{ "id": 5791978, "name": "Diamond Joe Line v. James R. Carter et al.", "name_abbreviation": "Diamond Joe Line v. Carter", "decision_date": "1898-05-26", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "470", "last_page": "475", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "76 Ill. App. 470" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "125 Ill. 626", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 2938144 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ill/125/0626-01" ] }, { "cite": "52 Ill. 19", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 5300613 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ill/52/0019-01" ] }, { "cite": "92 Ill. 218", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 2739689 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ill/92/0218-01" ] }, { "cite": "54 Ill. 294", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 5275290 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ill/54/0294-01" ] }, { "cite": "114 Ill. 337", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 2869780 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ill/114/0337-01" ] }, { "cite": "81 Ill. 143", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 2675368 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ill/81/0143-01" ] }, { "cite": "165 Ill. 572", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "147 Ill. 555", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "81 Ill. 143", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 2675368 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/81/0143-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 492, "char_count": 9775, "ocr_confidence": 0.587, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.0091961852718293e-07, "percentile": 0.5416923921047134 }, "sha256": "ea7423a8b54b556c00a7ae51eacdcea74df7b9c0d0286cee6786b2630c6d8014", "simhash": "1:ffbe69d32e7bd5a1", "word_count": 1718 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:12:45.168189+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "Diamond Joe Line v. James R. Carter et al." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Mr. Justice Windes,\nafter making the foregoing statement, delivered the opinion of the court.\nA question is made by appellant to the effect that the court found that the plaintiff was entitled to recover under the first count, and not under the second count, and inasmuch as it is claimed there was a fatal variance' between the proof and the first count, that the judgment must be reversed because of such variance. This contention as to the finding of the court would seem, from the abstract, to be correct, but by the record in the bill of exceptions and the judgment of the court, it appears that the court held that the plaintiff was entitled to recover, and the finding of the court in its order of judgment is, \u201cfinds the defendant guilty and assesses the plaintiff\u2019s damages at the sura of $250.\u201d This we regard as a finding generally, and is sufficient if either count is good.\nWe do not understand that it is claimed by appellant, but that appellees were entitled to recover under the count in trover, if entitled to recover at all under the evidence; and if it did so contend, we are of opinion such contention is not tenable. The count in trover is good. R. R. Co. v. Herndon, 81 Ill. 143; R. R. Co. v. Buckley, 114 Id. 337.\nWe are inclined to the view that appellant\u2019s liability was as a warehouseman and not. as a common carrier, the goods having been safely carried and stored in appellant\u2019s warehouse in St. Paul, unless it. was made liable as a earner {by a failure to obey the order to its agemtyB rock way, to forward the 200 boxes of ink in question consigned to appellees to places designated by Eaton & Jackson. (Gregg v. R. R. Co., 147 Ill. 555, and cases cited.) Waiving that question, however, we think they were, liable as warehousemen. It was appellant\u2019s plain duty under the order given to its agent, if it undertook to act under the order, to forward the goods to places to be designated by Eaton & Jackson to appellees- as consignees, and in delivering them to Eaton & Jackson, there was negligence-\u2014a wrongful delivery, for which it is liable. It failed to. exercise ordinary or reasonable care as to the goods, as was its duty as warehouseman. Herndon case, supra; Buckley case, supra; Gregg case, supra.\nWe think the contention of appellant that Brockway was the agent of appellees, and not of appellant, is not tenable, and what was said by the Supreme Court in I. C. R. R. Co. v. Carter, 165 Ill. 572, as to the agency of Williams, was said with reference to the liability of the railway company as a carrier and insurer and after its duty had been fully performed by delivering the goods to appellant. Appellant assumed the liability of warehouseman of these goods, and it continued until the goods were delivered to the persons entitled to receive them. They failed to perform their duty to exercise ordinary and reasonable care to deliver them, as their agent was directed.\nAppellees have assigned as cross-error that the court refused to hold a proposition of law to the effect that they were entitled to recover interest. Conceding appellees\u2019 right to recover interest from the date of wrongful delivery to the date of the judgment, the proposition of law which the court was asked to hold was that appellees were entitled to interest from August 7,189 L, the date of Brookway\u2019s letter to Carter, Dinsmore & Co., while the evidence fails to show there was a delivery prior to August 12,1891, and the letter referred to is dated August 17, 1891. The court did not err in refusing the proposition as asked. The judgment is affirmed.", "type": "majority", "author": "Mr. Justice Windes," } ], "attorneys": [ "G. W. & J. T. Kretzinger, attorneys for appellant.", "L. M. Greeley, attorney for appellees." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "Diamond Joe Line v. James R. Carter et al.\n\u00cd. Practice\u2014A General Finding\u2014When Sufficient..\u2014A general finding is sufficient if either count of the declaration is good.\n2. Warehouseman\u2014Liability for a Wrongful Delivery.