John E. Furman, Appellant v. the Union Pacific Railroad Company, Respondent

Summary

The New York Court of Appeals affirmed the circuit court's judgment that the Union Pacific Railroad, as a carrier, was liable for conversion of the peanuts because it delivered the goods without first obtaining the bill of lading, which the bill's language showed did not name Zueca Bros. as consignee. The court held that a carrier must retain the property until a holder of the bill of lading demands delivery and may not rely solely on predecessor papers.