Tuller v. Arnold

Temple, C. This appeal is from an order refusing to dissolve an attachment. Plaintiff is assignee of claims due two Chicago firms from whom defendants had purchased goods. The motion was based upon affidavits made by each defendant to the effect that the goods were purchased in Chicago, and were to be paid for at Chicago thirty days after the date of the invoices.

The affidavit of defendant Louis E. Arnold states that neither of said firms, assignors of plaintiff, have agencies or branch houses at San Francisco; that he personally purchased the goods at Chicago, and ordered them shipped to San Francisco; that they were to be paid for at Chicago, thirty days after the date of invoice, and the bills were not to be payable at San Francisco; that upon the invoice of E. W. Blatchford & Co., one of the assignors, was printed the words, “ All bills payable in Chicago. Remit in par funds. No allowance can be made for exchange or express charges ”; and on the other invoice, from the L. Wolff Manufacturing Company, the words, “ Payable with exchange on Chicago or New York.”

The invoices themselves were read at the hearing, and corroborated the affidavit in this respect.

Opposed to these was the affidavit upon which the writ -was issued, which conformed to the statute, and the affidavit of N. H. Blatchford, of E. W. Blatchford & Co., and John Clifford, of the, L. Wolff Manufacturing Company, which is a corporation.

Blatchford’s affidavit states that the goods were to be paid for at and upon their arrival in San Francisco, “ though we understood that said payment would be made within thirty days from the date of sale, that being a reasonable time within which said goods should arrive.” The affidavit does not state that he was the salesman who [168]sold the goods, or that he had personal knowledge of the transaction, nor does he give any explanation of the words on the invoice which were in direct conflict with his affidavit.

Clifford states that he is secretary of the corporation; that “ L. E. Arnold acted for defendants in making said purchase, and represented to said corporation that said defendants were perfectly solvent, and that they would pay for said goods in San Francisco in ten days from date of invoice, receiving two per cent discount for such payment, or within thirty days,” etc. This affiant does not state that he had personal knowledge of the transaction, or that he was connected with the sales department of the corporation, nor does he attempt an explanation of the inconsistent statement on the invoice.