van Alen and another against Vanderpool and others.
Judges: 
Reporter: Johnson's Reports
Volume: 6
Pages: 69–73

Head Matter:
Van Alen and another against Vanderpool and others.
NEW-YORK,
May 1810.
When a person receives goods, as an agent or" factor, to sell for another,without any special instructions to sell for cash and not on credit, he may sell on credit, for the period usual in the market; and in case he sells on E the purchaser, credit in die usual manner, and uses due diligence to ascertain the solvency c he will not be responsible, should the vendee afterwards prove insolvent.
THIS was an action of assumpsit. The declaration contained two special counts, besides the general counts. 1. That the defendants, on the 30th November, 1807, were common carriers of goods, for profit, from Schodack to the city of New-York, and from New-York to Schodack, by water, in the sloop Caty Maria, and for a reward. That the plaintiffs were possessed of 300 bushels of wheat, of the value of 400 dollars, and at the special instance and request of the- defendants, delivered the wheat to the defendants, to be by them safely conveyed from Schodack to New-York, for a reasonable compensation, and thereto be sold by the defendants for the best price to be got, in money, and to account for and pay the money to the plaintiffs. That the defendants, in consideration thereof, then and there undertook and promised safely to transport the same wheat to New-York, and there to sell the same, for the best price in money; and to account for and pay the moneys to the plaintiffs when requested ; and' the plaintiffs averred that the defendants, afterwards, on the loth December, 18.07, at New-York, sold the wheat for 400 dollars; yet, that they had not paid the money or accounted for the same, &c. although often requested, &c.
2. That the plaintiffs, on, &c. at, &c. had delivered to the defendants other 300 bushels of wheat, of the value of400 dollars, to be sold by the defendants for the plaintiffs, for the best price, and to account, &c. and that the defendants in consideration, &c. undertook and promised the plaintiffs to sell the same for the best price, and to pay the moneys, &c. when requested, &c. The plaintiffs averred, that the defendants sold the wheat for 400 dollars, at New-York ; yet, that they had not paid the moneys or accounted for the same, 8tc. although requested, &c.
At the trial, the plaintiffs gave in evidence four receipts, signed by the defendants, acknowledging to have received of the plaintiffs 162 bushels and 35 pounds of wheat in store; and the defendants’ counsel admitted they received the wheat, carried it to New-York, in their sloop, and sold it to John Toxunsend, on credit, and took a note for the sapie, payable in 90 days, to themselves. It was admitted by the plaintiffs, that Townsend was then in good credit, but failed, before the note became due, and that the defendants had not received any part of the money. The plaintiffs then offered to prove that the defendants were directed to sell the wheat for cash. This evidence was objected to, but admitted. The then proved, that when one of them brought a load, of the wheat in question to the store of the defendants, on the dock, he said he wanted money for it; and that- if he could not get the money there, he would carry the wheat to Schermerhorii’s, where he could have the money for it; that one of the defendants said, that as soon as his vessel (then at the wharf) returned from Nexo-York the plaintiffs should have the money, for as much wheat as they could bring, and that he would write to another of the defendants at New-York, to bring the money; that he had not the money at that time to spare.
The defendants’ counsel moved for a nonsuit, which was refused by the judge; who said that' the evidence' ■amounted to an absolute sale of the wheat to-the defendants ; and that the plaintiffs were entitled to recover under the count for wheat sold and delivered.
The defendants then proved, that one of them alone, was owner of the store on the dock, that he never bought wheat, and that the other defendants alone were owners of another store, which was for dry goods, and they put their wheat into the store on the dock. This evidence,though objected to, was admitted; and the plaintiffs were then nonsuited.
A motion was made to set aside the nonsuit, and for' a new trial.
Van Burén, for the plaintiffs-,-
Foot, contra.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The testimony in the case does nqt warrant the ground taken at the trial, that here was a sale of the wheat to three of the defendants. The noilsuit was granted on the assumption that there had been a sa]e three only of the defendants, and that this eviJ dence did not correspond with the contract declared on. This may be the import of the parol testimony, but the receipts given by, or in behalf of all the defendants, subsequent to the loose conversation alluded to by the witnesses, are a higher species of evidence, and ought to control the other. ^According to the receipts, the wheat was received into the store, as the wheat o -the plaintiffs ; and we must conclude that it was taken upon freight, to be carried to New-York, and sold by the defendants, as agents or factors, for the plaintiffs. The cause then ought to have been submitted to the jury, on the point, whether the conversation between one of the plaintiffs and one of the defendants, when one load of the wheat was delivered, amounted to an instruction to the defendants not to sell on credit. Such a special instruction was necessary; for otherwise, the agent selling on a usual credit, to a person known and approved in the market, would not be responsible for the solvency of the vendee.
The defendants received the wheat to carry to New-York and sell, as agents and factors to the plaintiffs; and whenever persons are so employed, it is to be understood, without special instructions to the contrary, that they are employed to do it in the usual manner; and consequently, they may sell'on credit without incurring risk, provided they do not unreasonably extend the term of credit, and provided they make use of due diligence to ascertain the solvency of the purchaser. The authority of a factor to sell on credit, is not to be disputed. (Scott v. Surman, Willes's Rep. 406. 6 Term Rep. 12. Russel v. Hankey. 1 Camp. N. P. 258.) Whether the evidence showed Sr special instruction to sell for cash, was the point that should have gone to the jury. After laying down the general rule on the subject, the court do not mean to give any opinion on the evidence, as to that point, in this case; but they wish to leave it unbiassed for a future ^r*a^*
We are, accordingly, of opinion, that a new trial be awarded, with costs to abide the event of the suit.
New trial granted.