Court Opinion

ID: 4926753
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-24 00:57:53.727984+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:14:22.172885
License: Public Domain

At a subsequent term, the opinion of the Court was drawn up and delivered by
Siiepley J.
The claim of the defendant, Goodrich, to detain the property replevied must depend upon the character in which he *182acted, the responsibilities incurred, and the rights arising out of them. He was master of the vessel of tire intestate, with a letter of instructions, giving him authority to draw a bill of exchange, and to make purchases for his principal. If he has not incurred any personal responsibility, he cannot detain the property. The bill was drawn by Goodrich without any statement or exhibition of agency, unless it may be inferred from the request to charge it to the account of the Hope’s cargo. Such request affords no distinct indication of an agency. It only indicates the fund to which it was to be charged, not the character in which the drawer signed. The general rule, as stated by Chitty, is, if a person draw in his own name, without stating that he acts as agent, he will be personally -liable, unless in the case of an agent contracting in behalf of government. Chitty on Bills, 40. It is said, in Bayley on Bills, 68, that an agent should take care, if he mean to exempt himself from personal responsibility, to use clear and explicit words to shew that intention. And he clearly does not consider a request to charge to a particular account, as affording any evidence of an agency ; for he says, “ if an agent for A draw upon B in favor of C though he direct B to place the amount to the account of As debit, he will be personally liable to C if fire bill be not paid, unless he use proper words to prevent such liability.”
Lord Ellenhorough says, not only that such is the general rule, but that “ unless he says plainly, “ I am the mere scribe,” he becomes liable.” And he does not consider the knowledge of the party taking the bill as malting a difference. He says, “ though the plaintiff knew the defendant to be agent of the Durham Bank, he might not know but that he meant to offer his own responsibility.” 5 M. & Sel. 345, Leadbitter v. Farrow. It is a well settled rule; Paley on Agency, 298; 5 Taunt. 749; 7 Taunt. 159; 5 Mason, 241; 11 Mass. R. 27 and 54; 2 Greenl. 204, And Goodrich must be regarded as liable upon the bill.
It must have been'drawn in the character of master, or as agent or factor; apd this may be shown as between him and his° principal, although he may be personally responsible to third persons.
In England the master of a vessel has no lien on the ship, freight, or cargo for money expended or debts necessarily incurred. 9 *183East, 426, Hasey v. Christie; 1 Barn, & Adol. 575, Smith v. Plummer.
In Massachusetts, the master is allowed to have a lien in such cases. 4 Mass. R. 91; 11 Mass. R. 72. So is he in New York. 7 Cowen, 670, Ingersoll v. Van Bokkelin. Kent observes, that the American cases have taken the most reasonable side of the question. 3 Com. 167, note b. The transaction now under consideration cannot, however be regarded as falling within the scope of his authority, as master. In the ordinary state of things, says Lord Stowett, he is a stranger to the cargo beyond the purposes of safe custody and conveyance; yet in cases of instant, and unforeseen, and unprovided necessity, the character of agent and supercargo is forced upon him. 3 Rob. Ad. 240, the Gratitudine. The case of Watt v. Potter, 2 Mason, 77, is to the same effect. The power of purchasing and selling has been regarded by this Court as not coming within the power usually incident to the office of master. 8 Greenl. 298. The cases of Kemp v. Clough, 11 Johns. R. 107, and Emery v. Hersey, 4 Greenl. 407, are not regarded as at variance with the other cases, as in them a customary course of business was proved, extending the powers and duties of the master beyond their ordinary limits, and the cases were decided upon that ground. It was no doubt competent to the owner in this case to enlarge the powers of the person employed as master, and to clothe him with authority to draw bills and to purchase a cargo. But such authority is not derived from his office of master, but from the letter of instructions, constituting him his agent for those purposes. And in the character of agent he must be regarded as acting in drawing tbe bill and making the purchases. It becomes material then to inquire, what rights he acquired by law over the property purchased by him, as agent, with the proceeds of the bill upon which he is personally liable.
It is stated in Paley on Agency, 109, that the general lien of a factor, first received the sanction of legal authority, in the case of Kruger v. Wilcox, Amb. 252, and that it has never been controverted since. And such is the settled law, as well in this country as in England. 1 Burr. 494, Godin v. London Assur. Com.; 1 Cowp. 251, Drinkwater v. Goodwin; 3 B. & P. 489, Houghton & al. v. Mathews & al.; 1 Gall. 360, Burrill v. Phillips; 12 *184Mass. R. 180, Stevens v. Robbins. The cases of Drinkwater v. Goodwin and Stevens v. Robbins, show, that one who is liable to pay, has the same lien as if he had paid. Nor does the death of the principal deprive the agent of his lien. 2 East, 227, Hammonds v. Barclay. But it is said, the agent did not follow his instructions in drawing the bill, and that he cannot create a lien by his own wrong. The agent having departed from the strict letter of his instructions in making the bill payable at a shorter date, than authorized, it might have been in the power of the plaintiffs to have disclaimed the whole transaction. But they cannot claim the property and yet deny the agency of Goodrich in the purchase of it. They have claimed the property purchased by the proceeds of the bill, and it is now too late to deny the agency.
Goodrich being entitled to a general lien upon the goods in his possession, to secure him for his liabilities, the plaintiffs cannot maintain replevin, until that lien is discharged. The facts upon which this decision is made, are proved by testimony not liable to objection ; and it has not been considered necessary to decide the other points made at the argument.
There must be judgment on the verdict, and for a return of the goods; but the defendant cannot claim to hold them for more than the payment of the claim of Goodrich, arising out of his liability on the bill, and for all necessary subsequent expenses upon them. It will be useless to claim damages on tire replevin bond, if the goods are themselves sufficient to satisfy these claims, as the defendants will hold in trust for the plaintiffs whatever comes to their hands more than sufficient for these purposes.