Merchants & Planters' National Bank v. Rice & Wilson

STONE, C. J. A mercantile business of several years duration was conducted in the city of Montgomery, in the firm name of Rice & Wilson. The entire capital of the firm was furnished by Rice, and was his property. Wilson allowed himself to be held out to the world as a partner, but, as between themselves, he was not a partner. He was not directly interested in the profits and losses. — 2 Brick. Dig. 300, §§ 25-7. He was a mere employee, his compensation being one half the profits, not to exceed one hundred dollars per month. The firm did its banking business with the appellant, which bank had its situs in Montgomery. Rice died May 30, 1887, leaving a surviving widow, Mattie Rice, who succeeded to the ownership of his entire estate, and she became the administratrix. Wilson continued the business in the name of Rice & Wilson, until the entire stock of goods was sold to Stone, December 31, 1887 — seven months after the dissolution of the partnership by Rice’s death.—Espy v. Comer, 76 Ala. 501; Vincent v. Martin, 79 Ala. 540. No understanding, or interview, is shown to have been had between Wilson and Mrs. Rice, in reference to a continuance of the business, or in what name it should be continued, until the latter part of November, 1887. Wilson and another witness, Yandiver, testify that about that time one or more interviews were had with Mrs. Rice, with reference to money to be furnished by her to carry on the business, and promote the sale of the goods on hand; and Wilson’s testimony tends to show that she furnished two thousand dollars. These witnesses characterize this negotiation, and subsequent furnishing of the [203] two thousand dollars, as looking to a formation of a partnership between her and Wilson. Wilson’s testimony tends to show that the furnishing of the money by Mrs. Rice consummated the agreement for a new partnership between her and himself, which, he alleges, Yandiver, the other witness, had negotiated. He says no partnership was agreed on with him, and Yandiver testifies that no terms of partnership were agreed on between him and Mrs. Rice. Conceding everything the testimony of these two witnesses tends to prove, and ignoring the entire effect and tendency of all opposing testimony, we think the following is the only rational interpretation it is susceptible of: Mrs. Rice sought the counsel of Mr. Yandiver, as to what course she should pursue in reference to the mercantile business, the ownership of which had devolved on her by the death of her husband. She expressed a desire to have it wound up speedily. After looking into the business, Mr. Yandiver advised against closing it at that time, telling her it would be detrimental to her interest, and that she could not then part with the services of Mr. Wilson safely. The firm had considerable outstanding dues, and had merchandise, the sale of which would be facilitated and hastened by replenishing the stock with articles of prime necessity in that line of trade. He advised her to furnish two thousand dollars, to be invested in meat, corn and oats, which would sell readily for cash. This, he said, would preserve the trade and business of the store, so as to enable Wilson to sell the other goods, and would aid him in collecting the unpaid dues. If it was added that the business should continue in the same name, Rice & Wilson, that is of no significance. Such course is not unusual in winding up a mercantile firm, dissolved by the death of one of the partners. It did not, and could not, tend to show that she consented to substitute herself as a partner, in the place of her deceased husband, and thus form a new firm. The goods were hers, the uncollected dues were hers, and any loss sustained in disposing of the one, and in realizing the other, would be her loss. The implications might be different, if Wilson had owned any interest in the stock in trade. Giving the largest interpretation to the testimony of Yandiver and Wilson, and conceding that Mrs. Rice knowingly and intentionally furnished the two thousand dollars, to be invested in meat, corn and oats, as a help in disposing of the broken stock on hand, of collecting the unpaid dues, and of winding up the business — and this is the whole scope [204] of their testimony, when properly interpreted — these facts, neither separately nor collectively, tend to prove that she entered into a new enterprise, a new partnership. They would authorize Wilson to employ the money for the purpose for which it was furnished, but they would not authorize him to create a debt binding on her. It did not, and could not, constitute a partnership. And, it should be added, there is no testimony that Mrs. Rice was ever informed that she was represented, or held out to the public, as a member of the firm. Tested by the construction we have given plaintiff’s testimony, there was no error in the court’s severalq.ruli.ngs. In fact, if no testimony had been introduced for her, and the general charge had been asked in her favor, it ought to have been given. Affirmed.