Bentley v. Brossard

94 P. 736, 33 Utah 396

Opinions

STRAUP, J.

This action was brought to recover the sum of $212 alleged to he due plaintiff from the defendants for labor performed on certain mining claims operated by the defendants. It is alleged in the complaint that the defendants entered into a contract in writing whereby they associated themselves together as copartners for the purpose of developing, improving and operating certain mining claims, naming them, known as the “Wakefield Group' of Mines,” situate near Tuscarora, Nevada, and for the purpose of extracting ore therefrom; that the defendants entered upon the work of developing and operating tbe properties and in carrying on mining operations thereon under their contract of partnership; that the plaintiff was employed by the defendants as an engineer to work upon the properties, and that in the course of his employment he performed labor thereon between the 1st day of August and the 23d day of September, 1903, at the agreed price of $4 per day; that there was due him and owing from the defendants and each of them the sum of $212. The defendants A. F. and O. A. Caldwell were not served with process, and no appearance was made by them. The other defendants answered, pleading the general issue. A trial was had before the court and a jury.

Some of the • defendants reside at Logan, Utah, and the others in southern Idaho. The defendant Brossard, who had examined the group of mines, spoke to the other defendants about them. Thereupon Brossard, in October or November, went tó Tusearora, and there negotiated with L. Fannof, the owner of the group, for a lease, upon substantially the following terms: That Fanhof was to deliver possession of the property to Brossard, who was to work and develop the claims in such manner as Brossard deemed proper; that Brossard was permitted to sell all the ores obtained from the mines while working them under the lease, and that the money received therefor should be disposed of as hereinafter stated; that Bros-sard should employ at least six men every twenty-four hours, and that three men should be kept at work on said mines each day, and three men each night; that the property should be worked in a workmanlike manner , etc., and that Fannof should not be responsible for the payment of the labor employed or material furnished, etc.; that all moneys derived from the sale of ores should be deposited with the First National Bank at Logan, and should be subject to the check or draft of Bros-sard, and that he should be permitted to use so much thereof as was necessary to pay all expenses, etc., and that all moneys derived from the sale of ores in excess of the expenses should be equally divided between Brossard and Fannof; that if the moneys derived from the sale of ores were not sufficient to pay for all the expenditures, etc., Brossard was required to pay them, and that Fannof was in no way to be held responsible therefor; that the moneys in excess of the expenses were to be kept and allowed to remain in the bank until the sum amounted to $20,000, when it was to be equally divided between them, in which event Fannof was required by a good and sufficient deed to convey to Brossard an undivided one-half interest in and to the group of mines; that Brossard also had the option at any time within the life of the contract to purchase an undivided one-half interest in and to the group for the sum of $10,000, and on the payment of which sum Fannof. was also required to execute a conveyance to him of such undivided one-half interest; that the contract was to continue so long as the work was being performed under the terms of the contract, and until the conveyance of the one-half interest was made; that Brossard was given the right to abandon the work under the contract at any time; that if steam power should be used upon the property Fannof was to be employed as engineer at current wages; and that Brossard could not sublet or assign the contract without the consent of Fannof in writing. The contract contained other matters of minor importance not necessary here to mention. Shortly after the terms of this contract were agreed upon, but before the contract was signed, Brossard returned to Logan, and there exhibited a copy of the contract to the other defendants'. Thereupon the defendants above named, in the early part of December, 1902, entered into the following contract:

