Mahoney v. Kennedy

172 Wis. 568 | Wis. | 1920

Vinje, J.

Plaintiff’s evidence tended to show these facts: That on November 20, 1919,-the plaintiff, who was then owner of a controlling interest in the Janesville News Publishing Company, a corporation whose certificates of stock had not been issued or even printed, by an oral agreement with the defendants sold his interest to them for the sum of $7,000 to be paid Within two weeks. No writing was signed and no money was paid at the time. . Plaintiff had been general manager of the Janesville News, the paper published by the corporation, up to this time, and had checked against the corporation’s account in the First National Bank of Janesville. His assistant manager, J. E. Jones, had been in active charge of the office, and it appears that the relations between him and plaintiff were not harmonious and that to restore harmony defendants bought out plaintiff’s interest. Both of them were interested in the corporation before,- but did not have a controlling interest. The evidence further shows that plaintiff wrote to the First National Bank and canceled his checking right against the funds of the corporation, telling the bank that hereafter the defendants would control such right; that thereafter jones did the checking until about February 15, 1920, when deféndant Burns was elected treasurer and began to check in behalf of the corporation. Plaintiff had also been secretary and treasurer and these offices he resigned or relinquished. . He did nothing in the conduct of the paper or corporation after. November 20, 1919, except to write, a letter to the defendants advising them as to the policy he thought the paper should still pursue as to some questions of public interest.

Jones testified that on November 20, 1919, he had a talk with defendants at about 9 o’clock in the evening and that “they stated that there would be no further trouble with Mahoney; that they had bought him out; witness said he was glad of it; they said they had paid him $7,000 and that 'witness would have no further trouble with Mahoney, and that witness should go on and run the paper for. the best interest of the News.” It appears that Jones remained in charge and ran the paper after that. Both of the defendants were business men and neither of them had any in7 tention to personally manage the paper. It also appeared that defendants had some negotiations looking to a sale of the job department of the company.

In view of the provisions of sec. 1751, Stats., providing that “The capital stock of every corporation, divided into shares, shall be deemed personal property,” and of sec. 1751n — 10, providing that “An attempted transfer óf title to a certificate or to- the shares represented thereby without delivery of the certificate shall have the effect of a promise to transfer and the obligation, if any, imposed by such promise shall be determined by the law governing the formation and performance of contracts,” it is clear that the alleged contract in question was one for the sale of personal property and so comes within the statute of frauds (sec. 2308, Stats.), unless taken out by part performance. The evidence, if true, would show that in performance of the contract the plaintiff ceased to act as secretary, treasurer, and general manager, notified the bank arid defendants' that his checking right was transferred to them, and that he took no further part in the management of the company. It would likewise show that defendants made J. E. Jones general manager in place of plaintiff and suffered him to check against the corporate funds in the bank; that they attempted to sell some of the corporate assets; and that they with Jones controlled the company thereafter.

In view of the nature of the subject matter sold it is difficult to see what more could have been done to perform the contract. The certificates of stock weré not printed so could not be delivered. Possession of the thing sold was taken by the defendants through Jones, which was mutually consented to by both parties. That is a sufficient delivery and acceptance in law. 25 Ruling Case Law, 620 et seq. The nature of the subject matter of the sale in-this case did not permit of a manual delivery, but delivery so far as possible was made by plaintiff stepping out and the defendants stepping in. This constituted delivery and acceptance. 20 Cyc. 247; 25 Ruling Case Law, 620 et seq.; Cotterill v. Stevens, 10 Wis. 422; Hankwits v. Barrett, 143 Wis. 639, 128 N. W. 430; Hoberg v. McNevins, 169 Wis. 486, 173 N. W. 221; Wilson v. Hotchkiss, 171 Cal. 617, 154 Pac. 1, L. R. A. 1916F, 389, and note on p. 393. The possession of Jones was the possession of defendants if his testimony is true. We therefore reach the conclusion that the circuit court erred in holding that there was ho part performance shown sufficient to take the case out of the statute.

Letters passing between the parties after the contract is alleged to. have been made and prior to the commencement of the action stating the claims of the parties as to the existence of the contract and its contents should have been received in evidence as tending to show the claims or admissions by sile'nce or failure of denial of the parties. Kimball v. Post, 44 Wis. 471; Hinton v. Wells, 45 Wis. 268; Murphey v. Gates, 81 Wis. 370, 51 N. W. 573; Moller v. ’ J. L. Gates L. Co. 119 Wis. 548, 97 N. W. 174.

By the Court. — Judgment reversed, and cause remanded for further proceedings according to law.