Carlisle v. Cahawba & Marion Rail Road , 4 Ala. 70 ( 1842 )

COLLIER, C. J.

The first count of the declaration alledges that the plaintiff became a body corporate by an act of the legislature, approved on the 18th January, iS34, that the defendant, on the 20th March, 1837, with numerous other persons subscribed and executed a certain instrument in writing, whereby he promised to pay the plaintiff at such times, in such in-stalments and in such manner as the'President and Directors of the corporation might prescribe and direct the amount or number of shares of stock in the company which the defendant then and there set opposite his name. It is then averred that he set opposite his name five shares at one hundred dollars each, to be paid for according to the terms of the agreement. Further, that instalments were required to be paid on the stock subscribed, at different times and places, particularly stated, amounting in the aggregate to the sum of two hundred and fifty seven 50-100 dollars; of all which the defendant had notice. The Count then concludes with a deduction of the defendant’s liability; his promise to pay, and an allegation of his non-payment.

The second count declares upon the agreement as a promissory note, alledges generally the repeated requisitions of the plaintiff on the defendant’s stock, amounting in the aggregate to two hundred and fifty-seven 50-100 dollars, the non-payment of the instalments, but does not aver a demand or notice.

The third count is for stock sold and delievered, in consideration of which the defendant agreed to pay the plaintiff the sum of five hundred dollars.

The defendant did not demur to the counts separately, but objects to the declaration generally, that it is not explicitly averred that the defendant had notice previous to the commencement of the suit, that he was required by the President and Directors of the Company to pay any instalment upon the stock subscribed by him. True it is not alledged in totidem verbis that the defendant was then informed of the requisition which was made upon him, but the first count, after stating the different calls made upon the defendant for instalments, avers “of all which defendant had notice.” This is substantially sufficient, conceding a demand, or notice, necessary to be averred and proved. If special demurrers were tolerated, perhaps greater particularity in pleading would be required, but matters of form are to be disregarded, as it is expressly de-. elared by statute that all demurrers shall have no other effect than general demurrers.

In respect to the necessity of alledging and proving a notice, the rule is thus stated: when the matter alledged in the pleading is to be considered as lying more properly in the knowledge of the plaintiff than the defendant, then the declaration ought to state that the defendant had notice thereof. But where the matter does not lie more properly in the knowledge of the plaintiff than the defendant, notice need not be averred. [1 Chitty’s Plead. 360.] Testing the case by this rule, and we think it clear that notice of a call for instalments upon the stock is a necessary allegation. The times, amount of instalments, and manner of payment, were all t.o be prescribed by the President and Directors of the corporation, depended upon their volition and action; and consequently was more properly within their knowledge. It was competent for the defendant from time to time to have made inquiries of them and to have sought an examination of the books which they kept, yet he was under no greater obligation to have done this than is the drawer or indorser of a bill to inquire if it has been honored by the acceptor.

We will not undertake to say what evidence is necessary to charge the defendant with notice, or whether it may not be inferred from other facts, because there is nothing in the record to show that any proof was adduced to the point.

According to the view we have taken, the first count is good and this is enough to have authorized the Court to override the demurrer in foto, as it did not object to the counts separately.

The idea that the writing subscribed by the defendant is not correctly described, is not well founded. The first count, if it does not set it out literally, certainly describes it according to its substance and effect. Besides, although the Judge instructed the jury that the agreement was evidence, under the declation, it does not appear that its admissibility was objected to by the defendant at the trial.

The act incorporating the plaintiff provides that the President and twelve Directors designated by name, “ and their associates and successors in office shall be a body politic and corporate by the name and style of the Cahawba and Marion Rail Road Company, with the usual powers. That the President and Directors shall continue in office until the first day of January, 1835, and until their successors are elected and qualified: and shall cause books to be opened, &c. for the subscription of stock, which stock, so subscribed, shall be divided into shares of one hundred dollars each.” Further, the stockholders shall meet at Cahawba, on the first day of January, 1835, and elect thirteen Directors from among themselves, one of whom shall be chosen President; and annually thereafter, there shall be an election of the same officers. Again: “ That the President and Directors, when they shall have organized agreeably to this act, shall have power to borrow money, contract debts, and be contracted with, upon the credit of the stock thereof, and to pledge personal or real estate for the payment of their debts, and to appoint such officers, agents and servants as they may think necessary, and give them such compensation as they may conceive jfist. They may require such instalments to be paid upon the stock as they may think best for the interest of the said company; and on failure of any stockholder to pay the amount due upon his, her or their stock, in pursuance of any call made by the President and Directors, as aforesaid, within sixty days after such call, the President and Directors shall be authorized to sell said stock: Provided, the same can be sold at not less than par value, for the amount so due; and the said stock shall be deemed and considered in law as private property.”

In Beene v. the Cahawba and Marion Rail Road Company, [3 Ala. Rep. N. S. 660,] it was decided, that although the charter in question authorizes the sale of stock at its par value to pay what may be due thereon by the stockholder, yet upon an agreement, such as that sued on in the case before us, an action of assumpsit may be maintained.

It is needless to consider the character of the pleas, since it is clear they throw upon the plaintiff the onus of proving every thing necessary to sustain the action.

The defendant, by his subscription of stock, admits nothing more than the charter of the corporation asserts; and if that contemplates some further act to be done before a requisition may be made upon the subscribers for payments upon their stock, or before they are liable to suit, that act must be shown to have been done. The fourth section, which we have cited in extenso, invests the President and Directors with authority to require such instalments to be paid upon the stock as they may think best for the interest of the said Companv,” “.when they shall have organized agreeably to this act.” What is meant by organizing is clearly pointed out, to wit: the assembling of the stockholders and electing thirteen directors. To entitle the plaintiff to maintain an action against the defendant, and to recover the amount of calls made upon his stock, it should be shown that the meeting and election provided for by the charter did take place.

The powers, of a corporation must always depend upon the terms and act of its creation. Some are made bodies politic, and entitled to exercise all powers conferred on them without any act done by its members, [10 Wend. Rep 269,] while it is necessary for others to prove their existence, not only by the production of their charter, but acts of user, &c. must be shown. As to the quantum of proof required in such a case it is impossible to lay down a rule, applying alike to all cases ; it must depend upon the statute to whichjthe particular corporation owes its being. [3 Wend. Rep. 296.]

In the case at bar, it cannot be supposed that the organization of the corporation is inferable from 'the fact of the defendant’s subscription, being made so long after the time when the stockholders were to have made their first election of Di.rectors. The President and Directors appointed by the charter are expressly authorized to continue in office until their successors .were elected andjqualified, and in^the absence of proof, it cannot be concluded that an election has been made.

It results, from a consideration of the questions raised, that the judgment must be reversed and the cause remanded.