“This agreement made and entered into at Logan City, Utah, between A. Brossard, the first party, and the other defendants above named, second parties, witnesseth: That whereas the first party has leased from L. Fannof of Tusear-ora, Nevada, mining claims situated in the said Tuscarora mining district, state of Nevada [naming them] ; and whereas it is deemed advisable and- agreed by the parties hereto that the sum of $5,000 shall be furnished for the development of the said mining claims and the carrying out of the said contract when completed by the first party therein a,nd the said L. Fannof for the development of the said mining claims and for earning and securing tbe option in said contract set forth: Now, therefore, it is hereby agreed by the parties hereto that they will respectively furnish amounts aggregating the sum of $5,000 in respective amounts as follows, to-wit, the said A.-Brossard the sum of $1,000, the said Jacob West the sum of $1,000, the said B. A. Caldwell the sum of $1,000, the said A. B. Caldwell the sum of $1,000, the said J. M. Blair the sum of $500, the said Mattie B. Hanson the sum of $250,- and the said Orin A. Caldwell the sum of $250. And it is agreed by the parties hereto that in pursuance of his contract with L. Bannof of the undivided one-half of the said mining claims as in said contract stipulated that the said first party will convey to the second parties hereto an undivided interest in the said mining claims in proportion to the amounts invested by the parties herein as above set forth, that is to say, to the said Jacob West the one-tenth undivided part of each' and all of the said mining claims, to the said B. A. Caldwell the one-tenth of each and all of the said mining claims, to A. B. Caldwell' the undivided one-tenth of each and all of the said mining'elaims, to the said J- M. Blair the undivided one-twentieth of each and all of the said mining claims, to the said Mattie B. Hanson an undivided one-fortieth in each and all of the said mining claims, and to Orin A. Caldwell an undivided one-fortieth in each and all of the said mining claims. And the said first party hereby agrees that if'the said sum of $5,000, or any part thereof, should not be needed for the development work on the said mining claims, for the reason that the moneys derived from sale of ores obtained from working said mining claims should pay the expense or part of the expense in developing said mining claims, that in any such event the first party will return to the second parties all such parts and proportions of the said sum of $5,000 remaining unused, or if rised temporarily, then refunded or reimbursed from sale of ores, as the second parties shall be entitled to, pro rata, according to the' amounts advanced and paid into this enterprise as herebefore set forth: And tbe first party hereby further agrees that according to the terms of said contract with L. Fannof any moneys that shall remain on hand to be divided between the said L. Fannof and the first party in accordance with their said contract that the said first party will pay to each of the second parties the proportion of all such moneys received by him as the said amount furnished by the second parties as aforesaid bears to the whole sum of $8,000, as aforesaid; that is to say, that each of the parties of this contract shall receive his pro rata share according to the part of the said moneys which shall be furnished by him in accordance with this contract of all moneys that may come to the said first party in pursuance of his said contract with L. Fannof.”

