Court Opinion

ID: 9810514
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 21:52:22.430522+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:39:59.286470
License: Public Domain

*246CoNNOR, J.,
dissenting: Defendant offered in evidence a paper-writing purporting to be a certificate showing the results of an analysis of samples of fertilizer made by the Fertilizer Chemist of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. Plaintiff objected. There was evidence tending to show that samples of the fertilizer delivered by plaintiff to defendant were sent by defendant to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture for analysis. There was no evidence that these samples had been taken from the bags in accordance with the requirements of the statute. C. S., 4697. The court reserved its ruling upon plaintiff’s objection to the certificate. Later during the trial plaintiff withdrew his objection to the certificate and agreed that same should be admitted as evidence.
The court, in the charge to the jury, limited this certificate as evidence upon the issue involving the contention of defendant that there was no consideration for the note sued on, for that the fertilizer delivered was not the fertilizer sold. The court was of opinion, and so held, that in the absence of evidence of an analysis of the fertilizer, made in accordance with the requirements of the statute, showing deficiency of ingredients, defendant could not recover on his counterclaim for damages to his crops resulting from the use of fertilizer. The certificate admitted as evidence, without objection, was competent to show the results of an analysis made by the State Chemist; but in the absence of evidence tending to show that this analysis was made as required by the statute, I am of the opinion that there was no error in the instruction of the court, or in its holding that there can be no recovery in this action by defendant of damages from results of use of fertilizer. See proviso in C. S., 4697. Swift v. Aydlett, 192 N. C., 330, 135 S. E., 141. I think the judgment should be affirmed.