Penrose ex rel. Hutchinson v. Curren

The opinion of the court was delivered by Rogers, J. The law has wisely provided, that infants shall not be liable on contracts, except for necessaries. It cannot be pretended, that here the infant would be liable on the contract of hiring, as the plaintiff has not brought his case within the principle of the exception. The plaintiff rests his right to recover on the fact, that the minor was guilty of a conversion by riding to Chester instead of Germantown. He contends, that wherever trover is the proper form of action, it will lie as well against an infant as an adult, and in this position, it must be admitted, he is supported by a decision of a court of high authority in Horner v. Twining, 3 Pick. 492. I have examined that case with the attention it merits, and I am compelled to [353] say, I cannot agree to the principle, which is there decided. It is true, that detinue will lie against an infant for goods delivered upon a special contract for a specific purpose, after the contract is avoided. It is also true, that assumpsit will lie against an infant to recover money embezzled. To this I fully accede, because the object of the suit, in the first case, is to recover the article itself, or damages for its detention. And this decision is founded in sheer justice, as the privilege of protection is given to the minor as a shield, and not as a sword, nor is it necessary for his safety, that he should be permitted to retain the article, when the contract has been rescinded, without paying an equivalent for it. The vendor is remitted to his original rights, when the contract has been rescinded, and as a consequence, he may assert them, either by action of detinue, replevin or trover. It is also altogether proper, that money embezzled by an infant, should be recovered in assumpsit. The occupation, in which he is employed, is for the benefit of the infant, and the embezzlement is a tortious act, in which no blame is imputable to the employer. But is that the case here 1 The infant derives no benefit from the transaction, and what is of more consequence, the plaintiff himself is in fault. The loss which ensues results from the contract of hiring with a person, whom he is bound to know was a minor, and as such incapable of contracting. This is a transaction, in which parents and guardians have a deep interest, and particularly such as educate their children from under their own eye at a distance in our seminaries of learning. It amounts to this: If the keeper of a livery-stable, or an inn-keeper, whose business it is to let out horses and carriages to hire, chooses to trust them to a minor, contrary to the assent and wish of the parent, and an injury is done by the young man, in the folly and heedlessness of youth, going to a different place, or further than he intended, the father must either pay the debt or damages to whatever amount they may be, or suffer his child to be disgraced by imprisonment. It seems to me, that parents would have much r'eason to complain of a rule, which involves such consequences. If the plaintiff should succeed, there would be no want of pretences, upon which infants might be charged, and there would be an end to the protection which the law so wisely affords them. I cannot agree, that from the commission of a wrong, a right of action can arise. If the contract of hiring came within the exception of necessaries, as might be, where a horse was hired to visit a sick parent, &c. then the infant would be liable for the consequences, and if injury ensued from cruel driving, or improper treatment, the owner would have an appropriate remedy. Had the minor gone to Germantown as he intended, then Shenck v. Strong, 1 Southard, 87, would have been express authority, adverse to the plaintiff’s claim. The foundation of the action is contract, and disguise it as you may, it is an attempt to convert a suit, originally in contract, into a constructive tort so as to charge the infant. So far are minors shielded from the consequences of their own [354] acts, that action will not lie against them, where' they affirm themselves to be of full age, nor on a warranty in the sale of a horse, Johnson v. Pie, 1 Lev. 169. 1 Keble. 905. Nor will, I apprehend, trover lie against an infant for goods sold to him, either with or without a knowledge of his infancy ; certainly not where he knows the fact of infancy, Manly v. Scott, 1 Sid. 129. The contract being unlawful, no action arises to the adult, who is bound to know, with whom he is contracting, and must be aware, that such contracts are contrary to the policy of the law. It operates not only as a shield to the infant, but as a penalty upon the adult. Wherever a person has not parted with the property, then he can assert his right, as well against an infant as an adult, as in every kind of bailment; and if the conversion had been the non-delivery of the horse and carriage hired, the owner might have sustained detinue, replevin or trover. I would here remark, that notwithstanding what is said in Horner v. Twining, I cannot distinguish this from Jennings v. Rundall, 8 T. R. 335. In the second count of the declaration, it was alleged, that the plaintiff let to hire and delivered to the defendant a certain other mare to go and perform a certain reasonable and moderate journey, &c. and yet that the defendant, contriving, &c. wrongfully and injuriously rode and'worked the said mare a much longer journey, &c. The defendant pleaded infancy to both counts, to which the plaintiff demurred. Here then there was the construe tive conversion of the property, which is the turning point of the decision in Horner v. Twining, and yet the court notwithstanding gave judgment for the defendant. The fundamental error seems to me to consist in considering the conduct of the infant as a violation of contract, whereas there was no contract, which could be enforced. Judgment reversed, and judgment for the defendant.