At about the time of the making of the foregoing contract, and before the lease between Brossard and Fannof was actually signed, R. A. Caldwell, West, Blair, Hanson, and Bros-sard contributed $3,000. Brossard then departed for Nevada, and thereafter the lease was signed and executed on the 13th day of December, 1902. Brossard thereupon took pos^ session of the properties and commenced work on the 15th day of December, 1902, and with the moneys contributed and paid over to him he employed men, purchased supplies, etc., and commenced active operations. The work consisted in sinking shafts, running tunnels, and making cross-cuts in search of ores. In March, 1903, $2,000 more was contributed by the same parties and A. F. Caldwell. In May $2,500, and in June, 1903, an additional sum of $2,500, were contributed by the same parties and some others who had come into the association, making, in all, a total contribution of about $10,000. The record does not disclose the amount contributed by each, nor do we regard such fact material, in view of the issues presented by the pleadings and the questions involved in the case. The operation of the mines was continued until some time in September, 1903. All of the moneys contributed were used in paying men, in buying supplies, and in working and developing the mines. Brossard had charge of the work, and directed and controlled the supervision of it, and employed the men, and purchased the supplies. The record further shows that do pay ore was found, and that in July Brossard called upon some of the parties for additional contributions, but it is not clear that he called on any of them, except A. F. Caldwell and a Mr. Pike, who became a party to the agreement in March, 1903. However, no further contributions were made. The evidence further shows that R. A. Caldwell' visited the properties four or five different times, especially in July and in August, 1903, when he was there about a month, inspecting and examining the workings. He was also at the property and ■remained there when Brossard left in September. While the operations were being carried on Bossard saw the several defendants and explained to. them, especially to R. A. Caldwell and West, the location of the veins, where the ore beds were supposed to be, the sinking of the shafts, the running of the crosscuts, the purchase of a pump, etc., and other workings and operations of the mine. B. A. Caldwell testified that before the contract of the defendants was signed, “Brossard had seen me in regard to the mining venture, and had told me about this group of claims. He told me he had a chance to get a contract on them. He stated the terms of the contract as near as I can remember. With that understanding, and with the representations of Mr. Brossard, that he could get a contract with Fannof, I signed the contract with Mr. Bros-sard, and put up the money on the contract. Mr. Brossard had a contract with Fannof in his possession, but it was not signed.” He further testified that he paid the money for the development of the property, and so that Brossard could comply with his contract with Fannof, and so that he (Caldwell) could get something in the future. It was further testified to by Fannof, and in part corroborated by other witnesses that R. A. Caldwell at the mines stated that Brossard represented him and others, and that he was interested in the property; that it cost him $55 a day to run the mine; that had Brossard put up his share as he had agreed to do there was no necessity of owing anything at the mine. Fannof also testified that West stated that Brossard had been sent to the property by himself and others, and that he had not carried out instructions, and that, if things could be arranged satisfactorily, money would be put up to pay the bill's, and the work would be resumed. Plaintiff also gave evidence tending to show that he was employed at the instance and request of Brossard and K. A. Caldwell. Defendants R. A. Caldwell and West denied that they had employed plaintiff, or that they had stated that 'Brossard represented them, or that he had been sent to the property by them. It is further shown that after the working of the mines had stopped, and in November, 1903, the defendants and Pannof met several times and discussed propositions of forming a corporation to take over the unpaid bills and to resume work, but nothing resulted from such meetings. It was conceded by the defendants that the plaintiff was employed by Brossard, and that he rendered services as an engineer in and about the workings and operations of the mines, and that the value of his services was as alleged in the complaint, and that he had not been paid.

At the conclusion of the evidence the court charged the jury that no verdict could be rendered against the defendants A. P. and O. A. Caldwell because they had not been served with process and directed them to return a verdict in favor of the defendant Hanson because her name had been signed to the agreement without authority, and in favor of defendant Blair because he had sold and parted with his interest prior to the employment of the plaintiff and the rendition of his services. The court directed a verdict in favor of plaintiff and against the defendant, Brossard. As to the liability of the defendants West and R. A. Caldwell, the court submitted the case to the jury on instructions that, if they found the defendants were pai'tners, to render a verdict for the plaintiff against those two defendants also; otherwise to find in their favor. The jury found in favor of defendants West and B. A. Caldwell; hence this appeal by plaintiff from that part of the. judgment.

Among other instructions the court charged the jury as follows:

“(5) Partnership is thus sometimes defined as the relation existing between two or more persons who have contracted together to share as co-owners the profits of a business carried on by all or any of them on behalf of all of them. Tou are further instructed that, where the business so engaged in is the worldng of a mine or of a mining prospect to test its value under an option to purchase it, a mining partnership exists, and that such partnership may be created by the acts of the parties without an express contract formally designating themselves as partners. Two things are necessary to create a mining partnership: (a) An agreement between the parties to so associate themselves together to work the property; and (b) actually undertaking the work of mining operations thereon. It is not necessary under such circumstances that the parties should be the owners of the legal title to the property to constitute them mining partners.

“(6) If you find by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendants, or any of them, so associated themselves together for the purpose of causing mining operations upon the property described in the complaint, and co-operated for that purpose, the profits of the business, if any, to inure to all as co-owners and to be shared accordingly, and by authority of those so associated, actual working of the property was in fact carried on, then a mining copartnership was created between the defendants so associating and co-operating, and they would be liable for the debts incurred in carrying on such mining operations.”

“(9) You are instructed that a member of a mining partnership has full power to make such contracts as are usual -and and necessary in the ordinary course of working a mine, such as to purchase supplies and materials for working the mine, and to employ the necessary help in carrying on its, operations, and the right to' incur debts for necessary supplies furnished to the mine, and for the payment of the laborers and other employees necessarily engaged therein, and all the members of the mining partnership1 are bound by his acts as to all such matters.

