Fritz v. Chicago Grain & Elevator Co.

136 Iowa 699 | Iowa | 1907

Deemer, J.

Defendant’s answer was in. effect a general denial, and it also contained a counterclaim for money advanced to plaintiff, and unaccounted for by him. At the trial defendant introduced no testimony, and the case went to the jury upon the evidence adduced by plaintiff. As already stated, the verdict was for plaintiff, and the appeal is from the judgment rendered thereon. Something like twenty-one errors are assigned in the argument filed for defendant, but in the main they are based upon a few fundamental principles of the law of agency. For instance, it is contended that the authority of an agent cannot be proved by testimony as to his acts and declarations; that a person dealing with an agent is bound to ascertain the scope- and extent of his authority; that the unauthorized act of one assuming to act as an agent is not to be deemed ratified by the principal, unless it be that he, the principal, has knowledge of such acts; and that authority conferred upon an agent cannot ordinarily be delegated to another. The rules with reference to these matters are pretty well settled, and are quite generally understood, and the difficulty is in their application to particular facts and circumstances. There was testimony in this case to show that during the years 1903 and 1904 plaintiff was in the employ of defendant, which is a corporation with its main office in Chicago, and engaged in the business of buying grain at the town of Pocahontas. Tie quit defendant’s service in the year 1904, and engaged in the general merchandise business in said town, and claims that in the year 1905 he was employed by C. D. Sturtevant and one Coon, who, it is alleged, were defendant’s agents, to find a purchaser for the grain elevator at Pocahontas, at an agreed commission upon the fixed selling price, $4,500, of five per cent., or $225. Tie testified that he found such purchaser or purchasers to whom defendant sold the elevator, and claims that he has earned the agreed compensation. Under the evidence there is no doubt that defendant sold the elevator to some farmers and business men, in and near Pocahontas, who formed themselves into a corporation known as the Farmers’ Grain & Coal Company, and that plaintiff was instrumental in bringing about the sale. But it is said in argument that there is no competent testimony that either Sturtevant or Coon had authority from defendant to make any agreement for defendant to pay plaintiff a commission, or to authorize him to find a purchaser, and, for reasons hereinafter to be stated, that defendant did not, by selling the elevator to the purchasers found by plaintiff, ratify the agreement of Sturte-vant and Coon to pay plaintiff a commission.

„The main contentions in the case grow out of this brief statement of facts, and, before going to the controlling propositions, it is well to note that there was sufficient testimony to establish the alleged agreement with Sturtevant and Coon, the finding of a purchaser or purchasers to whom the defendant sold the elevator, and of plaintiff’s right to compensation, unless it be that he has not shown authority upon the part of Sturtevant and Coon to employ him. There can be no doubt of the authority of Sturtevant and Coon to contract for the sale of the elevator, for what they did in this respect was approved and ratified by defendant. The contract which was made by them was carried out by defendant, and a bill of sale of the property was executed by it to the Farmers’ Grain &-Coal Company for the consideration of $4,500. This, however, it is contended, did not constitute a ratification of any agreement Sturtevant and Coon may have had with plaintiff; for it is insisted that defendant had no notice or knowledge that any such agreement had been made.

, petency of The main question in the case was the authority of Sturtevant and Coon to employ plaintiff. Testimony was adduced, over defendant’s objections, regarding the contract made by plaintiff with Sturtevant and Coon, and as to what was done by the parties thereunder. It is manifest that this was material, and went to the very heart of the controversy. Plaintiff had to prove it to make out a case, and the order of the introduction of testimony was a matter within the sound discretion of the trial court. True, this testimony was of no effect, unless plaintiff followed it up by showing the authority of Sturtevant and Coon to make such a contract, or that defendant ratified the agreement by its conduct with reference to the sale of the property, or that Sturtevant and Coon, or one of them, had such authority from defendant, with reference to the sale of the property, as permitted them to employ subagents to whom defendant might he responsible for services -rendered. To show the authority of Sturtevant and Coon, plaintiff testified that he knew defendant and some of its officers and agents, and knew Sturte-vant; and, over defendant’s objections, that Sturtevant was manager of defendant company. He also testified, without objection, that he knew Coon, and Coon was a manager, traveling over tbe road, looking after tbe different bouses, and keeping them up, looking after belp, etc.; and be thought be also audited tbe accounts of tbe different elevators. He also testified that be was in tbe employ of tbe defendant at Pocahontas: and, without objection, that Sturtevant was in tbe defendant’s Des Moines office as manager. We now quote from tbe record tbe following:

