Lazarus v. Shearer

COLLIER, C. J. — The formality once required in the execution of written contracts, made through the medium of agents is now to a great extent dispensed with. It is however necessary, in order to make it binding upon the principal, per se, that it should appear to have been made in his name. The form of the signature is unimportant, it may be either “ A. B. by C. D.” or “ C. D. for A. B.” [Stringfellow & Hobson v. Mariott, 1 Alabama Rep. N. S. 573.] But a mere addition to the name of the party signing a contract, cannot be regarded as a certain indicium, that it was made on the behalf and account of another. Thus in Allen v. Brockway and others, 17 Wend. Rep. 40, a promissory note in usual form, was made for the payment of two hundred and sixty dollars to the plaintiff. The names of the defendants were subscribed thereto, with the description of “ Trustees of Baptist Society” &c. ad-ded: It was held that the defendants were prima facie personally liable, and the addition was a mere descriptioperson-arum. (See also Hills v. Bannister & Butler, 8 Cow. Rep. 31.) Where however it is doubtful from the face of the contract, whether it was intended to operate as the personal engagement of the party signing it, or to impose an obligation upon some third person as his principal, parol evidence is admissible to show the true character of the transaction. The Mechanic’s Bank of Alexandria v. The Bank of Washington, 5 Wheaton’s Rep. 326, is illustrative of this principle. That was an action brought on a check of the following tenor: “ No. 18. Mechanics Bank of Alexandria, June 25th, 1817 —Cashier of the Bank of Columbia — pay to the order of P. H. Minor, Esq. ten thousand dollars. $10,000 WM. PATTON, Jr.” On the part of the plaintiff in error, .it was insisted that the check not appearing to have been drawn by Wm. Patton in his official character of cashier, parol evidence was inadmissible to show, that the amount paid on it was understood by the parties to be for the benefit of the Mechanics’ Bank, &c. But the Court thought it by no means certain that this appeared on its face to be a private check. “ on the contrary the appearance of the corporate name of the institution on the face of the paper, at once leads to the belief that it is a corporate, and not [724] an individual transaction: to which must be added, the circumstances, that the cashier is the drawer and the- teller the payee ; and the form of ordinary checks deviated.from, by the substitution of to order for to bearer.. But it is enough for tho purpose of the defendant to. establish, that, there existed on the face of the paper, circumstances from which it .might reasonably be inferred, that it was either one or..the .other. . In that cas# it became indispensable, to .resort .to extrinsic evidence to remove, the doubt.” So in the case of Brockway v. Allen, et al. already cited, the defendants made a promissory, note, adding to their signature “ Trustees of the first Baptist society of the village of Brockport.” It was held that, although they were prima facie, liable personally; yet such presumption of liability might be rebutted by proof, that the note was in fact given by the makers, as the agents of the corporation, indicated by their signature; for a debt due by the corporation to the payee, and that they were authorized to make' the same as such agents; and that these facts being known to the payee at the time he received the note, would relieve the defendants from personal responsibility. Such evidence would not however, we apprehend, be admissible against a bona fide indorsee of negotiable paper without notice, acquired in the ordinary course of trade. . An inspection of the bill in-the case at bar, affords proof quite-as satisfactory as that shown in the cases cited, that the plaintiff in accepting it, did not intend to take upon himself a personal liability; but that he acted officially as the-representative .of the ((Railroad Company.” If then, the question was, whether proof in explanation of the transaction, and to remove the doubt were admissible, we should not hesitate to answer it affirmatively. But there, are other questions to be considered, viz: was the defendant authorized at the time of his acceptance, to accept bills for the company; and. if not, can the ratification of the act by-the company exempt him from responsibility, according to the terms of the contract ? - In respect to the first question, it has not, nor indeed could it be insisted, that the evidence adduced at the trial shows an authority to the defendant to accept bills for the corporation. He was authorized “ to make all contracts, and draw on the [725] Treasurer for all disbursements (countersigned by the Secretary) under the direction of the board but this did not confer on him the power to make contracts for) or otherwise bind, the corporation, without the “ direction of the board ” of directors; Where the acts of one person, as the agent of another, are recognizéd and ratified by the principal as being done for him, it will bé presumed that the agént "acted Under a legal authOri-tyarid under such circumstances, it will be competent for the party'contracted with, tó look to'-the principal to ffiake good any breach of the agreement. But although the principal be-' comes liable by the adoption of the contract, it by no means follows, that the: agent himself is discharged from responsibility. If the agent would discharge'himself,‘he must show — 1; That .the act -vitas done in the'exercise;‘and 2. Within the limits'of the powers delegated, or in o'thér words, under’ a sufficient authority existing ni the time the contract was made. In Rossiter v. Rossiter, 8 Wend. Rep. 494, this precise ques-' tion arose. There the defendant attempted to show in defence, that he Had made the' note in question for one Pinchón, who had adopted'the act. 'The'Court said: “ It was contended on the part of the defendant, that Pinchón1 had recognizéd the'acts of the defendant subsequently, and thereby his liability on' tlie note was established, even if the- áuthority by the letter of attorney were doubtful; but I apprehend the true question is) whether the defendant had at the timé, authority to sign the note, and thereby obligate Pinchón to its payment. The note When executed, was either the note of one Or the other: if it was the note of Pinchón, then the defendant was not liable'; • if it was not the note of Pinchón, then it Was the defendant’s note.” [To the same effect is Arfridson V. Ladd, 12 Mass. Rep. 173.] Where one undertakes to represent another, and in' that character makes a contract, without or not within the limits of a legal authority, he renders' himself personally responsible. This being a well established' principle, reason concurs with the law in maintaining, that the responsibility thus incurred, shall not be discharged, and the party contracted With, forced to look to another person against his consent. But it is argued for the defendant, that although he may be [726] liable to the plaintiff, yet he cannot be charged in an action upon his acceptance; but a special action on the case for having exceeded his authority, is the proper remedy. If the acceptance had been made in the name of the corporation, the argument wonld be entitled to great consideration; but such is not the case. The acceptance, we have seen, prima facie, is the personal engagement of the defendant to pay the bill — it is one on Which he is suable; and if he fail to show that he made it in his official character, in virtue of an authority for that purpose, the plaintiff is entitled to judgment. As it will follow from the view we have taken of this cause, •that it must be sent back for another trial, it may be well to express our opinion upon the argument of the plaintiff’s counsel, that the evidence in explanation of the transaction was inadmissible under the issue, because the defendant’s plea was not verified by affidavit. By the 3d section of the act of 1811, “regulating judicial proceedings in certain eases, and for other purposes,” it is enacted, that it shall not be lawful for the defendant in any suit, “to deny the execution” of any writing, the foundation of an action; unless it be by plea supported by affidavit. [Aik. Dig. S. 137, p. 283.] The evidence adduced by the defendant does not deny, that the acceptance was made by him; it supposes in fact, that it was made with his hands, but upon the account of the corporation he professed to represent According to the strict import of language, then, the evidence does not deny the execution of the writing sued on; yet, its tendency is a direct denial of the act. The declaration charges, that the bill was accepted by the defendant, and by the evidence, the defendant seeks to show, that the acceptance though, with his hand, is not obligatory upon him. Now the statute cannot be literally interpreted, or it would fall short of effecting the purpose proposed by the legislature. We understand the meaning of the act to be, that a plea which denies, that the writing declared on, is the defendant’s act in law, or in other words, insists that it was not intended to impose a legal obligation, or duty upon him, comes within the spirit and intention of the act, and must be verified by affidavit. The de-fence in the present case, is of that character, and therefore, cannot be made under the plea in the record. [Fowlkes & Co. v. Baldwin, Kent & Co., at this term.] [727] , If it were a mere legal question, upon an inspection of the paper, whether the defendant was personally responsible, then the plea would have been regular, though not accompanied with an affidavit. This view disposes of the ease, and we have only to say, that the judgment must be reversed and the cause temanded.