Court Opinion

ID: 7929733
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-08 23:03:01.32695+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:33:18.689537
License: Public Domain

Campbell, J.
The. Fulton Iron & Engine Works sued Mrs. Griffin for a balance due on the price of a quan'tity of iron columns, and tie bars, and for labor in putting Ithem up. They made out a case showing that the columns ¡were ordered' and the price agreed upon. The other work ¡they furnished on orders from Mrs. Griffin’s agents, and !the main and perhaps the only important question was whether they acted as contractors to furnish and put up work according to the plans and specifications of a building for which the iron was furnished, or wheth§r they merely agreed to furnish the iron work which they did furnish as a distinct bargain.
The testimony on their part was unambiguous of a distinct contract, having no reference to any plans or specifications, and simply being a bargain for columns of sizes and patterns given them. There is no testimony which in our opinion shows or tends to show that they made any arrangements whatever on the basis that they were to be governed by those documents or ever examined them.
The only basis .for any such inference is in the fact alleged that one James W. Wayne who had been figuring on the iron work and who is claimed to have had access to the plans and specifications was the person through whose intervention the Fulton Works became induced to contract; It is disputed how far James W. Wayne had any such information, and it does.not appear that he ever was informed any bid was desired beyond ■the mere making of the columns, although it is claimed he was supposed to be figuring on all the iron work. It is not very clear that the plans and specifications themselves give any indication that the m"aking of the columns involved anything further.
But it appears distinctly that Wayne was neither agent nor employer of the Fulton Works, fee had made estimates and went'to-his-own employers, the Safe Works, *573who refused to deal with Griffin at all. Wayne told bim he could get it done at the Fulton Works. All the dealings with the Fulton Works were between Griffin and Mr. Grosvenor their agent, and not with Wayne for them, and in the transactions with Grosvenor no mention was made of any other contract, and no agreement shown to have been made beyond the columns.
While it is possible parties made some assumptions, yet agreements cannot be made out without proof of a distinct understanding. We think there was nothing to authorize the admission of the papers ruled out.
The judgment must be affirmed with costs.
The other Justices concurred.