His (Sturtevant’s) duties was tbe same as'any grain man. He was to give instructions to tbe different bouses over tbe State. He had to look after keeping tbe accounts. Tbe accounts was rendered from that office. All my accounts was from that office — that is tbe grain, and tbe shape of tbe market when they made sale'. Tbe bills were made in Des Moines to me. While I was in Des Moines at those times I bad conversations with him about tbe business at Pocahontas. I received my instructions in reference to tbe business and its conduct,. so far as tbe Chicago Grain & Elevator Company was concerned, from Mr. Sturtevant. I know Mr. Coon. I know tbe work be did for this company. He simply traveled from bouse to bouse, and looked after what really was wanted, and looked after tbe biring of men, and one thing or another. I know of his having hired a man here in Pocahontas when I ceased having further connection with him. His name was Mr. Gibson. Mr. Gibson worked for this company some time after bis employ. I was at Des Moines at the time Mr. Sturtevant was working for tbe Chicago Grain & Elevator Company, in their office. He was just acting as any man would, attending bis office, looking after tbe general run of the business, and reported it, and dictating letters. I beard him telephone for tbe market, and send dispatches, and be told me to sell grain at such and sucb prices and sell it — authorized me to do so. I think Mr. Streams was tbe president of tbe Chicago Grain & Elevator Company in 1903, 1904, and 1905. I wrote letters to tbe Chicago Grain & Elevator Company during my employment. I addressed tbe letters to tbe Chicago Grain & Elevator Company, in Des Moines. I received answers to those letters always from Des Moines. These letters were signed as a rule, ‘ Chicago Grain & Elevator Company, dictated C. D. S.— C. D. Sturtevant.’ I bad some conversation with Mr. Streams in tbe Savery Hotel, in Des Moines, in regard to tbe employment of Mr. Coon and Mr. Sturtevant. Mr. Streams at that time told me that Mr. Coon and Mr. Sturtevant, in regard to tbe elevator, would be about tbe same as Mr. Brown was, and Mr. Blasswell would be, along that line. Mr. Coon would look after tbe bouses generally — tell tbe men wbat to do; and Sturtevant would take care of tbe office in Des Moines, to sell tbe grain tbe same as Mr. Brown used to — simply take Mr. Brown’s place and act as tbeir general secretary.

There was also ample testimony to show that Sturte-vant and Coon finally closed an agreement with tbe purchasers procured by plaintiff, which agreement was recognized by defendant, and fully carried out according to its terms. No objection was made to tbe testimony which we have set out, save as is indicated, and we have now to deal with these objections. It nowhere appears that tbe authority of either Sturtevant or Coon was in writing, and we have the broad proposition, may one, who has shown some competency upon the subject, testify that another is an agent for some third party, and as to the extent of that agency ? This question is ruled by Heusinkveld v. Ins. Co., 106 Iowa, 229, wherein it is said that “ agency is a condition of which anyone having knowledge of it may testify, subject however to the test of cross-examination.” See, also, Gault v. Sickles, 85 Iowa, 266.

