592
FEDERAL REPORTER.
gress and egress in this part of the city, should it become necessary to establish other ferries" or to build bridges across the river, whether the streets mentioned may be used for such purposes it, is not expected that we should now decide, as the question has not arisen, and may never arise. Our determination of the controversy must be controlled by things as they have been and are, so far as they affect it. I conclude that complainant and all others have the right to land and discharge cargoes in Market, Broad, and Chestnut streets, at the water's edge, and that respondent has not the authority to prevent it. But, so far as Market street is concerned, this right to land must be so exercised as not to obstruct the way to and from the upper ferry.
HENTZ
and another v. JEWELL. Junfl Term, 1881,)
'Circuit Court, S. D. Mississippi. 1.
CONTRACT FOR FUTURE DEI,IVERy-VALIDITY.
To render a contract for the future delivery of commodities invalid there must at the time of its creation be a mutual understanding between the parties that no delivery is to be made, bllt the difference between the contract price and the market price at the time fixed for delivery paid. NOTE-CONSIDEItATION.
2.
Where the consideration for promissory notes is money advanced under contracts for future delivery of cotton, and commissions thereou, the notes are valid.
At Law. R. S. Buck and E. D. Clark, for plaintiffs. W. L. Nugent and T. A. Me Willie, for defendant. HrLL, J. The questions of fact as well as of law are by written stipulation submitted to the court upon the pleadings and evidence. '1.'he suit is brought to recover the amount due npon two promissory notes,-one dated November 1, for the sum of $4,727.27, payable 90 days after date, and the other dated November 15, 1879"for $4,727.26, payable at 90 days, and both signed "J. D. Jewell & Bro." The declaration alleges that W. A. Jewell, the defendant, was a member of the firm of J. D. Jewell & Bro., and one of the makers of said notes. One of the defenses set np against a recovery upon these notes, and the only one that demands special attention, is want of consideration, the averment of the plea being that the notes were given to the plaintiff fot money advanced by them to pay losses sustained by Jewell & Bro. in dealing in what is known as "cotton futures;" that is, contracts for the sale or purchase of cotton to be delivered at a future day, and that the contracts were gambling contracts.
BENTZ V. JEWELL.
598
The question raised by this defense is one of no little interest, as these cotton contracts are becoming so numerous and of such immense proportions; still, as I understand the rules by which they are to be governed, they are simple, and not difficult of application. First, a contract for the sale of cotton, grain, or other commodity at a given price, to be delivered at a future time, is valid and binding, and each party is entitled to enforce the contract against the other; and, in case of failure, to recover damages for non-performance. When it is a, purchase for resale, or the article can be immediately supplied by purchase in the market, then the damages consist in the difference between the sum contracted for and the market price of the commodity at the time for delivery. But if it is an article which the purchaser specially needs, and cannot supply without delay and additional expense, then such an amount as will "make him whole" is the measure of damages. If, according to the tract between the parties when made, either may demand a strict compliance when the time for performance arrives. then the contract is valid, even though one of the parties may secretly intend at the time not to comply, if sucb non-performance is not agreed to by the other contracting party at the time of the contract. In other words, to render the contract invalid, there must, at the time of its creation, be a mutual understanding between the parties that no delivery is to be made, but only the difference in prices paid. Respectable authorities hold that when the contract is in writing, and such understanding is not expressed, that parol testimony is inadmissible to establish it. Such are the contracts proven in this case; that is, there was no agreement for non-delivery; and, if this rule is applied, it will cut off this defense. There is, however, no sufficient proof in this case, written or verbal, to show that no delivery was to be made, but only differences paid. To sustain the positions above stated, reference is made to Lehman v. Strassberge'r, 2 Woods, 554; Clarke v. Fuss, 7 Biss. 540; Porter v. Viets,l Biss. 177; Kingsbury v. Kirwan, 77 N. Y. 6]2. The notes were not given in payment for balances upon these cotton contracts, but for money advanced by plaintiffs to pay the differences on contracts made by them upon the orders of J. D. Jewell & Bro., and for commissions as brokers in making said contracts; consequently the same rules do not apply as those between the contracting parties,-the plaintiffs being only agents and brokers advancing the money, and having no interest in the contracts themselves. The notes were given after the money was paid and the services performed; consequently there is no public policy to be subserved by denying the plaintiffs the money they have advanced and compensation for the services performed. This position is sustained by the ClLie of Lehman v. Strassberger, which is similar in its facts to the present case. I am satisfied that plaintiffs are entitled to judgment v.20,no.9-38
594:
FEDERAL REPORTEB.
against defendant for the amount of the notes sued upon and interest. Judgment accordingly. 201; Union Nat. Bank of Chicago v. Cal'r, 15 FED. REP. 438; Cobb v. P1'ell, Id. 774: Jackson v. Foot, 12 FED. REP. 37; Bryant v. Westem Union l 'el-
See MeZchert v. American Union TeZegraph Co. 11 FED. REP.
FED. REP.
193, and note,
egraph Co. 17
826: Irwin v. Williar, 4 Sup. Ct. Rep. 160.-[ED.
HARDMAN
and others v.
FIREMEN'S INS.
Co,1
Circuit Court, E. D. Louisiana. April 28,1884. 1. FIRE INSURANCE-DoUBLE OCCUPANCy-SUPPRESSION-INCREASE OF RISK.
If the occupancy by two tenants rather than by one increased the risk, and there had been a failure to disclose that material fact, the policy was void; but if the fact of the additional occupancy did not increase the risk, there was no suppression which was material, and the policy was valid. The test of materiality is whether the disclosure of the fact would have influenced the rate of premium. This question was one of fact and Dot of law, and was properly left to the jury.
WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE.
Where the question to be dealt with by the jury is one for practical judgment, and one witness was sworn upon one side, and seven equally competent upon the other, and the finding of the jury is sustained by the majority of the witnesses, the verdict will not be disturbed, even where the evidence of the' single witness opposed to the majority seems more correct to the court.
,
At Law. On motion for new trial. E. D. White, for plaintiffs. Geo. H. Braughn, Ohas. F. Buck, and Max. Dinklespeil, for defendant. ' BILLINGS, J. This cause is submitted on a motion for a new trial. The action is on a policy of insurance. The defense was that there had been a suppression of, or a failure to disclose, a material fact. The fact insisted ooas material was that one story of the large building in which plaintiffs' in-sured stock was situated, was occupied by the manufacturers of washing-machines, the insurance being on plaintiffs' stock and materials as manufacturers of pianos, and the answer of the plaintiffs to defendant's questions failing to disclose that there was any tenant in the building occupied by them other than themselves. The evidence established that the business of manufacturing "washing-machines" was certainly no more hazardous than that of the manufacturing of pianos. The point urged by the defense was that the fact that two tenants occupied different portions of a building created an increased risk for goods or property situated in the building, as compared with the risk for the same goods when the building was Occupied by the owner of the goods. The court charged 1 Reported
by Joseph P. Hornor, Esq., of the New Orleans bar.