Huyssen v. Lawson & Wilson

SMITH, P. J. The allegation of the petition is that the plaintiff sold and delivered the defendants, as partners, certain articles of merchandise, etc. The defendant Wilson filed a separate answer putting in issue the truth of said allegation as to the partnership. It is conceded that goods were purchased by the defendant Lawson, and the question is whether the transaction is to be regarded as that of both of the defendants [85] as partners or that of the defendant Lawson in bis individual capacity. Tbe testimony of Holm, tbe plaintiff’s general manager and bookkeeper, was to tbe effect that at the time tbe account sued on was opened be inquired of tbe defendant Lawson whether be was alone or bad a partner in tbe store at Lamonte; and bis answer was that Wilson, tbe other defendant, was bis partner. Holm further testified that be knew tbe defendant Lawson to be insolvent and but for tbe representation made by him that tbe other defendant, Wilson, was bis partner be would not have extended tbe credit. Holm also testified that on either that or tbe next day be met defendant Wilson and repeated to him tbe representation made by Lawson, when be, Wilson, said: “That’s all right; we have got a good thing out there; what Lawson told you is true.” During tbe currency of tbe account Wilson complained to William ITuyssen, tbe general agent of-the plaintiff, that tbe plaintiff was charging too much for tbe goods that went to tbe Lamonte store. Tbe witness told him that bis partner, Lawson, knew more of goods than be did. He, Wilson, did not then object to tbe statement that Lawson was bis partner. It is true that tbe foregoing testimony of tbe witnesses Holm and Huyssen was contradicted by that of tbe defendants, still, that of tbe former was ample to make out plaintiff’s prima facie case. Tbe testimony of tbe plaintiff’s witnesses discloses that tbe defendants were partners inter sese, or, if not, then Lawson held out Wilson to be bis partner with tbe latter’s consent ; and that this was known to tbe plaintiff at tbe time of tbe sale of tbe -goods. It also further discloses that tbe plaintiff in extending tbe credit relied on tbe alleged existence of tbe partnership relation between tbe defendants. Tbe admissions of tbe defendants tended to establish tbe partnership relation in fact, or, if not that, they at least did tend to show that they [86] were partners in law as to plaintiff in the transactions to which, the account sued on relates. Wilson could not be heard to dispute his liability for the account on the ground that the partnership relation between Lawson and himself did not exist at the time of the contract in the face of his admission to plaintiff’s agent. His admission was a verification of the Lawson representations, upon the strength of which the credit was extended. Hahlo v. Mayer, 102 Mo. 93; Rimel v. Hayes, 83 Mo. 200. In eliciting the evidence, inquiry was permitted to take a wide range. Many facts and circumstances were disclosed which, it seems to us, were sufficient to justify the inference that the partnership relation existed in fact, at the time of the contract. The court by its second and fourth instructions given for plaintiff and its fifth for defendants fully submitted to the jury the issue as to .the partnership. If there was any error in the plaintiff’s said second and fourth it was cured by the defendants’ fifth. These instructions were clear and explicit in expression. The theory which they severally embodied was in substance the same. No serious error is perceived in the action of tjie court in giving or refusing instructions. The declarations of Lawson, the contracting party, to the effect that Wilson was his partner, were primarily inadmissible, but were rendered admissible by the subsequent proof that when Lawson’s declarations were repeated to him (Wilson) he admitted they were true. This admission of Wilson established the existence of the partnership at the time of the contract. If the defendants were then partners, engaged in carrying on the Lamonte store, then it follows as an inevitable legal corollary that Lawson, as one of the partners, was authorized to bind the other in the contract with the plaintiff for the purchase of the merchandise. The proof of the declarations of Lawson should have been excluded had it not been followed with the further proof of the admissions of Wilson. [87] The defendant Wilson objects that certain declarations of Lawson and himself, made to others after the credit had been extended by the plaintiff, were inadmissible. These admissions were of • course inadmissible to lay the foundation upon which to build an equitable estoppel in this case. Wilson would not be estopped by such declarations to deny that he was a. partner at the time of the contract for the purchase of the plaintiff’s merchandise, and evidence of such declarations would be inadmissible for that purpose; but on the theory of an actual partnership, such declarations were admissible in connection with the other evidence. And whether strictly admissible or not, we can not discover that such evidence was harmful, since similar admissions were proved to have been made before the credit was extended. The controverted issue in the case was fairly submitted to the jury, whose verdict is conclusive on us. The judgment must be affirmed. All concur.