2. Same. The well-established rule that agency may not be established by testimony as to the acts and declarations of the agent as announced in John Gund Co. v. Peterson, 130 Iowa, 301, was in no manner violated by the admission of the testimony we are now considering. Defendant’s counsel fail to distinguish between proof of agency and testimony showing what was done under-an assumed or proved agency. What was done is not ordinarily admissible for the purpose, of establishing the agency; but proof of what was done is an essential element • of plaintiff’s case, not ordinarily for the purpose of showing ^agency, but of establishing performance of tbe contract. Without testimony showing or tending to show authority, the acts done are not binding upon anyone save the person who made the contract; but with such testimony they become binding upon the party for whom the contract was made. Plaintiff also testified without objection that he was not acting for the Farmers’ Grain & Coal Company, but as defendant’s agent to find a buyer for the property. That an agent may himself testify tó the fact of agency is undisputed. Van Sickel v. Keith, 88 Iowa, 9.

3 Same- ratifi-catlon-The agency of Sturtevant and Coon is established by the testimony we have quoted; but it is said that there is not sufficient evidence to show that they had authority to sell elevator> or to employ an agent to do so. The testimony as to the extent of their authority is found in the testimony already quoted, which was sufficient to indicate that Sturtevant was manager of defendant’s office in Des Moines, and that Coon was a traveling manager looking after defendant’s properties in different parts of the State, hiring men, etc. This in itself may not, and probably does not, show authority on the part of either to sell defendant’s property, or to employ others to find purchasers therefor. But it was also shown that after plaintiff found the purchaser, Sturtevant and Coon went to Pocahontas, and met the purchasers, and at an open meeting held therewith they concluded a bargain for the sale, which was afterwards closed and ratified by defendant in the making of a bill of sale for the property. This ratification of the acts of the agents was the equivalent of express authority' previously given, and clearly establishes authority upon the part of these to negotiate a sale of the property. Long v. Osborn, 91 Iowa, 160. That the conduct of the parties may be considered upon the extent of the agent’s authority is well settled. Holsten v. Wheeler (Iowa), 78 N. W. 845; McCormick v. Lambert, 120 Iowa, 181; Smilie v. Hobbs, 64 N. H. 75 (5 Atl. 711).

4. Same. We are now discussing tbe question of tbe extent of tbe authority of defendant’s agents Sturtevant and Coon; and tbis for tbe reason that counsel contend that tbeir áu-tbority was limited, and tbat plaintiff was advised of tbat fact, and cannot bold defendant upon a contract in excess of tbeir real authority. This may be conceded as a general proposition of law, but as bearing'upon tbe extent of an agent’s authority, when tbat authority lies in parol, testimony as to tbe conduct of tbe parties regarding tbe very property with reference to which it is claimed tbe agency exists is surely competent, not only to establish express authority, but ratification as well. Of course if Sturtevant and Coon bad no authority to sell defendant’s property, and consequently no power to employ agents to find purchasers therefor, plaintiff would have no right to recover a commission for bis services, without showing that bis contract was within tbe apparent scope of tbe agents’ authority, or tbat tbe principal bad placed himself in such a position as tbat it could not deny tbe authority of its agents to sell. Tbis is all tbat tbe cases cited by appellant bold, as we read them. And here, again, we affirm tbe principle contended for by appellant, tbat ordinarily tbe acts and declarations of an agent are not in themselves sufficient to establish the extent of bis authority. But when ratified, as in tbis case, by an express approval of tbe sales made by tbe agents, we have sufficient proof of tbe extent of tbeir authority, which was to sell tbe elevator.

Here, again, a distinction should be drawn between a ratification of plaintiff’s contracts with defendant’s agents, and a ratification of a sale made by defendant’s own agents, for tbe purpose of showing tbe extent of tbeir authority in tbe premises. With tbis distinction in mind, tbe authorities cited by appellant, such as, Proctor v. Tows, 115 Ill. 138 (3 N. E. 569) ; Merchants’ Bank v. Nichols, 223 Ill. 41 (79 N. E. 38, 7 L. R. A. (N. S.) 752) ; Bristol v. Judd, 116 Iowa, 26; Britt v. Gordon, 132 Iowa, 431; Groeltz v. Armstrong, 115 Iowa, 602, and others like them, are not controlling. There was no error in the rulings on evidence bearing upon this proposition, or in the instructions given by the trial court with reference thereto. We must take it as established then that Sturtevant and Coon had authority to sell the elevator building, and the next question in order is really one of law. It is this: Had they authority to employ another to find a purchaser, and to bind their principal by an agreement to pay him a commission therefor ?

