18 Barb. 554 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1854
The defendants, to the number of about seventy-five, agreed in writing to form an association or company, for the purpose of establishing a scientific journal, for the dissemination of knowledge. They appointed George Y, Hoyle, Calvin B. Averill and Bufus Heaton, as managers for the first year, authorizing them to establish and conduct the paper for the benefit of the stockholders, as they called themselves, when sufficient capital should be subscribed, paid in, or secured. They also, at the same time, directed that a meeting of the stockholders should be called, when the first number should issue, to make such regulations and by-laws as should be necessary for the government of the association. They were not incorporated under any general or special act of the legislature. Two of the managers, when they thought a sufficient amount was subscribed to justify them in commencing the publication of the journal, sent a person to New-York to purchase a printing press and other necessary materials. The purchase was made from the plaintiffs, who are type-founders and dealers in printing materials; for the price of which purchase, amounting to six hundred and eighty dollars and forty-six cents, they sued the defendants in this action.
If the defendants are liable at all, they are liable as partners. If the agreement which they subscribed is an absolute consent to engage jointly in this undertaking, without any further condition or action on their part, their personal accountability is as complete as that of any mercantile firm, composed of only two members. Calling themselves stockholders, and their firm an association, and the number of the members being considerable, cannot make the slightest difference in this respect. In this
In England, there are acts of parliament which relate especially to some unincorporated companies, and which, in the formation of them, require certain formalities; but here, where the same necessity for them seems not to exist, the law makes no difference with respect to the manner in which they may be created, between them and private or ordinary copartnerships.
The next question to be considered is, whether the consent of
The objection, therefore, to the authority of the agents, either in determining when the enterprise ought to be commenced, or in purchasing the necessary materials to enable them to proceed with it, ought not to prevail.
The judgment should be affirmed with costs.
Mitchell, Roosevelt and Clerke, Justices.]