Harris v. Bradley

¶1The appellees, who were the plaintiffs below, are the assignees of one George N. Hinchman. Harris was the defendant. The complaint contains two paragraphs — the first is upon a special contract — the second, for money had and received. There was an answer to the complaint, and a reply to the answer.

¶2The evidence adduced on the trial, disclosed the following *167facts: On the 17th of February, 1854, Harris and Hinchman entered into a written agreement, whereby the former sold to the latter one thousand bushels of merchantable corn, to be sacked, weighed, and delivered on board the cars at Noblesville, within three months from that date; for which Hinchman was to pay 37 cents per bushel, sixty-eight pounds to be a bushel. The corn was to be delivered in the cars. Twenty-five dollars was paid at the date of the contract; and the balance, 345 dollars', was to be paid in fifteen days.

¶3The plaintiffs failed to pay the 345 dollars within the time stipulated; but, on the 21st of March, 1854, they paid the defendant 300 dollars. On the 19th of April, the defendant, having then on hand- one thousand bushels of corn, sent the plaintiffs a letter, therein stating that the corn was ready for delivery, and would be re-sold, unless they made full payment within six or seven days from the last-named date. The evidence does not show that the plaintiffs ever received the letter. The corn thus on hand was sold by the defendant, as follows: six hundred bushels on the 29th of April, at 30 cents per bushel, and about two weeks thereafter, four hundred bushels at the same price. The plaintiffs, on the 2d of May, fourteen days before the expiration of the time within which the corn was to be delivered, called on the defendant and tendered him 45 dollars, the balance due on the contract, which he refused to receive, and in reply to their demand of the corn, distinctly told them that he would not deliver it, unless in addition to the price agreed on, they would pay him 30 dollars. The defendant failed to show that he ever had the corn, or any part of it, at the place of delivery.

¶4The Court, to whom the cause was submitted, found for the plaintiffs 332 dollars and 50 cents, being the amount advanced on the contract, with interest from the, 2d of May, 1854. And thereupon, the defendant moved for a new trial; but his motion was overruled. Judgment was accordingly rendered, &c. The appellant contends, that the case made by the evidence entitles him to a reduction of the moneys which he received, to an amount equal to the *168difference between the contract price and that for which the corn was actually sold. And further, that the allowance of interest was erroneous.

¶5These positions, if the present suit is at all maintainable, are not well taken. The plaintiffs having failed to pay at the time stipulated, had no right of action, unless in consequence of such failure the defendant has rescinded the agreement. If he has, they were entitled to recover the money advanced without deduction, and with interest; because it is well settled that, when a contract has been rescinded by either party having a right to do so, or by both parties, money advanced in part performance may be recovered back with interest from the date of the rescission. Gillet v. Clemens, 5 Johns. 85.—Raymond v. Bearnard, 12 id. 274.— Green v. Green, 9 Cow. 46. — Chitty on Cont. 741. — 8 Blackf. 500(1). In this case, the evidence plainly shows the plaintiff’s default, and in sequence, the defendant’s right to rescind. It follows that the only question to settle is, did he exercise that privilege? If the defendant, intending to comply with his contract, had offered to deliver the com upon full payment of the purchase-money, and the plaintiffs had refused to receive it or make the payment, this action could not have been sustained. But such is not the case before us. Here, the defendant not only faded to perform, but within the time agreed on for the delivery of the corn, actually refused to receive a balance due on the contract. This, then, is a case in which both parties are in default. Neither could have sustained an action on the agreement. And it must, therefore, be held rescinded. The result is, that the plaintiffs were entitled to recover on the paragraph for money had and received.

¶6The judgment is affirmed, with 5 per cent, damages and costs.