“(10) You are instructed that a superintendent, foreman, or managing agent of a mining partnership', when duly authorized by the partnership, or one of its members, has authority to bind them by his acts in carrying on the working of the mine, in the employment of laborers and other necessary em ployees, and in purchasing supplies and materials for actual use in the working of a mine. You are further instructed that when a mining partnership in fact exists it is not necessary that a creditor furnishing supplies or materials for the working of the mine, or a laborer or other employee working therein, should know the names of all the partners; but when such a partnership is shown to exist by competent evidence all the partners are bound for the claims of the rightful creditors of the partnership, whether such creditors know they are partners or not.”

“(12) You are instructed that when a mining partnership has been proven to exist any special limitation upon the powers of the partners, which they attempt to make by agreement among themselves, does not affect or restrict the power of each partner to bind the partnership in the usual course of business, except as to persons who know of the limitation, and the burden of showing knowledge of such alleged limitation is upon the parties claiming it.”

The jury were further instructed that in ascertaining whether the relation of the defendants constituted a partnership they should consider all the facts and circumstances, and if, from a consideration thereof, they found “that there was no intent on the part of said defendants to enter into a co-partnership relation, and that such relation did not exist between them, or any of them, and the defendant Bossard, then the court charges you that your verdict must be in favor of the defendants Jacob West and B. A. Caldwell.” The court further instructed the jury that the written agreement between Bros-sard and the other defendants did not in and of itself constitute a partnership; that the fact that the defendants, contributed to the expenses connected with operating the group of mines was not in and of itself proof of partnership; that the fact that the defendants, under certain circumstances, were to share in the profits, if any, to be derived from the operation of the mines, was not in and of itself sufficient to prove partnership; and that the payment of money by the other defendants to the defendant Brossard to be used in the development of tbe mining property did not in and of itself, and independently of other proof, constitute tbe relation of copartners.

Various assignments of errors are made, among them that tbe verdict is contrary to tbe evidence, and is against tbe law, and that the court erred in charging the jury that tbe written contract of tbe defendants did not constitute tbe relation of partnership; in charging that a verdict must be rendered in favor of the defendants West and ft. A. Caldwell, unless tbe (relation of partnership was found to exist; in charging that the contributions made by the defendants to defray the expenses in operating and working the group of mines, and the payment of money by them for the development and carrying on the workings and operations of the property, and the agreement to share in the profits, if any, by the defendants, resulting from such operations, did not constitute a copartnership'; and in admitting certain testimony of the defendants that they never received any money or profits, or a conveyance, or other thing of value, from Brossai’d in pursuance of their contract, and that they gave Brossard no directions as to the employment of men or the conduct of the work.

The principal questions involved have, to' a large extent, been discussed together by counsel in their briefs and in the oral argument. It is not necessary for us to review these questions separately. We are of the opinion that the court erred in charging the jury that the written contract of the defendants did not constitute the relation of partnership. It is not essential to inquire into the requisites of a general or trading partnership beyond the principles of law which are in common with such a partnership and a mining partnership^. As to the general principles involved, and particularly applicable to the case, we find no better statement of the rule than that of Mr. Justice Gray in the case of Meehan v. Valentine, 145 U. S. 611, 12 Sup. Ct. 972, 36 L. Ed. 835, as follows:

“The requisites of a partnership are that the parties must have joined together to carry on a trade or adventure for their common benefit, each contributing property or services, and having a community of interest in the profits.”

After reviewing the authorities it was further observed by him:

“In the -present state of the law upo-n this subject it may perhaps, be doubted whether any more precise general rule can be laid down than as indicated at the beginning of this opinion, that those persons áre partners who contribute either property or money to carry on a joint business for their common benefit, and who own and share the profits thereof in certain proportions. If they do this, the incidents or consequences follow that the acts of one in conducting the partnership business are the acts of all; that each is agent for the firm and for the' other partners; that each receives part of the profits as profits, and takes part of the fund to which the creditors of the partnership have a right to look for the payment of their debts; that all are liable as partners upon contracts made by any of them with third persons within the scope of the partnership business; and that even an express stipulation between them that one shall not be so liable, though good between themselves, is ineffectual as against third persons. And participating in profits is presumptive, but not conclusive, evidence of partnership.”

