Court Opinion

ID: 6953509
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 01:35:10.450419+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:08:10.132547
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Lawrence delivered the opinion of the Court: This was a proceeding to establish a mechanic’s lien, brought by Boyle, against Clarke & Heywood, and a decree was pronounced in favor of the petitioner. It is now urged, as a ground for reversal, that the court erred in instructing the jury, if they believed Heywood made the contract for himself and Clarke they should find it to be their joint contract—the instruction being silent as to the authority given by Clarke to Heywood to bind the former. It is true, the instruction was faulty in this respect, but it can have worked the appellants no possible prejudice, for they themselves testify they owned the property in partnership, and, although Heywood made the contract for the building, in the absence of Clarke, yet the latter swears they had agreed to build, and he left it to Heywood to make the contract, and saw the house in process of erection, knowing that he would have to pay the bills, which he had done as fast as possible. Here were both previous authority and subsequent ratification. It is also objected that the court erred in refusing to instruct the jury that the sworn answer of the defendants was to be taken as evidence. The petition waived the oath of the defendants, and the complainant had the right to do this. This is essentially a chancery proceeding, and the 21st section of the chancery code, allowing complainants to waive the oath to an answer, must be held to apply. The decree must be affirmed. Decree affirmed.