Court Opinion

ID: 6482372
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-26 23:06:30.639928+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:54:12.054075
License: Public Domain

Opinion of ¡the Court by
McCuely, J.
- In an action of assumption the defendant, inter alia, claims to set off £135 5s. (being §691 25) as his commissions on. £1,106 2s, for agreeing to 'endorse or accept bills under the following agreement-:
“ Honolulu, May 2, 1877.
■ “This is to certify -that I, Chung Eaa, of the City of Honolulu, general storekeeper, do hereby agree to endorse bills to the amount of about eight thousand dollars more or less, drawn by His Majesty King Kalakaua, of the Hawaiian Islands, in favor of S. Hoffnung & Co., Sydney, Australia; and, furthermore, do agree to duly endorse the said bills on presentation *286by Messrs. Bishop & Co.., of the aforesaid city, in consideration of receiving twelve and a half per cent, for guaranteeing the ■said amount; and further agree that he will take all goods ■■sent him by the said firm. (Signed) Chung Faa.
“Witness t® signature: (Signed) F. A. Anderson.”
The matter now for the consideration of the Court appears from the following extract from the plaintiffs’ bill of exceptions:
“ On behalf of the plaintiff, F. A. Solomon testified that he is an agent of the plaintiff, and that he was in Honolulu in February, 1878; that at that time the goods ordered by His Majesty had been received, but were not delivered, and the sale not completed; that he did not see the King in person, but did see Governor Dominis, the King’s Chamberlain; the goods were mot received by him, and in consequence the goods were sold by the witness to H. A. Widemann; that as the sale to His Majesty was never consummated, no drafts were accepted by him, and none were presented to the defendant for his guaranty, and in fact the defendant never did guarantee or endorse any bills for the plaintiffs.”
The presiding Justice thereupon instructed the jury that, upon the pleadings and evidence, the defendant was entitled to the set-off claimed by him, and directed them to bring in a verdict for the defendant; to which instructions and the. verdict consequent thereon plaintiffs excepted.
Exhibit “ C” is an account from the plaintiffs, dated Sydney, September 20, 1877, crediting defendant: “ By commission on £1,106 2s., as per arrangement, ¿6138 5s.”
Castle & Hatch for plaintiffs: This was a conditional contract, to become binding on the defendant on the acceptance of the drafts. That event never happened. The sale for which the drafts were to be payment was never completed, the goods were never delivered, the principal never became liable, therefore- the security never incurred liability, and is *287entitled to no commissions. He could only recover commissions after the sale was completed, and after Ms own liability attached. It is essential that there- should be some one liable-as principal. Not necessary that the person to whom the guarantee is given should bind himself to supply the goods.. The contract would become mutual after the delivery of the-goods, and until then it was inchoate, and in the power of the-plaintiff to complete it or not. Citing Chitty on Contracts, pp.. 2.0, 728 and 742; Kenneway vs. Torelawen, 5 M. and W., 498; Morton vs. Brown, A. and E., 19; Offord vs. Davis, Langdell’s Select Cases- on Contracts, p. 42; Smith on Contracts, p. 89.
A. S. Hartwell for defendant: By the original agreement the defendant was entitled to his commissions whether he should be called on to- endorse His Majesty’s acceptance or not. An agreement to- endorse makes one liable precisely as if he had endorsed. An endorsement of the King’s paper would make the endorser liable as an original promissor or maker of the note, or as purchaser, for the King cannot beheld responsible. The consideration of the plaintiffs’ agreement to pay commission was the defendant’s agreement to endorse bills if presented. The defendant is not in default, and it can hardly be argued that he was to cam- his commissions only on payment of the purchase money. There was no proper tender of the goods.
2. The defendant is entitled to his commissions on the ground of account stated, and credit actually given him. The plaintiff agreed to pay the defendant his. commission for agreeing to- endorse bills if presented. He is still liable, and will continue to be liable on that agreement if the bills should be presented. Citing Latigdell’s Contracts, pp. 170-79; 2 Chitty on Pleading, 32; 2 Greenl. Ed., Sec. 127; Browne’s Stat. Frauds, Sec. 174; Selwyn’s Nisi Prius, p. 69.
BY THE. COURT.
By the last clause in the agreement the defendant was-*288bound that His Majesty should take all goods sent him by the plaintiffs to the extent (presumably) of $8,000. The plaintiffs could have held the defendant for the invoice in question, less his commission. Having the guarantee that their goods, sent would be taken, and bills endorsed by the defendant, they rightly entered commissions to his- credit, the defendant being responsible for the sale and payment. There is no doubt that if His Majesty had paid cash for the goods, the defendant would be entitled to- his commission without having endorsed a bill, and without incurring risk. The agreement was in the nature of insurance, the- premium of which is paid,, loss or no loss. If the plaintiffs’ agent saw fit to dispose of goods which had been sent to His Majesty, the sale and payment for which the defendant guaranteed to another party,, he must be presumed to have done it because it was more profitable, taking into account the- premium which was payable in either case. There is force- in the fact that plaintiffs considered that the defendant’s liability attached from the time the goods were sent to His Majesty, and credited to him then with his-premium for the risk of sale which he insured from that time. It is clear that the plaintiffs, held the defendant on his guarantee from that time; and if they or their agent considered it to their advantage to sell to another party, they cannot thereby deprive the defendant of his premium for the risk he had taken.
Castle & Hatch for plaintiffs.
A. S. Hartwell for defendant.
The exceptions are overruled.