Case ID: yeates_2/html/0038-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "By the court.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

James Right lessee of John Nicholson againt Thomas Mifflin.
    [S. C. 2 Dall. 246.]
    In mercantile cases, a factory may generally prove his own authority : aliter in sales of lands by an agent, which must be by a written authority; but it is not necessary that the same be signed by the party.
    EjECTMEMT.for one messuage and 200 acres of land in Blockley township, in the county of Philadelphia.
    The plaintiff founded his pretensions on a sale made by Edward Bonsai, as agent of the defendant, of the lands in question, and offered the said Bonsai to prove his authority.
    The defendant’s counsel excepted thereto.
    Messrs. Lewis and Gibson, pro quer.
    
    Messrs. Ingersoll and Condy, pro def.
    
   By the court.

The power of an agent authorized to sell lands must be in writing, and proved by indifferent witnesses, under the act “for the prevention of frauds and perjuries,” passed 21st'March;1772. (Prov. Laws, 462.) So it was resolved in the cases of the lessee of Jonathan Meredith v. Daniel Mauss, in January term 1793, and the lessee'of John Girard v. George Krebbs, et al. at the last sitting in the city, the preceding week. It is true, this act of assembly should be construed liberally, and the law not requiring the written authority of the agent to be signed by the party, if is sufficient if the authority is reduced to writing by his orders, but of this due proof must be had. The court are bound to guard-against fraud as well as perjury. In mercantile cases, a factory may in some instances prove his own authority. But it is otherwise in the sale of lands by an agent, by positive law.

Plaintiff nonsuit.