Case ID: nc_62/html/0003-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Pearson, C. J. Per Curiam.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

L. L. CLEMENTS v. HENRY MITCHELL, and others.
    The rule, that entries in the books of a firm are evidence against all of the parties, is true only of those made whilst the firm is doing business; therefore, entries so made by a partner who is winding up the partnership under a transfer to him for that purpose, are not, per se, evidence for him against a co-partner.
    A partner, who undertakes to wind up the firm-business, stands in the place of an executor, and therefore can establish disbursements only by vouchers properly authenticated.
    Original Bill, praying the settlement of two partnerships, partially heard by this court at December Term, 1860, and now coming up for further directions.
    A sufficient statement of the fact will be found on pp. líl-’2 of Jones’ Ecp, vol. 6.
    
      Moore and Donnell, for the complainant.
    
      Winston, for the defendant, Mitchell.
   Pearson, C. J.

The commissioner reports, that, in settling the business of the firm of Clements & Waldo, Clements paid out more than he had collected, by the sum of $9,148.66, and he says, £*this amount is copied from the Ledger of Waldo & Clements, and its existence there is about the only proof of its correctness ”

The defendant excepts to this item in the report, on the ground that there was no evidence to support it. The exception must be allowed.

Whilst a firm is doing business, its books are evidence against any and all of the co-partners, and it makes no difference when the entries are made. That princple, however, has no application to this case, in which the firm had stopped doing business, and all of its effects had been transferred to Clements, who was to settle up its affairs. The account kept by him does not set out the dealings of the firm, or contain a memorial of Us actings or doings, but is merely a memorandum kept by Clements to show Ms receipts and disbursements. The fact that he made use of the Ledger of the firm, instead of getting a book of his own, makes no sort of difference, although it seems to have misled the commissioner.

A partner, who undertakes to wind up the affairs of the firm, stands in the position of an executor or administrator, and for that reason books kept by him of his collections and disbursements are not evidence for him, and he must show the amount of disbursements by the production of vouchers properly authenticated.

We find among the papers a bundle, said to contain vouchers. It was not, however, opened or acted upon by the commissioner, and we can have nothing to do with it.

As the other exceptions were not insisted upon, there will be a reference to reform the account, and show what remains due by Mitchell to Clements ; allowing Waldo’s interest in the one firm to extinguish his liabilities in the other.

Per Curiam.

Ordered accordingly.