Court Opinion

ID: 7998885
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 01:47:35.66861+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:35:38.825116
License: Public Domain

Scott, Judge,
delivered the opinion of the court.
This was a suit brought by the plaintiff against the defendants for feeding cattle for them. The defence was, that there was a party plaintiff, with whom the defendants had contracted, who should have been joined ; and that the cattle were not fed as they should have been, under the contract.
The plaintiff proved that the contract had been made with him for beeping the oxen, and that they were fed by him. A witness was present at a settlement with the plaintiff by one of the defendants. There was also -some evidence of a contract to which one Reynolds was to have been a party, but it appears that it was never executed, although a witness says he considered both Elliott and Reynolds equally bound under the contract, and that the defendants'were bound to them jointly, although the contract was not executed by Elliott and Reynolds.
The court instructed the jury that,- if they believe the contract was made with the plaintiff and one Reynolds to keep the cattle, Elliott cannot recover in the present suit.
If they believe the plaintiff was to keep the cattle upon corn, hay and fodder, or any of these articles, and failed to do so, that they may deduct from the amount claimed what they were damaged by the non-performance of this contract, by the plaintiff and Reynolds •: ii Provided, however, the foregoing are upon this condition, that is, if, after the keeping of the cattle was completed, a settlement was had between plaintiff and defendants, or one of them, or their agent, and upon such settlement it was agreed to pay plaintiff a specific sum, then the jury will find for plaintiff that sum.”
1. From the evidence in the cause, the court was warranted in giving the qualification to the first instruction. We do not think there was a foundation for the argument, that the con*484tract to pay should be construed to both Elliott and Reynolds. The condition on which Reynolds was to become a party to the contract was never complied with, nor was that contract ever executed. The facts appearing in evidence, the understanding of the witness can have no influence, in determining who was bound by the contract. It was a matter of law, about which his impressions were of no avail.
, The question as to whether the money had been received from the United States, by the' defendants, before the institution of the suit, was not raised on the trial of the cause below. No exception was taken on that score, and we do not feel ourselves called upon to determine it for the first time on this appeal.
The other Judges concurring, the-judgment will be'affirmed.