It is sometimes said that an obligation, to share losses is. an essential element to the existence of a partnership. While an obligation to share losses is. not directly expressed in the agreement, still it has been quite generally held that an agreement to share profits, nothing being said about losses, amounts prima facie to an agreement to share losses also. (1 Lindl. on Partn. [Ewell Ed.], 30. The contract executed by the defendants recites: “That whereas the first party [Brossard] has leased from L. Eannof mining claims [naming them] ; and whereas it is deemed advisable and agreed by the parties hereto that the sum of $5,000 shall be furnished for the development of said mining claims and the carrying out of the said contract when completed by the first party therein, and the said L. Eannof for the development of the said mining claims, and for earning and securing the option in said contract set forth: Now, therefore, it is hereby agreed by the parties hereto, etc.” It is thus seen that the lease between Brossard and Eannof was not only the inducement for the making of the contract between the defendants, hut was the very' subject-matter of their agreement, and, by sufficient reference, was in effect made a part thereof. To therefore arrive at a correct meaning of the defendants’ contract, and to properly understand it, it must be read in connection with the lease. • The object of entering into, their contract was to work and develop tbe group of mines iu accordance with the terms of the lease, and for the purpose of obtaining whatever benefits and advantages that might be derived therefrom. Such was the adventure .undertaken by them and the purpose for which they associated themselves together. Their undertaking to develop and work the property was not for the benefit of Brossard alone, but was for the common benefit of all the parties to the contract. They, then, agreed as to the amounts of money that should be contributed by each. Each party was to receive a pro rata share of the moneys derived from the sale of ores over and above the expenses of operation, and in proportion to the amount contributed by each; and likewise each was to share in like proportion to an interest in and to the property itself in the event of a successful operation and of earning and securing the option provided for in the lease. They, therefore, had a community of interest in whatever profits that were to be obtained. We thus have every requisite of a partnership, and a case where the parties in clear and unambiguous terms have, in the language of Mr. Justice Gray, joined together on an adventure, for their common benefit, each contributing money and having a community of interest in the profits. When the writings are read, how can it be said that these defendants did not join together upon an adventure to work and develop the group of mines mentioned in the lease and under the terms and conditions as therein specified? That such joining together was not for their common benefit ? That the contributions made were not for the purpose of working and developing the claims, of obtaining whatever ores that might be found from the explorations', of acquiring an interest in the property, if found valuable, and were not in furtherance of the very objects for which the parties associated themselves together? That they did not have a community of interest in whatever profits to be derived from the adventure ? The terms of these contracts were precise and explicit. The language was clear and unequivocal. There was nothing doubtful or ambiguous about them, which required explanation by resorting to extraneous circumstances. The court ought to have held that the agreement of the defendants created the relation of partnership.

When the trial court permitted the jury to determine from all the evidence and circumstances whether the defendants had intended to assume the relation of partnership towards each other, it also committed error. True it is sometimes said that to constitute a partnership the parties must have intended to create such relation.

“But,” as was said by the court in the case of Fleming v. hay, 109 Bed. 952, 48 C. O. A. 748, “by this it is meant to say they must have intended to make such stipulations as in law constitute a partnership, and not that they intended the conclusion without regard to the conditions upon which it results as matter of law.” And, as said by Mr. Liridley in his work on partnership', “if they have' in fact stipulated for all the rights of partners, an agreement that they shall not be partners is a useless protest against the consequences of their real agreement.” (1 Lindl. Partn. [5th Ed.] 11.)

