Court Opinion

ID: 6236971
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-17 20:34:50.628697+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:58:04.758227
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Mercur
delivered the opinion of the court
This is an attempt to compel the plaintiffs in error to pay a debt contracted by another. To charge them with an assumption of this obligation the evidence should be clear and satisfactory. On the 30th January 1877, they entered iuto a written agreement with one Metzler, by which he was to furnish all the materials and labor and erect a building, in consideration of which they were to pay him a sum specified. Metzler entered into an agreement with the defendants in error by which they were to sell him sash, doom, &c.; he agreeing to pay one half when he took the articles away, and the residue in ten days thereafter. When he was about to send for these materials, on the 23d February, Keck & Breneman gave him a letter, signed by themselves, and addressed to McKinley & Bonnet, in which it is said: “ If Mr. Metzler gives you an order on us for the bill of doors and windows, &e., for our building, we will accept the order and pay it.” On the same day, Metzler sent a teamster for the materials, together with this letter and one from himself, in which after stating, inter alia, that he would send an order if they were willing to accept it, he added, “ If you don’t want to accept an order on Keck & Breneman, I wilí call and settle the bill myself.” The teamster delivered both letters and the articles were procured by him. No order was then asked for. Previous to writing this letter, the plaintiffs in error had no contract or negotiation with McKinley & Bonnet. They were under no obligation, either absolute or conditional, to pay them *618for anything Metzler might get. They then had an undoubted right to propose on what terms, and in what form, they would assume a liability. They made the offer conditional: It was not to pay in case Metzler procured the sash and blinds of them ; but in case he gave them an order on'Keck & Breneman. On the part of the latter, it was a mere offer. To create an absolute liability, there must have been an acceptance of the offer within a reasonable time. On the contrary, Keck & Breneman heard nothing from tbein until the 10th of March. Then they received a letter from them in which they say: “ Mr. Metzler promised to pay one-lialf for windows, &c., when taken away from shop, and balance in ten days after that, but he has done neither. He sent a letter with teamster enclosing your willingness to accept an order; that was not the bargain, and therefore we did not ask for it.”
Thus this letter distinctly notifies them, that they did not deliver the property in acceptance of their offer; but on the contract which they had previously made with Metzler; and as that bargain was not to accept an order, they had not asked him for one. In language clear and unequivocal, they say they refused to accept the offer of payment by order. It does not help their case that tlieir letter proceeded to say, “ Something must be done; for we will and must Lave our pay.” Whether this was written under an impression that Keck & Breneman could influence Metzler to pay or with the intention of making some vague claim against them, is of no consequence. The letter states facts which prove they had no legal claim against thorn. Having refused the offer, it was beyond their power to change its terms and then impose it on Keck & Breneman without their consent. Otherwise it would lack the reciprocal or mutual assent of the parties necessary to constitute an agreement. It is elementary law that to make a simple contract binding there must be a definite promise by the party charged, accepted by tbe person claiming the benefit of such promise: Chitty on Cont. 11.
It appeal’s the defendants in error put tliis claim in the hands of Boggs & Weidner, attorneys, to collect of Metzler. They wrote him threatening to sue him. He thereupon got Keck & Breneman to write them in his behalf, in answer thereto, on the 19th March. It was claimed that this last letter contains some evidence of their liability. We cannot discover any language therein, indicating sucb a conclusion. It was not written in reply to any letter addressed to them, nor to one in which any claim was made against them. It was in answer to a letter to Metzler making-a claim against him alone. The answer is for him and in his behalf, giving reasons why he has not paid, and stating what will probably be done unless costs are *619made by bringing- suit. Not one word is said indicating an admission that tliov owe the bill, or that they will pay it.
The uncontradicted evidence is that on the 23d February, Neck and Breneinan had money in their hands due to Metzlor. They retained it to meet any order he might give to the defendants in error until the receipt of the letter from the latter on the 10th of March. On the receipt of that notice that they had not accepted the proposition and had not obtained any order, the plaintiffs in error paid out all moneys in their hands going to Mitzler, on other orders drawn by him on them. He was released from a part of his contract, and never completed the residue. No settlement was ever had with him. They were under no obligation to accept an order drawn some two months thereafter, when they were probably not indebted to Metzer. The offer to accept conditionally was as favorable as the defendants had a right to ask, and this they refused. At no time did the minds of the parties meet and concur in any agreement. A careful examination of the whole evidence fails to disclose any to justify submitting the case to the jury. It is not a case of conflict of evidence, or weight of evidence, but of no evidence. The learned judge, therefore, erred in not affirming the last point submitted by the defendant below: Phila. & Read. R. R. Co. v. Yerger, 23 P. F. Smith 121. It is not necessary to consider the other assignments. The evidence covered thereby was irrelevant.
Judgment reversed.