Richard v. Bird

[306] The facts are stated in the opinion of the court, delivered by Porter, J. This is an action in the via executiva; but by the mode in which the proceedings have been conducted, the opposition has assumed the form of a separate suit, to which an answer has been put in by the original plaintiffs. The case has been presented to the court on two grounds. It is contended on the part of the creditors, that the act of mortgage authorized the executory proceeding; and that if it did not, the case being changed by the pleadings in the court below, from the via executiva to the via ordinaria, the evidence will justify judgement against the defendants for the amount ' claimed in the petition. The mortgage on which the order of seizure and sale issued, was executed by an agent who assumed the authority to borrow money on account of his principals, and mortgage their property to secure the debt. Whether this agent was so authorized, presents one of the most important questions in the case. The law requires a special authorization to enable the mandatory to execute a mortgage, and none such is produced. But that which is equivalent is alleged to be shewn. The agent and the other persons in whose name the mortgage was given, had previously thereto entered into an ordinary partnership for the purpose of carrying on a plantation; and in the articles of partnership, the following clause is found: “All the property contained in the inventory, annexed as part of this act, together with the land and negroes brought into the said society, and made joint and common property by the said Auguste and Paul, shall be kept together; and under the eye and management of the said Auguste Richard, who is hereby appointed agent and manager for the society, for the said period of ten years.” By the §4th, Art. 2841 Louisiana Code, it is provided, “a partner can neither dispose of, nor make any change in any real property belonging to the partnership, without the [307] consent of his partners, should even this disposition or change be advantageous to the partnership.” And by the §5th, “In other than commercial partnerships, a partner cannot as partner only; and if he has not the administration, alienate or engage the things which belong to the partnership.” The right of the administrator under these provisions in the code, to give a mortgage for a debt contracted in the course of administration, has been much contested at the bar, and the question of law discussed in a manner quite creditable to the industry and talent of the counsel engaged in the cause. The presiding judge is of opinion the power to administer did not confer on the partner the authority to mortgage, though it did, to contract the debt. The member of the court who delivers this opinion, though not clearly satisfied in his mind, is inclined to think. the partner charged with the administration, could, if the act was necessary in the course of administration, not only borrow money but engage the property, of which he had the charge. It is unnecessary to give the reasons on which these opposite conclusions have been obtained, as on another part of the case we agree, and entertain no doubt. By the pleadings in the cause, after the injunction was obtained, the case was changed from the via executives to the via ordinaria; and the defendant in the pleadings filed by him, which produced this change, charges expressly, that the debt was contracted for the purpose of carrying on the business of the plantation, and with the assent and approbation of the other partners. On evidence being offered to support these allegations, the counsel for the party who had obtained the injunction, objected to its introduction on the ground that no such allegations were contained in the petition for the order of seizure and sale, and the court sustained the objection. We think the court erred in doing so. The law lends itself with facility to change the proceeding from the via executiva to the via ordinaria,because it promotes and expedites the administration of justice, and prevents another suit. That change [308] may be made by the introduction of testimony under the allegations in the original petition for the executory process, and if they are not sufficiently explicit to authorize the proof, a supplemental petition may be filed. In the present case, owing to the defendants in execution, resorting to a petition, instead of filing their exceptions in the form of an opposition, the allegations on which the evidence was offered, were presented in the answer to the petition for an injunction. No objections were made to this answer being put in; if they had, they could only have been sustained, if at all, on formal grounds, and we therefore think the evidence was properly admissible. A change from the via executwato the via ordinaria, may be made by the introduction of testimony under the allegations in the original petition for the executory process; and if they are not sufficiently explicit to authorize the proof,asupplemental petition may be filed. An act of mortgage of land, made by a duly authorized agent of the partners, is evidence of a debt against the firm. The wife can neither alienate nor acquire real property, without the consent of her husband, of which consent,parole evidence is inadmissible. Independent of this proof, the act of mortgage itself, which was properly admissible under the allegations in the petition for the order of seizure and salé, is evidence of a debt against the firm. La. Code 2846. One of the persons who is charged as a partner, was a married woman, who entered into the contract of partnership, without the authority of her husband in writing. But it is shown by parole evidence, the husband was present when the act was signed, and that he declared he would have affixed his name to it, had he been required. Whether this would not be sufficient in a common case, need not be inquired, as, by the articles of partnership, two of the partners sold to the others, land and slaves, and made them joint property of the firm. As by law, the wife can neither alienate nor acquire real property without the consent of her husband, the contract is clearly not binding on her; whether she may not be made responsible in another form of action, on proving that the money was applied to her necessary use or benefit, need not be examined. La- Code 124,1787. It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged, and decreed, that the judgement of the District Court be annulled, avoided, and reversed; and proceeding to give such judgement here, as in our opinion ought to have been given below, it is adjudged and ordered that the plaintiffs do recover of Joseph Richard, Jean Baptiste Richard, Raphael Richard, and Paul Richard, [309] severally, the sum of seven hundred and fifteen dollars and sixty-two cents, it being their virile share of the obligation sued on, with interest at ten per centum from the first day of March, 1831, until paid. The costs of the via executiva to be paid by the plaintiffs therein, and the costs incurred subsequently to the filing of the answer to the petition of the injunction, both in the court below and in this court, be paid by the said Joseph, Jean Baptiste, Raphael, and Paul Richard, save those incurred in relation to Julie Richard, as to whom it is ordered and decreed that there be judgement against the plaintiff in the executory process, as in case of nonsuit, with costs in both courts. If the inferior court reject testimony which the supreme court consider admissible, but superfluous, the cause will not be remanded.