Taylor v. Guest

Beady, J. The evidence in this case establishes the facts that Mr. Scott sent to the defendant’s office to say that his firm held the bonds and wanted to sell them or to find a purchaser for them; that in response Mr. Thomas called and was advised by Mr. Scott that he wanted him to sell the bonds for the best price he could; that Thomas had previously acted for the defendant in transactions of a similar character; that Thomas and the defendant obtained an offer of seventy-five per cent for the bonds; that subsequently Thomas went to Mr. Scott and said that sixty per cent was the best price he could obtain; that Mr. Scott finally accepted the bid, and that the defendant gave his checks for the amount of the price of both purchases. It also appears that 'Mr. Scott, when he learned that the bonds had been sold to Mr. Drew for seventy-five per cent, complained to Thomas of the circumstance as a fraud, and that .the latter admitted having made the statement that sixty per cent was the best price he could obtain 278 for the bonds. The referee finds that Thomas made this representation, but adds that it was done without the knowledge of and without any express direction or authority of or from the defendant. It is not questioned, indeed it cannot be, that the defendant reaped the benefit of such representation. He gave the checks for the bonds knowing that he had a purchaser who stood ready to pay him fifteen per cent advance, and whom he had secured prior to the purchase. The fact that Thomas represented him and that he knew it, whether he was ignorant of his mode'of negotiation or not, is undoubtedly established by the proof, and on well settled principles he is responsible for the conduct of his agent (Story on Agency,pp. 126,127, and cases cited ; Elwell agt. Chamberlin, 31 N. Y. Rep., 611; Gutchers agt. Whiting, 46 Barb., 139 ; Story on Contracts, vol. 1, c. 496 [4th ed.]; Parsons on Contracts, vol.. 1,73 [5th ed.] ; Atwood agt. Small, 6 Bl. & F., 448). The referee finds that Mr. Scott had a right to presume, from .the relations existing between Thomas and0the defendant, that Thomas made the statement under consideration as the agent or employe of the defendant, and therefore, whether he knew it or not, is, as already suggested, immaterial. He availed himself of the result of the misrepresentation, and he cannot hold it either in law or in morals. It is enough, to require him to make restitution, that through the instrumentality of his authorized representative he has obtained improperly what he is called upon to restore (Etwell agt. Chamberlin, supra).' Ho other proposition can be maintained in courts of justice, and the contrary has not been asserted except where the agent has acted beyond the sphere or scope of his power or authority in reference to the transaction. The statement of the best price was legitimately within it, and was one, as stated by the learned referee, upon which Messrs. Scott, Strong & Co. had a right to rely. This is not the case of an offer made by a person contemplating a purchase, where the right undoubtedly exists to make any bid which judgment or fancy may dictate. It is, on the contrary, a transaction in 279 which the dealing rested upon the statement and belief that the price named was the best that could be obtained, made by a person acting on behalf of the seller, or pretending to do so, no matter which. The omission or intention not to pay a commission does not affect the question. The proof that brokers do not charge it as against each other is not material in this case. The fraudulent element which pervades the transaction destroys all minor considerations (See Conkey agt. Bond, 34 Barb., 276; Same Case in Court of Appeals, 3 Abb., N. S., 415). And it may be said in addition that the defendant’s gain by the sale which he made was no doubt entirely satisfactory, rendering insignificant the amount a commission would furnish. It seems, therefore, that whether we accept the findings of the referee or group them from the testimony, this judgment should be reversed, and such must be the order of the court. Note.—Suppose that Thomas, the messenger, when he took defendant’s letter and check which he delivered to Scott, Strong & Co., had remained silent, and made no statement whatever as to the best price which could he obtained for the bonds, and Scott, Strong & Co. had closed the sale by accepting the defendant’s offer and his check, would the defendant have been liable to the plaintiff for the additional fifteen per cent which he received from Drew? Probably.not, as there would have been no misrepresentation in the matter in such case. Now, how does the misrepresentation of Thomas create the defendant’s liability? It would seem to he only by showing that Thomas acted as his agent. What are the facts about this? They are that the defendant swore that Thomas was not his agent and had no authority from him to make such statement, and so the referee finds. The fact that Strong, Scott & Co. had a right to presume and to rely upon the statement of Thomas, because he had previously acted for the defendant in transactions of a similar character, would go for nothing, after the evidence was given, by the defendant in this case, that Thomas was not his agent, and had no authority from him to make the representations stated'. It would appear to be pretty critical and hazardous dealing among stockbrokers if, where one sends his errand boy or porter with a letter containing an offer to purchase stocks to another, the latter can by some false statement made by the messenger, without any authority whatever, make the former liable to respond in damages for the effect of such statement.—Rep.