Herbert v. Hanrick

16 Ala. 581
CourtSupreme Court of Alabama
DecidedJune 15, 1849
StatusPublished
Cited by54 cases

This text of 16 Ala. 581 (Herbert v. Hanrick) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Herbert v. Hanrick, 16 Ala. 581 (Ala. 1849).

Opinion

CHILTON, J.

We will dispose of the several assignments’of error in the order in which the'plaintiff's counsel presents them for our consideration.

1. The allowing of the seconddeposition of John D, Ross to be read to the jury was a matter w-ithia the discretion of the judge trying the cause. We are not to. presume that the- court exercised this discretion capriciously; but on the contrary, that the proof was properly admitted. The matter1 being one of discretion, is not revisable on error, and consequently the ñrst and second assignments of error cannot be allowed to prevail. Hester, Wilson, White & Co. v. Lumpkin, 4 Ala. Rep. 509, 512.

2. The second objection is, that the court should have suppressed so much of the deposition of John D. Ross in his answer to the second direct interrogatory as went to show that a deed from Ross & Crane to* Whitman for a portion of the premises sued for was executed by virtue of a power of attorney. It is insisted that the inquiry made by the interrogatory has no reference to a power of attorney — also, that the witness was giving parol proof of it without its production, and that allowing the witness to speak of it as a power of attorney was permitting him to fix its character and legal effect, without giving its contents, so that the court ought determine whether it was in fact the instrument thus designated in legal parlance. The interrogatory reads as follows — “ Look upon the deed now shown you at the time of your examination, and then state whuber or no you are site subscribing witness [588]*588to the same ? If yea, state when and where said deed was executed, and who executed the same, and who was called upon to witness the execution thereof?” In response to this interrogatory, the witness answered, that he saw the deed executed the 17th January 1831, the day it bears date — that him-•elf and one B. R. Robinson were subscribing witnesses; u that Jonathan Crane signed for himself and also for William Ross under a power of attorney.” The point in issue, as respects the proof here objected to, was the executiop of the deed by William Ross. The witness was called upon to prove its execution, he having subscribed it as one of the witnesses. We think it was very proper for the witness to state the manner of its execution — that Ross did not sign it himself personally, but by Crane, who acted under a power of attorney. The answer connects itself with ihe interrogatory sufficiently in our opinion, to render it proper. Besides, it is the settled rule of practice, that a motion will not be entertained to suppress a deposition, sprung for the first time upon the trial, when such deposition has been taken in conformity to the statutes. Cullum v. Smith & Conklin, 6 Ala. Rep. 625; Carter v. Manning & Jackson, 7 ib. 851; Spence v. Mitchell, 9 ib. 744; Wall v. Williamson, 11 ib. 833-4. In the latter case, it is said to be Ihe duty of the court to protect the jury against the admission of improper evidence, when it is objected to, no matter through what medium it is offered. This is true of evidence which is inadmissible; but where the witness is competent, his evidence taken according to the statute, and the facts deposed to are admissible. Is it not too late after the party goes to trial to suppress any material part of the deposition ? Does not the same reason, which forbids the suppression of the whole, equally apply to all the parts of which it is composed ? But it is said the proof was illegal in itself, and and under the rule above laid down, liable to be excluded at any time. In an after part of the deposition, it is, we think, substantially shown that the power of attorney was lost. The witness says it was, the last time he saw it, among the papers of Ross, Strang & Co.; that he destroyed said papers, deeming them worthless, and presumes that he destroyed this paper also. It is further made to appear that Ross ratified fully the act of Crane, so that no injury from its admission could pos[589]*589Sibly have, resulted to the plaintiff in error. The eases of Dye v Earley, 14 Ala. Rep. 158, and Garrett v. Rhea, adm’r, 9 ib. 134, are in point to show, that the admission of such evidence furnishes no reáson for reversing the judgment.

3. It is objected in the third place, that the court should have excluded all the proof in relation to the power of attorney, and the ratification by Ross of the act of his partner Crane, in executing the deed to Whitman, because the ratification did not take place until 1843, whereas the defendant in error, (Hanrick,) acquired his title in 1841. This view cannot be sustained — conceding that the general power of attorney given by Ross to Crane, to transact all business relating to the affairs of the firm in his absence, did not authorise the execution of a deed in his name, conveying real estate, still the subsequent ratification of the act by Ross relates back, and makes the deed effectual against him from its date. Wood v. McCain, 7 Ala. Rep. 800, 806, and authorities cited. I am aware of the rule which requires that the ratification of an un-authorised deed made in the name of the principal, must be under seal, but the strictness of this common law rule has been relaxed, when applied to commercial copartnerships and other associations of individuals, operating with joint fuhds for a common profit. In Green v. Seaton & Bunker, 1 Hall, 262, the authorities are very ably reviewed, and the result deducible from them is strictly stated to be, that although an absent partner is not bound by the deed executed for him by his copartner without his previous authority or permission, or his subsequent assent and adoption, yet such subsequent adoption of the seal as his own will impart efficacy to the instrument as His deed, and the previous authority or subsequent ratification may be by parol — ib. 270; Darst, et al. v. Roth, 4 Wash. C. C. Rep. 471; Ball v. Dunsterville, 4 Term Rep. 313; Lord Lovelace’s case, Sir Wm. Jones’ Rep. 268; Skinner v. Dayton, et al. 5 Johns. Ch. Rep. 361, S. C.; 19 Johns. Rep. 513; Cady v. Shepherd, 11 Pick. Rep. 400. In the case last cited, the action was upon a covenant under seal, executed in the firm name by one of the partners without the authority of the other in writing. The plaintiff offered proof tending to show a previous assent and also a ratification of the act by parol declarations, and the question was raised whether such parol [590]*590ratification made it the deed of both the partners. The court after considering the authorities at some length, held, lhat a partner may bind his co-partner by a contract under seal made in the name and for the use of the firm in the course of the partnership business, provided the co-partner assents to the contract previously to its execution or afterwards ratifies .and adopts it. See also as to the retroactive effect of the subsequent ratification of the contract — Randall v. Van Vetchen, et al. 19 John. Rep. 60; Bank Columbia v. Patterson, 7 Cranch, 297. Story on Part. 180 asserts the general doctrine to be, that a prior authority, or a subsequent ratification, either express or implied, verbal or written,-is sufficient 1o establish the deed as the deed of the firm, and binding upon it as such. See also note 1, ib. The same learned author, in his work on Agency § 239, says, where a principal upon a full knowledge of all the circumstances of the case, deliberately ratifies the acts of his agent, he will be bound thereby as fully to all intents and purposes, as if he had originally given him direct authority in the premises to the extent which his acts &c. reach; the maxim being

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Bluebook (online)
16 Ala. 581, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/herbert-v-hanrick-ala-1849.