Court Opinion

ID: 4926277
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-24 00:57:12.373901+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:14:21.061804
License: Public Domain

Parris J.
delivered the opinion of the Court.
The contract, under which Eastman had charge of the Five Brothers, was an important fact in this case to be settled at the trial. If he was the hirer of the schooner for .the voyage, or for a term unexpired, when the wood and bark, charged in the plaintiff’s writ, were taken on board and transported to Boston, then, as in law he would be considered the owner while the vessel was thus under his *359management and control, the liability of the general owners ceased, and was transferred to him. If he, was the master only, and had control of her merely as such, then the liability of the general owners in this action would depend upon the nature of the contract and the circumstances under which it was made.
It is very clear, therefore, that the several questions of fact raised at the trial were properly submitted to the jury, and that the general instruction, requested by the defendants’ counsel, that the action was not maintainable, was properly withheld. There are facts in the case tending to shew that Eastman was owner for the voyage; such as his contract with Moore to take charge of the vessel, victual and man her and have half the earnings ; his carrying wood for Carney and others, selling it and accounting with them for the proceeds ; and several other facts and circumstances which appear in the report. There were also facts in proof which had a tendency to show that Eastman was merely master, and acted in that capacity only; the general owners still reserving and exercising the power of directing and controlling the employment of the vessel. Such was the fact that the general owners were interested in a wood wharf; that the schooner was employed in transporting wood from the Kennebec river to Boston; that her several cargoes, while under Eastman’s command were delivered to Curtis, the managing owner ; and the letter from Curtis to Stover, in which he was directed to say to Eastman that he had better buy a load of good wood, &c. It being important that the relation, which Eastman held to the vessel should be ascertained, it was properly left to the jury to decide whether he was employed by the general owners as master, they retaining the right to control the vessel and direct her employment; or whether he took her on shares, being clothed, during the existence of the contract, with the power and authority of owner as well as master.
That question, which was one of mere fact, the jury settled; having found that Eastman was employed as master only, the general owners retaining the right to control the vessel and direct her employment.
*360Had he authority, as master, to purchase the wood and bark on account of the defendants ?
The master, in his capacity as such, has power to bind the owners of the ship, in contracts relative to her usual employment only. This power relates merely to the carriage of goods, and the supplies requisite for the ship; but the owner of the ship cannot be bound by any contract of the master concerning the purchase of cargo. To bind the owner in such a contract, the master must be clothed with powers other than those which are necessarily incident to his office as commander of the ship. He may, indeed, act in the double character of master and superóargo or consignee but his power to sell, cases of necessity excepted, or to purchase cargo flows not from his official character as master, but from special authority conferred for that purpose. The evidence, by which this agency is to be proved, may, as in other cases, be positive or presumptive ) by direct appointment contained in letters of instruction,- or by general and long continued usage, under which all interested may be presumed to have contracted ; or by subsequent ratification. But unless this agency be superadded to his authority as master, he has no power to bind his owners in any contracts excepting such as relate to the usual employment of the vessel committed to his charge, and the means requisite for that employment. Eastman, therefore, merely as master of the Five Brothers, had no authority to purchase the wood and bark, charged in the plaintiff’s writ, on account of the defendants.
Was he so authorised by the letter to Stoveri?
The material expressions in that letter are, “ say to Eastman he had better buy a load of good wood on the the best terms he can, if he can get a' deck load .of hay on freight, as it sells quick now at ten dollars per ton.”
If the purchase was not to be on account of the defendants, why were they so apparently interested ? What had they to do with the terms of purchase, or the contingency of procuring a deck load of hay on freight ? Can it be considered as the mere advice to one in their employment to purchase on his own account. It is to be kept in mind that the jury found that Eastman was the master only, *361and not the owner for the voyage, and unless they thus found they were directed not to consider the letter as direction or authority, but merely as advice. If such a letter had been written to the owner, it would be advisory merely, as the defendants’ counsel contends, because the writer, having no authority over or right to control the vessel, it is not to be presumed that he would attempt to exercise any such power, or that it would be so understood by the person receiving it,. But when such language is addressed by an owner to a master in his employment, it may well be considered as clothing him with authority to do what is recommended. Indeed, it can be susceptible of no other construction. Eastman and the plaintiff’appear to have so understood it, for on the survey bill and memorandum of purchase signed by Eastman, and delivered to the plaintiff, it is certified that the wood and bark were purchased of the plaintiff' for the schooner Five Brothers; clearly indicating the intention of the plaintiff to sell, and Eastman to purchase on account of the vessel.
The distinction before mentioned was clearly kept in view in the directions to the jury, they being expressly charged not to consider the leter to Stover as sufficient authority to Eastman to purchase on account of the defendants, unless they found that the general owners retained all their powers as such, and that Eastman had charge of the vessel, as master only in their employment; but having so found, they might consider the letter as directory ; as coming from those who had the right to direct, and consequently, whatever was done in pursuance of such direction, and within its true intent and meaning, would be binding on the defendants.
We think, therefore, that the instructions to the jury were correct, and that, if Eastman was master only, as they have found, he was authorised to purchase on account of the defendants, agreeably to the directions in the letter.
But it will be perceived that the authority was to purchase wood only, (and not even that unless ho could get a deck load of hay on freight. It does not appear that he procured any hay on freight, so that the condition- on which he was authorised to purchase wood *362was not complied with. Moreover, if that difficulty could be obviated, there is still another. The authority to purchase does not include bark, but the verdict covers not only the wood, but also a large quantity of bark charged in the plaintiff’s account. These are objections which do not appear to have been noticed at the trial, but which remaining unexplained, require us to send the cause to another hearing.
But the plaintiff contends that the verdict may be sustained under the second instructions of the Court, which were, that if the jury should be satisfied that the general owners retained the right to control the vessel and direct her employment, and that the wood and bark were taken on board by Eastman to transport to Boston and sell for and on account of the plaintiff, then they might consider the owners answerable. The jury have not so found, but have found that there was a purchase by Eastman pretending to act under the authority of the letter to Stover ; and a purchase, whether authorised or not, is altogether inconsistent with the position of carrying for hire. If Eastman exceeded his authority as agent, he alone is answerable and not his principal, for whom he claimed to act.