Counsel for respondenthas strongly urged that “there was no common partnershipnor joint proprietorship in the business;” that Brossard alone had an interest in the lease; and that the respondents had no present estate or interest in the lease or in the claims, and that they had only the promise of Brossard to do something in the future. We need but to refer back to the statement of the rule as made by Mr. Justice Gray as to the requisites of a partnership to point out the fallacy of counsel’s position. To be a partner one must of course have an interest in carrying on the business or adventure, and must have a common ownership of, or a community of interest in, the profits of the business. While a community of interest in the profits is not alone conclusive of the existence of a partnership, it nevertheless is of the very essence of the contract of partnership, for without it a partnership cannot exist in contemplation of law. Furthermore each party here had, not only an interest in carrying on the business or adventure, but also a common ownership in the business itself. Though the lease was in the name of Brossard alone, nevertheless the contract of the defendants, as between themselves, had the effect of an equitable assignment of the lease, and gave each of the parties to the contract an equitable interest in tbe lease as fully as though an express agreement had been made by the parties that Brossard should obtain the lease in his own name, for the use and benefit of all of the parties. TJnder the arrangement of the parties, had large and valuable Ore bodies been found and the proceeds thereof had exceeded the expenses of operation, equity would have given all the parties to the contract an interest therein, and would have compelled Brossard to account to his codefend-ants therefor; and, if sufficient proceeds over and above expenses had been obtained to earn the'option according to the provisions of the lease, equity likewise .would have given them an interest, in accordance with the terms of their contract, in and to the property itself. The provision in the lease that Brossard should not sublet nor assign it without the consent of Fannof in writing was for the benefit of Fannof. It could not be made available by Brossard, as between himself and his codefendants, in a refusal to account for the proceeds, or to otherwise carry out his contract with them. The position of counsel is rendered still more untenable when it is considered that the kind of partnership created by the defendants was that of a mining partnership. In 27 Cyc. 755, it is said:

“A mining partnership arises when two or more Co-owners of a mining claim actually engage in working the same, and share, according to the interest of each, in the profit and loss, although there is no express agreement between them to become partners, or to share the profits and losses. Such á partnership is not restricted, however, solely to cases where the mine is owned by the parties working it, if they have an interest in working it or in carrying on mining operations. It can he formed either to prospect for and locate mines, or to work mines belonging to other persons, or to any or all of the individual members.”

In speaking of mining partnerships., Mr. Lindl’ey, in his work on Mines (volume 2, section 798), says:

“Such a partnership may exist as well where the parties have an interest in the working'of the mine in carrying on mining operations as where they own the mine itself.”

In 2 Snyder on Mines, section 501 et seq.., is found a full discussion of what constitutes a mining partnership., the dis traction between such a partnership' and a co-tenancy, or an ordinary trading or general partnership. See, also, notes to case of G. V. B. Min. Co. v. Bank, 95 Fed. 35, 35 C. C. A. 515. In the case of Manville v. Parks, 7 Colo. 128, 2 Pac. 212, the question was directly before the court. It was there said:

“It is evident that a mining partnership may exist as well where the parties have an interest merely in the working of a mine, or in carrying on mining operations, as where they own the mine itself.”

