Case ID: dc_5/html/0444-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "(Thruston, J.,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Sylvester Welch v. John Hoover.
    An agent is a competent -witness to prove Ms own authority, if not in writing; and is not incompetent by reason of his liability to cither of the parties.
    A parol authority will support a written contract.
    Assumpsit, for feeding cattle, See.
    
    
      Mr. Brent, for the plaintiff,
    offered to examine Mr. Owens, as a witness to prove that he, as agent of the defendant, contracted to purchase of the plaintiff seventy-four head of cattle; $500 to be paid in cash, and the residue by the 1st of November, when the defendant was to take the cattle away.
    
      Mr. Bradley, for the defendant,
    objected to the testimony of Mr. Owens, until his agency should be proved; and that he was not competent to prove his own agency; and that, if proved, he was not competent, because interested.
   The Court, however,

(Thruston, J.,

doubling,) permitted the witness to be examined without a release from either party ; and decided that he was competent to prove his own authority, if it was not in writing. See Starkie on Evidence, Part 4, p. 55.

Mr. Bradley then objected, that a parol authority will not support a written contract made by the agent.

But the Court (Morsell, J., absent,) overruled the objection. Verdict for plaintiff, $472.32.