Case Name: Webster against M'Ginnis
Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 1812-09-19
Citations: 5 Binn. 235
Docket Number: 
Parties: Webster against M‘Ginnis.
Judges: Brackenridge J. concurred.
Reporter: Reports of cases adjudged in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania (Binney)
Volume: 5
Pages: 235–237

Head Matter:
Webster against M‘Ginnis.
Pittsburgh Saturday, September 19.
A wife who is entrusted by her husband to transact the ordinary business of a tavern, has no authority to bind the husband by contract to find oats and horses, and board for drivers, at less than the usual rates.
IN ERROR.
THE defendant in error instituted an action before a justice of the peace of Somerset county, to recover the balance of a book account for boarding the stage drivers of the plaintiff in error, and for hay and oats furnished to his stage horses. The justice gave judgment against the in error, who appealed to the Common Pleas. On the trial before that Court, M'Ginnis, having given in evidence his book of original entries to support his demand, and it being admitted by his counsel, that his wife in his absence transacted the ordinary business in the tavern, the defendant offered to prove, that previous to the first accommodation furnished by the plaintiff to the defendant, the latter applied to the plaintiff’s wife in his absence, and entered into a special contract with the wife for a certain rate per week at which his stage drivers should be boarded, and certain rates at which hay, oats and other necessaries should be furnished for his use.
The Court rejected the evidence, and sealed a bill of exceptions.
S. Riddle for the plaintiff in error.
Weigley contra.

Opinion:
Tilghman C. J.
It is a well settled principle, that the husband is not bound by the contract of his wife, unless by some act or declaration prior or subsequent to the contract, his consent may be fairly inferred. In the present instance, the defendant relies on the circumstance of the wife's being entrusted with the ordinary business of the tavern. The question then is, whether this was ordinary business or not? It appears to me that it was not. Ordinary business is the selling in the usual way such articles of provision and liquor, as are called for in taverns, and receiving the money for the same, and perhaps it may reasonably be extended to the purchase of provisions necessary to the support of the house. But this was an extraordinary contract. The usual prices were dispensed with, and accommodation for the drivers and horses of the defendant was to be afforded at a less price than the plaintiff usually charged. The plaintiff therefore ought to have been consulted before such a contract could bind him. No proof of his assent having been offered, I am of opinion, that the evidence of the wife's contract was-properly rejected.
Yeates J.
The contract of a married woman is not binding upon her husband, unless made by his consent either express or implied. Here there is no express consent: but it has been urged, that such consent shall be inferred from the fact admitted, " that the wife of the defendant in error " in his absence transacted the ordinary business of the ta"vern." It is certain, if the wife usually made contracts of asimilar nature, which he afterwards executed or agreed to, that the husband would be concluded thereby, unless his dissent at the time clearly appeared. She would be considered in such instance as his agent, or, in the more uncourtly though legal phrase, as his servant acting by his command.
The natural idea arising from doing the ordinary business ©f a country tavern, is that the party furnished the usual provisions, refreshments and provender to travellers, and received payment therefor; but it would be straining the expressions very far, to extend it to any case of contract respecting a public house of entertainment. Furnishing a line of stages with hay and oats, and the driver with refreshment for months to come, exhibits a case very distinct from the common accommodations of an inn; and I should suppose could no more involve the assent of the husband, than if his wife had agreed to purchase a quarter cask of wine or a barrel of whiskey. I do not consider the'articles furnished to the plaintiff in error, to be within the usual routine of the business of an inn; but am of opinion, that We cannot deem the wife the agent or servant of the husband, that the testimony offered was .properly overruled, and that the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas be affirmed.
Brackenridge J. concurred.
Judgment affirmed.