\u2014A warehouseman is liable for a wrongful delivery of the goods committed to his keeping.\nTrover.\u2014Misdelivery of goods by a warehouseman. Trial in the Circuit Court of Cook County; the Hon. Edward F. Dunne, Judge, presiding. Finding and judgment for plaintiff, $250. Appeal by defendant.\nHeard in this court at the March term, 1898.\nAffirmed.\nOpinion filed May 26, 1898.\nStatement of Facts.\nThis was an action commenced to recover damages for the loss occasioned by the misdelivery of a portion of a shipment of ink from Chicago to St. Paul, Minnesota, over the Illinois Central Railroad by way of appellant\u2019s steamboat line operated on the Mississippi river.\nThe entire shipment contained 1,000 boxes of ink. Upon the bill of lading the following indorsement was written : \u201cDeliver to C. S. Eaton or to Fred. H. Jackson, as per our telegraphic or written instructions.\nJuly 6, 1891. Carter, Dinsmore & Co.\u201d\nThe bill of lading was sent by the consignor to R. J. Williams, agent of the Illinois Central Railroad at St. Paul, Minnesota, with the following instructions:\n\u201cDeab Sib : Please find enclosedB-L for 1,000 bxs. ink, to be delivered from time to time to C. S. Eaton and F. H. Jackson in accordance with our telegraphic or written instructions.\u201d\nAfter the ink had arrived at St. Paul and after the same had been placed in the appellant\u2019s warehouse, appellees directed said Williams by telegraph to release a part of said shipment of ink to Eaton & Jackson. Thereupon Williams transmitted a copy of such order or orders from appellees to C. R. Brockway, the agent of appellant at St. Paul, Minnesota, and in this way 600 of the 1,000 boxes of ink were delivered to Eaton & Jackson. On the 14th day of July, 1891, appellees directed Williams by telegram to release the balance of said ink, as follows:\n\u201cR. J. Williams, Freight Agent Illinois Central R. R.,\nSt. Paul, Minn.:\nRelease hundred boxes to Chas. S. Eaton and hundred to Fred. H. Jackson; forward two hundred consigned to us to place designated by them.\nCabteb, Dins more & Co.\u201d\nOn the same day Williams transmitted a copy of the above telegraphic order to C. R. Brockway, requesting him to comply with the order. Thereupon Brockway delivered the remaining 400 boxes of ink to Eaton & Jackson.\nOn July 31, 1891, appellees wrote to R. J. Williams, agent, etc., as follows:\n\u201cDear Sib : On July 14 we telegraphed you to release 100 boxes ink from our consignment of 1,000 boxes June 17, to Chas. S. Eaton and 100 boxes to F. H. Jackson, and we asked you further to reship 200 boxes to places designated by them, consigning the goods to us. We have not received bills of lading from these shipments, and should be glad to learn from you what was done in the premises.\u201d\nAlso a letter from same parties to same party, bearing date August 15, 1891, viz.:\n\u201cBoston, Aug. 15, 1891.\nMr. Robert J. Williams, 169 East 3d St., St. Paul, Minn.\nDeab Sib : We are surprised to learn from your letter of Aug. 12, how our instructions of July 14 were carried out. We beg leave to quote our telegram on that date as follows:\n\u2018Release 100 boxes to Chas. S. Eaton and 100 boxes to Fred. H. Jackson. Forward 200 consigned to us to places designated by them.\u2019 It seems to be perfectly plain from this telegram that we yielded the title to only 200 boxes of ink, the phrase \u2018 consigned to us \u2019 expressing our purpose very clearly. We believe that Messrs. Eaton & Jackson are r \u00bfsponsible parties and hope that no serious trouble will arise over vour;\u2018mistake; but should any difficulty occur in the premises, we shall, of course, insist upon our title to the shipment, excepting so far as we have expressly yielded that title, and shall hold the proper parties responsible for any losses.\nTours truly,\nCarter, Dinsmore & Co.\u201d\nAlso a letter to Brock way, dated Aug. 15, 1891, viz.:\n\u201cBoston, Aug. 15, 1891.\nMr. C. R. Brockway, Diamond Joe Line, St. Paul, Minn.\nDear Sir: We are advised by Mr. R. J. Williams, of the 111. Cr. R. Co., that he gave you a copy of our telegram of July 14, which read as follows: \u2018 Release 100 boxes to Chas. S. Eaton and 100 boxes to Fred. H. Jackson. Forward. 200 consigned to us to places designated by them.\u2019 It would appear from Mr. Williams\u2019 letter that you not only delivered the 200 boxes which we ordered to be released to them, but also the 200 additional boxes, the title to which we expressly reserved, in the phrase \u2018 consigned to ourselves.\u2019 We believe that Messrs. Eaton & Jackson are responsible parties, and hope that no serious difficulty will arise in the premises. We have never released our title to the 200 boxes, however, and, of course, we shall look to the proper parties for indemnification in case of any difficulty in the matter of collection.\nTours truly,\nCarter, Dinsmore & Co.\u201d\nThe declaration consists of two counts. The first count charges liability against appellant as a common carrier. The second count is in trover, charging appellant with the conversion of 200 boxes of ink.\nA plea of the general issue was filed, and the cause was tried before the court without a jury.\nJudgment was rendered against appellant for $250, from which this appeal is taken.\nG. W. & J. T. Kretzinger, attorneys for appellant.\nL. M. Greeley, attorney for appellees.\nAppellees were entitled to recover for the wrongful deliv-' ery of the goods by appellant upon the count in trover. Indianapolis & St. Louis R. R. v. Herndon, 81 Ill. 143.\nIt matters not whether the wrongful delivery was made by appellant in the character of common carrier, or whether such wrongful delivery was made by it in the character of warehouseman. Indianapolis & St. Louis R. R. Co. v. Herndon, 81 Ill. 143; Peoria, etc., R. R. Co. v. Buckley, 114 Ill. 337.\nIn the case of a wrongful delivery, trover lies without the necessity of a demand previous to the bringing of the action. Ill. Cent. R. R. Co. v. Parks, 54 Ill. 294; Howitt v. Estelle, 92 Ill. 218; Bane v. Detrick, 52 Ill. 19; Hayes v. Mass. Life Ins. Co., 125 Ill. 626-637." }, "file_name": "0470-01", "first_page_order": 468, "last_page_order": 473 }