FEDERAL REPORTER.
BLOWERS
v.
ONE WIRE ROPE CABLE AND NEW YORK WIRE ROPE CO.
.
(Circuit Uourt, S. D. New York. August 1,1884.) 1. CONTRACT-MuTUAL PEltFORMANCE.
When two acts are to be done concurrently by parties under a contract, the obligation on t.he part of each is dependent upon that of the other, and the act of each is done upon implied condition of performance by the other. TIFF THE CAUSE.
2. ESTOPPEL-OEIZURE OF BOAT-AsSERTION OF b'AILURE TO EARN, WlDIlN PLAIN-
The vendor of a cargo delivered by him on libelant's boat, to be carried by libelant for a third party, appropriated the boat in order to coerce payment from such party of the purchase price of the cargo. The vessel owner having libeled the cargo, held, that the vendor, who intervened as claimant, was estopped from claiming that the libelant had not earned freight.
In Admiralty. T. G. Campbell, for libelant. Scudder ci: Carter, for claimant.
WALLACE, J. There is nothing in the terms of the contract between the libelant and the Cable Towing Company necessarily inconsistent with the intentions of the parties to recognize the existence of a lien of the libelant upon the cable for his freight. Payment of the freight was to be made by the Cable Towing Company concurrently with the delivery of the cargo, although the libelant was to commence delivery before payment. The contract provided for a peculiar mode delivery of the cargo, but it does not differ otherwise essentially from the common contract for the payment of freight upon delivery. Where two acts are to be done concurrently by parties under a contract, the obligation on the part of each is dependent upon that of the other, and the act of each is done upon the implied condition of performance by the other. The Wire Rope Company, the claimant, prevented the libelant from performing his contract with the Cable Towing Company and earning his freight. The claimant knew, or had notice equivalent to knowledge, of the terms of the contract between libelant and the Cable Towing Company, and knew that the libelant was not the agent of that company in receiving the cable. The claimant also knew that byappropriating libelant's boat in order to coerce the Cable Towing Company to pay for the cable, the libelant would be prevented from performing his contract with that company, and from earning his freight. The circumstance that the claimant had the right to thus compel payment of the Cable Towing Company as against that company, does not affect the rights of the libelant, because as against him the claimant had no such right. Under such circumstances the libelant is not to be placed in a worse condition through the conduct of the claimant than he would occupy if he had been permitted to perform his contract and earn his freight. The claimant should, therefore, be deemed estopped from asserting that the libelant did not earn his freight. The decree of the district court is affirmed, with costs of this appeal.
BAISIN ,FERTILIZER 00.
SNELL.
353
BAISIN FERTIMZER
Co.
f1. SNELL
and another.·
(Oircuit
o()ure, S.
D. Gwrgia. May I, ALLEGATIONS CITIZENSHIP PBOHlllllOBT
I.
FEDERAL COURT NOTE.
JURISDICTION -
To entitle a person to sue upon a promissory note, other than one negotiable b, the law-merchant. in a federal court, there must be an allegation of the cItizenship of the original owners of the paper sued on. Since the jurisdiction must appear by affirmative allegations, It I, necesaary that the bill of exchange or promissory note sued on be one negotiable by the law-merchant. The character of the note must determine the question of jurisdIction, and the fact that thl' party suing is willing to waive certain of his rights under it, and sue on such a portion of the contract as might constitute a negotiable instrument, cannot give it.
So
SAME-PROMISSORY NOTE-LAw-MERCHANT.
8.
SAME-EFFECT OF CONDITIONS.
Action on Promissory Note. Motion to dismiss for want of diction. This was an action having a statutory and common-law count on a. note in the following terms: "81,040. SAVANNAH, GA., .A.pri120, 1881· ."On or before the seventeenth day of October next we agree to pay J. S. Wood & Bro., or order, for advances, one thousand and forty dollars, and eight per cent. interest from maturity. We waive expressly all right that we or our dependents may have to retard the collection of this debt by claiming homestead or personalty exemption, under the laws of Georgia, on any property we may hereafter own. If this note is not paid promptly, we agree to pay costs, if sued, and ten per cent. as stipulated attorney's fees. We agree to ship, before due, one bale of cOttOIl to J. S. Wood & Bro. for each ten dollars of this claim, or in default to forfeit to them the commissions at 21 per cent. on 500 pounds, at price of middling cottOn. when due. "Witness our hands and seals: C. W. SNELL. [seal.] "B. W. SNELL. Seal.] "Signed in our presence; "GEO. W. WOOD. "Indorsed: J. S. WOOD, CHAS. S. WOOD, J. S. WOOD & BRO."
The plaintiff in its declaration avers itself to be a citizen of the state of Maryland, and that the defendants are citizens of the state of Georgia, and alleges therein that the said note was indorsed by said J. S. Wood & Bro. and by them delivered to said plaintiff, but there is no allegation as the citizenship of Wood & Bro. Chisholm <t Erwin, for plaintiff. J. K. Hi.nes, for defendants. LOCKE, J., (orally.) There is no allegation of the citizenship of the original owners of the paper sued on, and sinee jurisdietio.Q musi I
Reported by W. B. Hill, Esq., of the Macon bar.
v.21F,no.6-23