To the same effect are the following cases: Meagher v. Reed, 14 Colo. 335, 24 Pac. 681, 9 L. R. A. 455; Hartney v. Gosling, 10 Wyo. 346, 68 Pac. 1118, 98 Am. St. Rep. 1005; Ashenfelter v. Williams, 7 Colo. App. 332, 43 Pac. 664; Settembre v. Putnam, 30 Cal. 490; Dunlap v. Pattison, 4 Idaho 473, 42 Pac. 504, 95 Am. St. Rep. 140; Southmayd v. Southmayd, 4 Mont. 100, 5 Pac. 318; Haskins v. Curran, 4 Idaho 573, 43 Pac. 559. The facts in the case of Meagher v. Reed, supra, are very similar to the facts of the case in hand. There Meagher obtained a lease from the owners of the claims in his own name. The property was worked under the lease, and developed by himself and his associates, who had no interest whatever in the properties, except as they had an interest in the lease through an agreement with Meagher, and because thereof were interested in the working of the mine and the profits to be derived therefrom, and were to acquire undivided interests therein in case of successful development and operations. True Meagher had agreed to assign an undivided interest to his associates in and to the lease when obtained from the owners, while here there was no such express agreement on the part of Prossard, but where nevertheless his contract with his associates operated as an equitable assignment of an interest in the lease and gave them an equitable interest therein. At any rate, by Brossard in his contract with his associates agreeing to convey to them specified undivided interests in and to the mining property itself acquired in pursuance of the lease, and to pay to them pro rata shares of the proceeds of ores over and above expenses, gave them an interest in and to the claims and the business quite as much as though he had merely agreed to assign to them an interest in the lease, and certainly gave them an interest in the working of the properties and in carrying on the mining operations. From the foregoing authorities it will thus be seen that the rule is well established that a mining partnership may exist between persons, although all of them may not have a direct or present interest in and to the properties themselves if they have an interest in the working of the property or in carrying on the mining operations. It is not even essential that there should be an express agreement to become partners, or an express stipulation to share profits and losses, as that is an incident to the prosecution of the general business. (Duryea v. Burt, 28 Cal. 569; 2 Lindl. on Mines, section 797.)

■ Again, referring to the contract of defendants, it seems quite clear that they associated themselves together to work and develop the group of mines in question for their common benefit; that each had an interest in and to the lease, and in working and developing the properties, and in carrying on the mining operations; and that each had a community interest in whatever profits that were to be derived from such operations. The agreement, under all the authorities, contains every requisite of a mining partnership. Quite true a distinction is made, and is well recognized by the cases and the textwriters, between such a partnership and an ordinary trading or general partnership. The principal distinctions are that a member of a mining partnership may assign his interest without the consent of his copartners, and the act does not work a dissolution of the partnership; that the person to whom the interest is assigned becomes a member of the company, and it is not necessary that the other parties consent thereto. Neither does the death of a member dissolve the partnership. Another distinction is that a member of a mining partnership has not the power to bind his associates by engagements with third persons to the extent that a member of a trading or commercial firm may do. For instance, the law does not imply any authority to a member of a mining partnership to borrow money, to employ counsel, to execute a promissory note, or to draw or accept bills of exchange, no natter how pressing the necessity for the use of the money. The reason assigned for the distinction, and for limiting the powers of members of a mining partnership, is that such a partnership, is not founded on the delectus personae, whereas other partnerships are. For these reasons it is held that the powers of members or managers of mining partnerships are limited tO' the performance of such acts in the name of the partnership as may be necessary to the transaction of its business, or which are usual in like concerns. But a partner can bind the firm by acts in the name of the partnership in such matters as may be necessary to the transaction of the business, or which are usual in like concerns, unless there is an express agreement to the contrary known to the party contracting with the firm. Except as to these distinctions, the law governing a mining partnership is not different from that applicable to ordinary commercial or trading partnerships. (2 Snyder on Mines, section 1526; 27 Cyc. 557-559; Skillman v. Lachman, 23 Cal. 199, 83 Am. Dec. 96; Kahn v. Smelting Co., 102 U. S. 641, 26 L. Ed. 266; Manville v. Parks, supra; Meagher v. Reed, supra; Charles v. Eshleman, 5 Colo. 107.) The employment of the plaintiff by Brossard to do labor on the property was necessary to the transaction of the business, and was usual in like concerns and was therefore within the implied powers of Brossard, and was binding on the other members of the firm. In that regard it may here be said, as was said by the court in Manville v. Parks, supra:

“In this ease the articles purchased of the plaintiff were essential to the carrying on of the business and the accomplishment of the purpose of defendants in working the mine, and the debt being created in the necessary and usual course of the business, and within the scope of the partnership .adventure, the individual member who made the purchase had lawful authority to contract the debt, and to bind hi3 copartners thereby.”

And it must here be held, as was held in the case of Lyman v. Schwartz, 13 Colo. App. 318, 57 Pac. 735, that one member of a mining partnership' has authority to employ laborers to work the mine and to- bind tie partnership for their wages.

