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13 Mass. 496

Wilby v. Harris

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Decided October 15, 1816

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · decided 1816-10-15

This was assumpsit, brought by the plaintiff, as surviving partner of the late house of Harrison fy Wilby, to recover $ 897, for sundry goods sold and delivered, and moneys paid by said partners in the lifetime of the said Harrison, according to the account annexed to the writ. At the trial, which was had upon the general issue, before Jackson¡ J., at the sittings here after November term, 1813, all the items charged in the plaintiff’s account were proved or admitted.

Decided 1816-10-15

Curia.

¶1The case as reported admits, as we think, of an equitable determination, without violation of any principles of law. It finds *397that Harrison was indebted to the defendant for work and labor ; that he agreed to pay for the same in goods from the store in which he was concerned as a partner ; and that the goods, for the price of which the present action was brought, were delivered in pursuance of that arrangement. The goods were, in truth, never sold to the defendant, but were delivered to him in payment of a preexisting debt ; and, although a part of the labor was performed after some of the goods were delivered, that will not vary the character of the transaction.

¶2Either partner had sufficient control of the goods, for a pur pose like this ; for, as it respects their interests, it may be considered a sale.

¶3* There never was any implied agreement or promise by the defendant to pay for these goods ; and, if there were, it was a promise to pay in labor, which would defeat this action.

¶4New trial granted

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