18 Colo. 593 | Colo. | 1893
delivered the opinion of the court.
The only question for our determination is presented by the assignment of error, predicated upon the giving of the instruction above quoted.
Counsel for the respective parties have devoted most of their briefs and argument to the discussion of the question of the adequacy of an oral authorization to confer the power
In the case of Inhabitants of South Berwick v. Huntress, 53 Me. 89, Kent, J., in discussing an instruction embodying in substance the law applicable to this case, said:
“We think that when a party signs a bond and delivers it to another, not stipulating or expecting that the paper will be returned or afterwards exhibited to him, but be delivered to the obligee when perfected, and when he so delivers it there are blanks in it to be filled up before it can be perfected, and he knows the fact, those blanks may be filled out without any further knowledge or assent on his part.”
And also on page 96, “ It is after all a mere question of assent. Now, consent may be implied as well as expressed, and when fairly and legally inferred it is actual and effective consent, as much so as when direct authority is shown by parol.”
The supreme court of the United States has announced the same principle in several cases, notably that of Drury v. Foster, 2 Wallace, 24. Therein the court say:
“We agree that by signing, and acknowledging the deed*598 in blank, and delivering the same to an agent, with an express or implied authority to fill up the blank and perfect the conveyance — its validity could not well be controverted.”
In the ease of the State of Minnesota v. Young, 23 Minn. 551, the court in discussing the implied authority of the board of county commissioners to fill the penalty in an official bond, no express authority being given, says:
“ Such authority may be implied from circumstances. It may be implied from the facts proved, when these facts all taken together and fairly considered justify the inference.” See also, White v. Duggan, 140 Mass. 18; Smith v. Crocker, 5 Mass. 537; Bank of Commonwealth v. McChord, 4 Dana, 191; McCormick v. Bay City, 23 Mich. 457; Bartlett v. Board of Education, 59 Ill. 364; City of Chicago v. Gage, 95 Ill. 593.
Numerous other cases might be cited in support of the rule that authority to fill blanks in such an instrument may be implied, and that when .fairly inferable from the conduct of the parties, and circumstances surrounding the transaction, is as effectually given as if expressly conferred. Many of these decisions are put upon the doctrine of estoppel in pais, ostensible authority being the equivalent of actual authority. It certainly is consonant with justice and fairness that when a person as a surety signs an incomplete undertaking, and places the same in the hands of another to use for a particular purpose, and with ostensible authority to fill in any needed matter to make the same effective, and the same is accepted in its completed form by the obligee without negligence on his part, that such' surety ought to be estopped from controverting its validity to the prejudice of such obligee; and we think that the facts in this case most strongly invoke the application of this rule. The blank, as presented to Egan and Brown for their signature, contained a printed condition that fully advised them of the extent of the obligation they were assuming; the insertion of the penalty did not affect the extent of such obligation. The printed recitals in the paper as presented were to the effect that certain property of their principal had been attached, and the condition, and essential
We think the court erred in giving the instruction complained of. The evidence clearly establishes the fact that the appellees conferred the power upon their principal and upon his attorney, Clark, to fill in the specific description of the property attached, and its value, if that was necessary to make the undertaking effective. It is unnecessary to decide whether the undertaking as signed was not sufficient before the additions were made therein. And, since we are of the opinion that upon the undisputed facts the appellants were entitled to recover, the judgment is reversed and cause remanded, with directions to assess damages in favor of appellants.
Reversed.