Case Name: W. Smith v. M. V. Spencer
Court: South Carolina Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1825
Citations: 1 McCord Eq. 92
Docket Number: 
Parties: W. Smith v. M. V. Spencer.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Carolina Equity Reports
Volume: 6
Pages: 92–93

Head Matter:
W. Smith v. M. V. Spencer.
1825.
Charleston.
Arbitrators have no other powers than those confen red by the submission.
T HIS was a bill filed by M. V. Spencer, administra-; trix of Joseph Spencer, against William Smith, Jun., to compel the defendant to account. The complainant’s solicitor moved to refer the matters of account to arbitrators, who should report their award to the Court. Arbitrators were chosen who could not agree, and thereupon chose an umpire, by putting the names of several gentlemen in a hat and drawing out the name of one of them. The person so chosen as umpire reported to the Court the award thus made, which was objected to by the complainant, on the ground that the umpire was chosen by lot. Chancellor James supported the objection.
Nov. 1825.
An award within the^6 ti“e P?escri¡>-ed by the submission.
Qumre, If an be'chosenby
Cogdell and Gilchrist, for the appellant,
cited 6 Yes. 34, and Harris v. Mitchell, 2 Vern. 485, on the ground that the umpire' was chosen by lot.
Another ground taken before the Chancellor was also relied on: viz. That the award was made after the period limited by the submission.

Opinion:
CüRia, per
Nott, J.
A rule of reference to tion is in the nature of a power of attorney, conferring on the arbitrators an authority to decide upon all the matters contained in the submission. The arbitrators have no power but what they derive from the rule. If there is a time limited within which the award is required to be made, the power ceases at that time; and if the arbitrators proceed afterwards they act without autho-1 J rity. The rule is as much a dead letter as if it had never been issued, unless an authority is given to the arbitrators to extend or enlarge the time. But the submission in this case gave no such power. The award was therefore unauthorized and void. Davis v. Vass, 6 Ves. 34. 15 East, 97. 8 East, 13. Com. Dig. 664, in note. This opinion supersedes the necessity of considering the other question. I would nevertheless observe that it is laid down in some of the books, that an umpire cannot be chosen by lot. Harris v. Mitchell, 2 Vern. 485. I think that must be. taken with some qualification. Neale v. Ledger, 16 East, 52. And although it is not a method of choosing an umpire which I should recommend, yet if the case turned altogether upon that question, I should think it required some further consideration.
Motion granted.