G. W. Herd & Son v. Bank of Buffalo

66 Mo. App. 643 | Mo. Ct. App. | 1896

Ellison, J.

This action is for the price of goods charged to have been purchased by defendant through one Finley, who, it is contended, was defendant’s agent. The judgment below was for defendant.

Finley gave defendant a mortgage on a stock of merchandise to secure a note of $504.64, with eight percent interest. The note and mortgage were dated October 10, 1893, the note being due in thirty days. The mortgage contained a provision, the effect of which was that Finley should remain in possession as agent of the defendant, until default in the note, and that he should render a daily account of the sales. It also contained a provision which, in effect, allowed Finley to purchase additions to the stock, which might be directed by defendant. Sometime after the note became due, but a short while before defendant had exercised its privilege of taking possession of the stock, Finley purchased the goods in question and they were taken possession of by defendant, with the balance of the stock. At the time Finley purchased the goods in question, plaintiffs had no information that he was acting as agent for defendant, he only assuming to act for himself. Afterward, as plaintiffs allege, they became aware that defendant was the principal in the transaction and Finley merely an agent, and thereupon sued defendant.

It is undoubtedly true that an agent may contract in his own name, without making known his agency, and yet his principal be held on the contract, when discovered by tbe other party. But here, as we interpret tbe mortgage and evidence, Einley was not defendant’s agent after default in tbe note. Tbe mortgage so reads. Tbe necessary implication, from its terms, is that tbe agency ceased at tbe maturity of tbe note. It was only while tbe note was maturing that Finley could claim tbe right to tbe possession, or to exercise an agency.

But it is claimed by plaintiff’s counsel that defendant afterward ratified the act of Finley in purchasing the goods. There can be no ratification under the facts disclosed. The evidence shows that defendant took possession of the goods under the mortgage and sold them with the other property. But that was done under the terms of the mortgage and by reason of the mortgage. The purchase bad been made by Finley for himself — be did not act for a principal — and, of course, did not disclose a principal. In order that there may be a ratification of the act of an agent, the act must have been done as an agent for a principal. Ratification means to adopt the act of a person which has been performed for another. Bouv. Dict. Here the act of purchase was for Finley — be was not, at the time, an agent in fact, and be did not assume to act as an agent — be acted for himself. In such case, while there might be a confirmation of what be did, resting upon a consideration, there can be no ratification. Mechem, Agency, secs. 124, 127; Hamlin v. Sears, 82 N. Y. 327; Railroad v. Gazzam, 32 Pa. St. 340.

Tbe foregoing considerations show tbe court’s action to have been right and cover all objections made to tbe court’s action on instructions. Tbe judgment will, therefore, be affirmed.

All concur.