Desha v. Smith , 20 Ala. 747 ( 1852 )

DARCAN, C. J.

Robert Desha and John E. Sheppard previous to the first of October, 1841, were partners in trade, and carried on a factorage and commission business in the city of Mobile. On that day they admitted Murray E. Smith as a member of the firm, and the business was conducted under the name and style of Desha, Sheppard & Co. In the latter part of April, 1845, the firm was dissolved by the withdrawal of Sheppard, and the accounts between the partners were made out and settled. Desha and Smith then formed a new firm under the name of Desha, Smith & Co., and continued the same business, but Sheppard had no interest in this latter firm. Murray E. Smith, the complainant, now files his bill impeaching the account between Desha, Sheppard and himself for errors. The bill specifies the errors, which consist, as it is alleged, in several entries against Smith in favor of both Desha and Sheppard, by which Smith is made to pay to both his partners, interest at the rate of eight per cent annually, upon all the capital both had in the firm, over and above the amount furnished by Smith; thus, on the first day of October, 1842, he was charged with interest in favor of Sheppard to the amount of $1851 T\\, which would be the amount of interest that the capital furnished, over and above the amount furnished by Smith, would yield, if it had been loaned to a stranger and not employed by the firm; and on the first of October of each succeeding year, Smith was charged with interest upon the same principle, in favor of Desha and Sheppard. Thus, Smith was charged with interest annually, at the rate of eight per cent., upon all the capital each of the other two partners had in the firm, above the amount furnished by Smith. The bill alleges that the complainant was admitted as a member of the firm upon ■ terms of equality, and that this mode of computing interest in favor of his partners violates this principle of equality.

The answers of both defendants admit, that the complainant was admitted as a partner of their firm at the time stated in the bill, and also admit that he was to receive one third of the profits, and was entitled to equal control as a partner in the management of the business; but they deny that there is error in those charges, and insist that it was one of the terms of the agreement by which Smith was admitted as a partner, that he should pay interest to his partners in the manner in which it was charged in their books, and in the account current between them, which was settled in April, 1845; and they insist upon this stated account, as a bar to the relief sought by the bill.

From this summary statement of the case, it is apparent that the main question, touching the merits of the controversy, is, to ascertain the terms of the partnership between Desha, Sheppard and Smith; for it is too clear to admit of argument, that if they were equal partners, and there was no stipulation in the partnership agreement, that Smith should pay them interest in the manner in which he was charged therewith, there would then be errors in the account; for Smith is made to pay the entire interest on capital used for the mutual benefit of the firm. This the law would not compel him to do, in the absence of a stipulation to that effect. But I think it is also equally clear, that if by the terms of the partnership, Smith agreed to pay his partners interest in the manner in which he was charged, then there is no error in the accounts, and he has i).qt l?een improperly or illegally charged with interest. Partners may enter into such stipulations respecting tbe division of tbe profits, or tbe advantages that each is to derive therefrom, as they see fit, (unless indeed their pretended contract was a mere device or cover for usury;) and such contract being legal would form tbe rule, by which the rights of each, in tbe settlement of tbe joint affairs would be ascertained and adjusted: Coll. on Partnership, 54; Story on Partnership, 28 § 28. We must, therefore, look to tbe pleadings and evidence, for tbe purpose of ascertaining whether Smith agreed, upon becoming a member of tbe firm, to pay bis co-partners interest in the manner be was charged therewith in the account which he settled. The contract of partnership between the complainant and the defendants was not reduced to writing, and it is admitted by the bill, aswellasinthe answer of Sheppard, that the terms upon which Smith became a member of the firm were not discussed between him and Sheppard, and the answer of Desha in substance denies that the complainant became a partner upon any other terms, than those indicated by the account. He states that the terms of the partnership were agreed upon by Sheppard and himself; which were, that the profits were to be equally divided between the three parties, but that the complainant was to pay individually, to both Desha and Sheppard, interest annually at the rate of eight per cent., for any excess of capital ’both or either had or might have at any time, in the firm, above the amount that might be furnished by the complainant, and that these were the only terms ever proposed by De-sha 11 complainant, and that he accepted,them. The answer of Sheppard also insists, that these were the terms on which the complainant became a member of the firm of Desha, Sheppard & Co. In support of the answers, and to disprove errors in the accounts, the defendants mainly rely upon the entries contained in their books, by which the complainant was charged with interest conformably to the view of the partnership agreement as contained in their answers, and also, upon the fact, that upon the dissolution of the firm by the withdrawal of Sheppard, the accounts between the partners were examined by Smith, the complainant, and by him settled without'objections.^ It also appears, that these entries were made in the books of the firm about the time they repectively bear date, and that Smith had free access to the books of the firm, though they were more particularly under the charge of Sheppard than of any other member of the firm.