It is also said by counsel that Brossard had the active management of the properties; that he employed the labor and purchased the material, directed and controlled all the work and operations at the mines; and that the respondents had not given him any authority or direction with regard to such matters. From this it is argued that the respondents were not principals in the business; that the relation of agency did not exist between them andi Brossard, and therefore no partnership relation existed between them. As pointed out in the cases of Pooley v. Driver, 5 Ch. Div. 458, and Meehan v. Valentine, supra, the reference to agency as a test of partnership, as made in some of the cases, “was unfortunate, inasmuch as agency results from partnership, rather than partnership from agency.” Says Mr. Justice Gray: “Such a test seems to give a synonym rather than a definition; another name for the conclusion, rather than a statement of the premises from which the conclusion is to be drawn.” The proving of agency, as must be readily conceded, does not prove a partnership'. But from the proof of partnership agency at once results. It is a sort of agency of one person acting on behalf of the firm.

“He does not act as agent, in the ordinary sense of t'he word, for the others, so as to hind the others. He acts on behalf of the firm of which they are members; and as he binds the firm, and acts on the part of the firm, he is properly treated as the agent of the firm.” (Pooley v. Driver, supra.)

Nor is the fact that Brossard had charge of the work and employed the labor and purchased the material significant or controlling under the circumstances of the case in determining whether the mining operations carried on were his individual business or the joint business of himself and associates, for such delegation of power to a general manager or common agent is not an infrequent incident of the business of partnership. That the working of the mine was not his individual business, and the carrying on of the mining operations was not alone for his benefit but for the common benefit of all the parties to the contract, is conclusively shown by all the evidence.

But aside from the consideration of the question that tbe court erred in instructing the jury that the contract of the defendants did not constitute a partnership, we think that the verdict of the jury was contrary to the evidence, and against the law of the case as given them by the court. In paragraph 5 the court charged the jury that where the business engaged in is the working of a mine or of a mining prospect to test its value under an option to purchase it a mining partnership exists and that such partnership may be created by the acts of the parties without an express contract designating them as' part-' ners; that two things are necessary to create a mining partnership (a) an agreement between the parties to associate themselves together to work the property, and (b) actually undertaking the work of mining operations thereon. And in other portions' of the charge hereinbefore referred to, the court instructed the jury that a member of a mining partnership had the authority to employ necessary help in carrying on the operations, and to incur debts for the necessary supplies and material furnished, and that as to such matters all the members of a mining partnership were bound. Upon the facts assumed by the court, and upon which he told the jury that a mining partnership.resulted, and as to the matters concerning which one member could bind his copartners, there was no conflict in the evidence. Upon these instructions and upon the evidence there was but one verdict to be rendered by the jury, and that was a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, not only against Brossard, but against West and B. A. Caldwell as well. Plaintiffs employment by Brossard, and the rendition and value of his services, were conceded by all the defendants. Likewise there was no dispute that the defendants associated themselves together to work the property, or that they actually undertook the work of mining operations thereon. It appears from the testimony of the respondents themselves that they contributed the money to work and develop the mines, to carry out the lease between Brossard and Fannof, to test the value of the properties, and to obtain whatever benefits might be derived from such workings and operations. The verdict which the jury rendered in favor of the defendants West and Oaldwell was in tbe very teetb of these instructions, and contrary to all the evidence. It was the right and duty of the court to instruct the jury in matters of law; and the jury, as matter of duty, were borrad to follow it. If an instruction is wrong, the law assumes, as a necessary legal consequence, that ,the verdict is wrong, and sets it aside; but to permit a jury .to exercise their own judgment, and to decide contrary to the direction of the court, is to create confusion and uncertainty in the law and to govern a case, not by known and established rules, but by a rule made for the occasion, and left to the whims and caprices of jurymen. Instructions to a jury are the law of the case for them to obey and follow, and it makes-no difference whether they consider them correct or not, or whether in point of fact they are correct. The court on the motion for a new trial should have set the verdict aside, and erred in not doing so.

Bor the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the court below is reversed, and the cause remanded for a new trial, costs to appellant.