Pinkham v. Crooker

77 Me. 563 | Me. | 1885

Peters, C. J.

The defendant, as a factor, no instructions being imposed upon him, sold the plaintiff’s wool at the plaintiff’s risk, upon credit; the purchaser failing before the debt became due. The defendant exercised due care in taking the risk, if he was justified in so selling the goods. Does the law authorize a factor to sell his principal’s goods on credit?

It was held in an early case in this state that a factor has such authority. Greely v. Bartlett, 1 Maine, 172. It was the doctrine of the Massachusetts court when our own state was a portion of that commonwealth. Goodenow v. Tyler, 7 Mass. 36. It is the general doctrine. Story, Ag. § § 60, 110 and cases there cited.

We do not think it necessary for the defendant to show that it is a usage of trade to sell wool upon credit. Of course, if the sale was made in defiance of a usage which forbids a sale on credit, the defense fails. But it is fair to presume that a usage exists which permits such a sale unless the contrary be shown. We know that, as far as most descriptions of goods are concerned, it is not unusual to sell on credit. The factor often sells his own goods on credit, and it is to be presumed that he is clothed with as much discretion when he sells goods belonging-to others. It is not unreasonable to suppose that the principal would have sold the goods on credit had the sale been made by him without the aid of a factor. Should it be necessary, however, to appeal to the evidence for the defendant’s justification, we should not hesitate to declare that, in our opinion, such a usage as the defendant invokes is affirmatively proved.

The plaintiff contends that the defendant made himself personally liable for the goods because ho was guilty of negligence in not seasonably apprising the plaintiff of the circumstances of' the sale, and in not using more diligence than he did use to> •collect the debt. The evidence does not support the contention. If a factor exposes his principal to risk of loss by any want of information which the principal is entitled to from him, or by •any inattention to his principal’s interests, he is responsible for all the natural consequences of the neglect. The law requires diligence and a lively interest on his part in his employer’s affairs. But what better action could have been taken than was taken by the defendant after the purchaser failed? His own wool was covered by the same sale. He took the same percentage in settlement with the purchaser that all other creditors received. The plaintiff evidently intended, after the purchaser failed, to cast the loss upon the defendant, if he could, and he seems to have been unwilling to participate in the responsibility ■of any settlement of the debt either by word or act. The cases ■cited upon the brief submitted for the plaintiff are not applicable to these facts. The case cited upon the brief for the defense, Gorman v. Wheeler, 10 Gray, 362, is in point.

The plaintiff is entitled to recover, under the money count, dhe amount which the defendant received from the purchaser on .-his account.

jDefendant defaulted accordingly.

Daneorth, Virgin, Emery, Foster and askell, JJ., .concurred.