Alkahest Lyceum System v. Dauphin Way Baptist Church

BICE, J. This was a suit by plaintiff, named (appellant), against defendant, named (appellee), based upon a contract purporting to be executed under seal. A copy of the contract is set out as an exhibit, and is expressly made a part of each of tbe two counts of the complaint. This contract shows on its face that it is the contract of the plaintiff and one Guy B. Hurlbutt. The name of the defendant (appellee) nowhere appears in said contract, either expressly or by reference or implication. Each count of the complaint alleges- that the contract was executed by appellee church corporation by said Cuy K. Hurlbutt and in the latter’s name, and avers his agency for the church. The allegation is, in one count, that it “was executed, by the defendant in the name of, and by, its pastor and agent, Cuy B. Hurlbutt”; and in the other that the contract “was entered into by the defendant on, to wit, the 5th day of November, 1915, by and in the name of its pastor and agent, Guy B. Hurlbutt.” The defendant filed, among other pleas, the plea of the statute of limitations of six years. Because of the action of the trial court ih overruling its demurrers to this plea, plaintiff, as was its right, took a nonsuit, with bill of exceptions, and prosecutes this appeal. There were other rulings adverse to plaintiff, *562 on the pleadings, as well as rulings adverse to defendant, and defendant has made a number of cross-assignments of error, and argued them; but, in the view we take of the case, a disposition of the single error assigned and argued by appellant will .render unnecessary any discussion of the said cross-assignments. In appellant’s own language, the single question raised and submitted by it on this appeal is: Was there error in the action of the trial court in overruling plaintiff’s (appellant’s) demurrers to defendant’s (appellee’s) plea of the statute of limitations of six years to each count of the complaint? This resolves itself into the question of whether or not the contract made the basis of the suit was, as against the appellee, a contract under seal, or a simple contract, since, if the former, the plea was defective as pointed out by the demurrers, and, if the latter, the plea was good, and the action of the trial court in overruling the derdurrers thereto free from error. Code 1907, §§ 4834 and 4835. It is not seriously questioned that the principal can contract in the agent’s name, whether the principal is disclosed or not to the other party. Powell v. Wade, 109 Ala. 95, 19 So. 500, 55 Am. St. Rep. 915. But it seems equally as well settled that authority to execute a sealed instrument must be conferred by an instrument of equal solemnity; that is, by an instrument under seal. 2 C. J. p. 457, § 61. In most jurisdictions, and ours among the number, it is held that where an agent, authorized to execute a simple contract only, unnecessarily attaches a seal to the instrument executed by him, and which would be good as a simple contract, the seal may be treated as surplusage, and the validity of the contract be in no way affected by it, although his authority was not under seal, but was conferred merely by parol; but the principal will not be bound by such an instrument as a sealed instrument. 2 C. L p. 458, § 63; Cocke v. Campbell, 13 Ala. 286; Warring v. Williams, 8 Pick. (Mass.) 326; Calhoon v. Buhre, 75 N. J. Law, 439, 441, 67 A. 1068; Royal Indemnity Co. v. Danziger, 101 Misc. Rep. 505, 167 N. Y. S. 379. In the instant case it appears from the complaint that the contract made the basis of the suit is the alleged sealed contract of Guy R. Hurlbutt. It is not alleged in the complaint that the agent was authorized by a writing under seal to execute the contract sued upon for and on behalf of the appellee. Únder the general rule, the pleadings will be construed most strongly against the pleader, and each count of the complaint will be construed as showing that the agent was not authorized by writing under seal to execute the said contract. In the case of Cocke v. Campbell & Smith, 13 Ala. 286, it appeared that an agent of the defendant was authorized by parol to sell a slave. The agent executed the bill of sale in the name of the principal, and affixed a seal thereto and made a deed. The Supreme Court held that— “The vendor is not bound by the deed, yet it is a contract. It can only be a simple contract, or a contract by parol.” It is clear, therefore, that where a suit is brought, 'as here, against a principdl upon an instrument sealed, without authority, by an agent, the principal is liable only as up-ion a simple contract, and it follows that the principal may invoke the protection of the statute of limitations as applicable to such contracts. Accordingly, we hold that the action of the trial court in overruling plaintiff’s demurrers to defendant’s plea of the statute of limitations of six years was free from error, and the judgment appealed from will be affirmed. Affirmed.