Falls City Tannery v. W. D. Allen Manufacturing Co., 205 Ill. App. 462 (1917)

May 1, 1917 · Illinois Appellate Court · Gen. No. 22,421

205 Ill. App. 462

Falls City Tannery, Appellee, v. W. D. Allen Manufacturing Company, Appellant.

Gen. No. 22,421.

(Not to be reported in full.)

Abstract of the Decision.

1. Sales, § 330 ^* —when instruction is erroneous as assuming proof of case 6y preponderance of evidence and as directing vendiet. In an action for money due upon a shipment of hides, where it was claimed in defense that the goods had been fraudulently treated so as to increase their weight, and the court charged the jury that the burden of proving fraud was on the defendant, and that unless such charge was proven by the clear preponderance of the evidence the jury should find for the plaintiff, held that such instruction was erroneous in assuming that plaintiff had proved his case by a preponderance of the evidence, and in directing a verdict for the plaintiff in the event that the defendant failed to show fraud on the part of the plaintiff.

Appeal from the Municipal Court of Chicago; the Hon. John R. Newcomer, Judge, presiding. Heard in the Branch Appellate Court at the March term, 1916.

Reversed and remanded.

Opinion filed May 1, 1917.

Rehearing denied May 22, 1917.

Statement of the Case.

Action by Falls City Tannery, a corporation, plaintiff, agáinst W. D. Allen Manufacturing Company, a corporation, defendant, to recover a balance alleged to be due on a shipment of hides. From a judgment for plaintiff for $2,377.25, defendant appeals.

Underwood & Smyser, for appellant; Arthur A. Basse and Charles R. Young, of counsel.

Woodbury & Woodbury, for appellee.

* See Illinois Notes Digest, Vols. XI to XV, and Cumulative Quarterly, sime topic and section number.

* See Illinois Notes Digest, Yols. XI to XY, and Cumulative Quarterly, same topic and section number.

Mr. Justice McDonald

delivered the opinion of the court.

2. Sales, § 325*—when plaintiff must establish case by preponderance of evidence. In an action for money due upon a shipment of hides, where it was claimed in defense that the goods had been fraudulently treated so as to increase their weight, and the court charged the jury that the burden of proving fraud was on the defendant, and that unless such charge was proven by a clear preponderance of the evidence the jury should find for the plaintiff, held that the plaintiff was required to establish his case by a preponderance of the evidence regardless of whether or not the defendant succeeded in establishing its charge of fraud.

3. Instructions, § 87 ^* —when instruction on preponderance of evidence is misleading. In an action for money due upon a shipment of hides, where it was claimed in defense that the goods had been fraudulently treated so as to increase their weight, and the court charged the jury that the burden of proving fraud was on the defendant, and that unless such charge was proven by a clear preponderance of the evidence the jury should find for the plaintiff, held that such charge was misleading in requiring the defendant to prove fraud by a clear preponderance of evidence, as thus the burden was placed upon the defendant of establishing its defense of fraud by a higher degree of proof than required by the law, a mere preponderance being sufficient.

4. Instructions, § 87*—when instruction on amount .of proof to show fraud by seller of goods is erroneous. In an action for money due upon a shipment of hides, where it was claimed in defense that the goods had been fraudulently treated so as to increase their weight, and where the court charged the jury that unless they were satisfied from the evidence that the plaintiff dried certain so-called belt butts for the purpose of intentionally deceiving the defendant they should find for the plaintiff, held that the instruction was prejudicially erroneous, as it was not necessary for the defendant to submit evidence that would satisfy the jury.

5. Municipal Court of Chicago, § 29*—when judicial notice not taken of rules of. In an action in the Municipal Court to recover upon a shipment of goods, where the defendant complained of the charge to the jury, and where the plaintiff contended that the defendant was precluded from assailing the instruction of the court because no objection was made at the close of the charge before the jury retired, as required by the rules of the Municipal Court, and where such rules were not introduced in evidence, held that such point was untenable as the court could not take judicial notice of such rules.