Winter v. Hite

3 Iowa 142

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: June 15, 1856
• Status: Published

Opinion

"Woodward, J.

The action is maintainable in the form in which it is brought. The administratrix is personally responsible. An executor, administrator, or a guardian, cam not give a promissory note which shall be binding as such on the estate he represents, or on his ward." He is individually answerable upon such promises. This has long been well settled law. Thacher v. Dinsmore, 5 Mass. 299; Foster v. Fuller, 6 Mass. 58; Childs v. Monino, 2 Broad. & Bing. 460; 6 Eng. C. L. 200; Hills v. Bannister, 8 Cow. 31; Barker v. Mech. Fire Ins. Co., 3 Wend. 94; Binney v. Plimby, 5 Vert. 500; also, note to 1 Amer. Lead. Ca. 604; Chit. on Bills (ed. 1842), 32-3, and note. The same doctrine applies to many cases of persons signing with the designation of trustees, or committees, and the like. But this class of cases is not to be examined in connection with that of agency, next to be alluded to.

It is important that these cases, especially those of administrators and guardians, should not be confounded with those of agency. When one acting as agent, signs a contract or promise, having authority, and his agency and principal appearing upon the face of the instrument, he is not personally liable. But if it does not appear upon the paper, that he acted as agent, or if he had not authority, he renders himself personally responsible. See the case of Harkins v. Edwards & Turner, 1 Iowa, 426. And in the case of Baker v. Chambliss, June term, 1854, this doctrine was applied to the board of directors of a school district, who, as such board, executed a promissory note for money due for building a school-house. The whole subject is discussed in the note to 1 Am, Lead. Ca. 602. This line of distinction has been clearly marked. An executor, administrator, or guardian,, is not an agent in any such sense as above intended. He is so in a general sense, it is true, but his virtual and real character is of another class. With him, it is not a mere question of fact, whether he have authority, for there is no one to give it, but it is a question of law, and .the law denies the authority. Eor instance, suppose the administrator, who gives a note and signs it in this manner, goes out of office, and another is appointed, it cannot be pretended that his successor would be liable on the note.

But, on the other hand, if he who so signs an instrument, is sued in that representative capacity, it may well be doubted, whether he could abate the suit for that reason; but the query would then be, whether the judgment should not be a personal one. Another question which may arise upon such an instrument, is, whether it may not be used as evidence of an. indebtedness by the estate. We are not aware that these questions have been settled.

The present case decides only, that the promissor is liable personally, notwithstanding the words of description. The demurrer should have been overruled.

The judgment of the District Court is reversed.