3,466. An Unreliable Messenger

Hilchos Maaser 12:6

Let’s say that a person tells someone who is not trustworthy regarding tithes to buy produce for him from someone who takes tithes. If the untrustworthy person brings him produce, his word is not sufficient. If the agent was told to buy produce from a particular person, then he is believed that he bought it from that person. This is because one would hesitate to lie about something so easily verifiable. If the agent went to buy produce from the designated vendor but he says that he couldn’t find him so he bought it from a different trustworthy seller, he is not believed.

Hilchos Maaser 12:7

Let’s say that a person travels to a city where he doesn’t know anyone and he asks who is trustworthy regarding tithes. If someone replies, “I am,” he isn’t believed, but if he specifies a third party, he is believed, so the traveler can buy from that person and eat. Let’s say that the traveler goes and buys produce from that third party. He asks him, “Who sells aged wine?” If the produce vendor names the one who recommended him, he is believed even though the two of them appear to be in cahoots.