Court Opinion

ID: 6956417
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 01:38:22.608516+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:08:17.634794
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Scott delivered the opinion of the Court: This was an action of assumpsit, brought by appellees in the circuit court of Cook county, against appellant. Appellees allege that they purchased a large lot of dried beef of appellant, which they claim he warranted to be sound and of a merchantable quality, and on ascertaining that it was not as they say it was represented, they offered to return it, but that he refused to receive it and pay back the consideration with reasonable damages. Appellant explicitly denies that he ever warranted the beef, and states that he refused to do so, and that appellees agreed to take it on board of trade inspection, and whep the meat was delivered it bore inspection by the board of trade inspector. The principal errors assigned, are: First—That the verdict is against the weight of the evidence. • Second—That the court erred in giving the first and second instructions on behalf of appellees. There were but three persons present at the making of the original contract, viz: appellant and his son, and appellee Collins. There is a direct conflict in the evidence as to whether appellant warranted the meat to be of a certain quality, or whether appellees agreed to take it if it bore the board of trade inspection. In this doubtful, state of the evidence, the guaranty subsequently written under the invoice and signed by appellant, was evidence of the most important character. If it was signed in pursuance of the original contract it would be conclusive of the rights of the parties, but if not so signed it would not strengthen appellees’ cause. On this question the court gave the following instruction: “If the jury believe, from the evidence, that the defendant in this case sold the plaintiffs a quantity of dried beef hams, at a price of 13f cents per pound, and in consideration thereof the defendant gave his written warranty as shown in the evidence, etc.” The instruction is erroneous, as it would lead the jury to believe that they might find a verdict for appellees on the subsequent written guaranty, independently of the question whether such guaranty was a part of the original contract. Although the law is accurately stated in the instructions for appellant, we are inclined to think, on examining the evidence, that the jury were misled by this instruction; for which reason we are of opinion that it would tend to the ends of justice that this cause should be reversed and submitted to another jury without the objectionable instruction on this vital question in the case. We are unable to perceive any objection to the second instruction given for appellees. The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded. Judgment reversed.