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1 D.C. 181

Talbot v. Selby

District of Columbia District Court · decided 1804-07-15

Indebitatus assumpsit for one thousand dollars for sundry quantities of cattle sold and delivered at defendant’s request. The evidence offered was an agreement to sell and deliver to the defendant four yoke of steers, at a certain price for each yoke, amounting in the whole to less than one thousand dollars ; and a delivery of the cattle under the agreement.

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently October 1888

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1804-07-15

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The Coukt

¶1gave the instruction as prayed by Mr. Mason.

Kilty, C. J., absent.

¶2Mr. Key had leave to amend on continuance and costs. Mr. Key afterwards obtained a rule to show cause why the costs of this term should not await the issue of the cause, on the ground of the misdirection of the court.

¶3Mr. Key. There are two kinds of assumpsit, a general indebi-tatus, and a special assumpsit. Bull. N. P. 182; Impey, 171; Moses v. Macferlan, 2 Burr. 1005 ; Slade’s case, 4 Co. 92. The old strictness of pleading has been much relaxed. Gordon v. Martin, Fitz-Gibbons, 303, recognized in Bull. N. P. 139 ; Walker v. Witter, Doug. 1. Upon parol contracts, it is almost impossible *183to state precisely the terms of a contract exactly as they shall turn out in evidence. In general indebitatus assumpsit, you may recover less than you count for. Impey, 172, 200.

¶4Mr. Key, also, cited the following authorities: Esp. N. P. 130, 138, 140; Rolleston v. Hibbert, 3 T. R. 412; Cates v. Knight, 3 T. R. 444; Cutter v. Powell, 6 T. R. 320 ; Payne v. Bacomb, Doug. 651; Robinson v. Bland, 2 Burr. 1077, 1078; Prec. Dec. 18, 19.

¶5The Court, however, remained of the same opinion, after consulting the following authorities: Seward v. Baker, 1 T. R. 616 ; Esp. N. P. 130 ; Weston v. Downes, Doug. 24; Towers v. Barrett, 1 T.R. 134 ; Touissiant v. Martinnant, 2 T. R. 104; Esp. N. P. 138; 1 Ld. Raym. 735, Anon.; Hockin v.Cooke, 4 T. R. 314; Bull. N. P. 145; Churchill v. Wilkins, 1 T. R. 449 ; Esp. N. P. 140; Cutter v. Powell, 6 T. R. 320 ; Duncomb v. Tickridge, Aleyn, 94; Baker v. Edmonds, Aleyn, 29 ; Janson v. Colomore, 1 Rol. Rep. 396; Buckingham v. Scott, 2 Keble, 240; Millward v. Ingram, 2 Mod. 43; Gordon v. Martin, Fitz-Gibbons, 303; Baker's case of Gray's Inn v. Occould, Godbolt, 186; Holme v. Lucas, Cro. Car. 6 ; Cook v. Sambrune, 1 Sid. 122; 1 Viner, 360; 1 Com. Dig. 193; System of Pleading, 104; Gilbert, L. E. 188; God bolt, 154; Child v. Guiat, Styles, 243; Giles v. Edwards, 7 T. R. 181; Barker v. Sutton, Trials per pais, (3 edit.) 186 ; Franklin v. Walkens, Ib. 187; Old Law of Evidence, 158, 160, 165, 166; Cheney v. Hawes, Moore, 466 ; Tissard v. Warcup, 2 Mod. 280; Gilbert’s Law of Evid. 189, &c.; Trials per pais, 504; Mustard v. Hopper, Cro. Eliz. 149; Lee v. Adams, 3 Bulstrode, 35; Revere v. Baptista, Moore, 470; King v. Robinson, Cro. Eliz. 79; Bagnal v. Sacheverall, Cro. Eliz. 292; Munday v. Martin, Cro. Eliz. 660.

¶6Rule discharged.

¶7At the December term, 1804, the cause was tried upon the amended declaration, and a verdict rendered for the plaintiff for $ 116.50.

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