5. Agency: ím-plied authority. It is quite elementary that an agent who has authority from his principal to sell property may adopt the usual and customary methods whereby that sale may be accomplished. That this implies authority to employ agents or brokers we have no doubt. It is so held in Renwick v. Bancroft, 56 Iowa, 527, which was followed in McKinnon v. Vollmar, 75 Wis. 82 (43 N. W. 800, 6 L. R. A. 121, 17 Am. St. Rep. 178). See, also, Sayre v. Nichols, 7 Cal. 535 (68 Am. Dec. 280) ; Lyon v. Jerome, 26 Wend. (N. Y.) 485 (37 Am. Dec. 271); Mechem on Agency (1889 Edition) section 690. Defendant is a corporation which can act only through agents, and if it authorized its agents Sturtevant or Coon to sell the property in question, it impliedly gave them power to appoint agents to find purchasers therefor; to which agents defendants would be responsible, See cases cited in 1 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law (2d Ed.) 985. We may say again in this connection that it is not ratification which vitalizes plaintiff’s contract, except as it was ratified through the consummation of a contract made by defendant’s own agents for the sale of the property; thus confirming the authority of these latter agents to sell the property, and to call into operation the usual and ordinary means for the accomplishment of their ends. Gillis v. Bailey, 21 N. H. 150; Saveland v. Green, 40 Wis. 431; Wilson v. Smith, 3 How (U. S.) 763 (11 L. Ed. 820). Neither Sturtevant nor Coon lived in the vicinity of the property, and we think they had implied authority to appoint an agent to find a purchaser. In Eggleston v. Boardman, 37 Mich. 14; Blantin v. Whitaker, 11 Humph. (Tenn.) 313, and Sheldon v. Sheldon, 3 Wis. 699, it is expressly held that, if an agent without authority employs a subagent, the ratification of the agent’s final act will embrace the appointment and acts of the subagent. Apparently contra, however, is Groeltz v. Armstrong, 115 Iowa, 602. We need not go to that extent here, except as stated above, for the implied authority is to be found in the power given Sturtevant and Coon to sell, as established by the ratification of their contract.

6. Evidence: res easta. Lastly, it is claimed that certain declarations made by Sturtevant and Coon at the time they were negotiating and closing.the contract for the sale of the property to the Earm-ers’ Grain & Coal Company, with reference to plaintiff’s commission, should not have been admitted, because not made with reference to plaintiff’s contract, but after it had been consummated, and not binding in any event upon the defendant. It appears, however, that they were made while these agents were engaged in the principal’s business and had direct reference to the contract they were then making, and they were manifestly part of the res gestee. That they were admissible see Knight v. Jackson, 36 S. C. 10 (14 S. E. 982); Phelps v. James, 86 Iowa, 398. They were not merely declarations as to a past transaction as argued by defendant’s counsel.

7. Exclusion or prejudice°urt: One more question remains. Defendant’s counsel at the close of plaintiff’s testimony filed a motion to strike certain testimony as to the plaintiff’s transactions with Sturtevant and Coon from the record, for the reason that neither had any power nor au-fhority to bind the defendant in what they did and said. In ruling on this motion, the trial court said in the presence of the jury: “I think that this evidence under the whole record now disclosed is proper; and ruling at tbe time was reserved in order to ascertain if tbe evidence would show tbe full extent of tbe authority. I think that this evidence was proper, and tbe motion is overruled.” Manifestly no prejudice resulted from this expression of opinion. Indeed, we do not think there was anything in the statement of which defendant may complain.

Finding no error, the judgment must be, and it is, affirmed.