Case Name: WELCH v. HOOVER
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1838-03
Citations: 29 F. Cas. 606
Docket Number: 
Parties: WELCH v. HOOVER.
Judges: (THRUSTON, Circuit Judge, doubting),
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 29
Pages: 606–606

Head Matter:
Case No. 17,368.
WELCH v. HOOVER.
[5 Cranch, C. C. 444.]
Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
March Term, 1838.
Agency — Proof of Authority — Agent as Witness.
1. An agent is a competent witness to prove his own autíiority, if not in writing; and is not incompetent by reason of his liability to either of the parties.
2. A parol authority will support a written contract.
Assumpsit, for feeding cattle, &e.
Mr. Brent, for plaintiff
[Sylvester Welch],' 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 defendant
[John Hoover], 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.

Opinion:
THE COURT,
however
(THRUSTON, Circuit Judge, doubting),
permitted the witness to be examined without a release from either party; and decided that he was competent to prove bis own authority, if it was not in writing. See Starkie, Ev. pt. 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, Circuit Judge, absent)
overruled the objection. Verdict for plaintiff, $472.32.