It is a well established principle, that entries in the books of a firm, to which all the members have had free access, are evidence for and against each partner in settling the partnership accounts ; such entries, at the least, must be considered as p rima facie, correct: Heart v. Corning, 3 Paige 566; 7 ib. 483; Allen v. Coit, 6 Hill 318; Millandon & Son v. Sylvester, 8 La. R. 262-268; 11 Con. En. Ch. R. 269; Coll. on Partnership, Perkins’ Ed., Note 1. But when the accounts between the partners have been made out and settled after full deliberation, they become much more stringent proof of their correctness; for the settlement shows the assent of the mind, after an examination of the accounts, that they are correct, and consequently that there is no false or erroneous charge contained in them; and it requires clear and convincing proof of error, and further that this error was unknown to the party at time of the settlement, to induce a court of equity to open the account thus settled. All the authorities agree, that the burthen of proof lies on him who complains of errors in a stated account, and errors which he does not clearly establish cannot be presumed to exist: Chappedilane v. Dechenaux, 4 Cranch 306; Wilde v. Jenkins, 4 Paige 481; Langdon v. Roane, adm’r., 6 Ala. 518, and cases there cited. Hence, if the evidence leaves the mind in doubt whether there is error or not, the court must decide against the existence of the error. In the language of Ch. Justice Marshall, “no practice could be more dangerous, than that of opening accounts which the parties themselves have adjusted, supported by probable or doubtful testimony.”

Eelying on this rule of law, a majority of the court, after a full and deliberate examination of all the evidence, and the circumstances connected with this cause, have come to the conclusion, that the testimony does not establish errors in the account; they think that, at the most, it only creates a doubt whether, by the terms of the partnership agreement, Smith was to pay his partners interest in the manner in which he was charged, and that testimony which only renders it doubtful whether the account is erroneous or not, is insufficient to open it, especially after it has been settled and paid.

For myself, however, I must say, that though I fully agree with the court on all the principles of law- that have guided them to their conclusion of fact, yet, weighing the evidence and the circumstances connected with the cause, my mind is forced to a different conclusion, and I can but believe that the evidence clearly establishes errors, and that the complainant was not apprized of their existence at the time the account was settled and paid. I, however, do not deem it necessary to enter into an argument upon the facts, to show the train of reasoning that has, led me to this conclusion; it could not influence the court, for we have deliberately discussed and weighed all the evidence; it could not benefit the parties in interest, nor be of use to any one; it could only extend this opinion unnecessarily, and this I am not disposed to do. It is sufficient to say, that as a majority of the court are satisfied, that the evidence does not clearly show errors in the account, the decree must be reversed and the bill dismissed 5 and this renders it unnecessary to examine any other question raised in the argument.

June 8. — This cause has been re-argued since the organization of the court with five Judges, and a majority of the court adhere to the decision delivered at the previous term. We all agree on the principles of law announced in the opinion, and a majority think the evidence insufficient clearly to establish error in the account. For myself, however, I still remain of the same opinion, and think the complainant entitled to relief upon the facts established by the pleadings and proof, and my brother Goldthwaite concurs with me.

Let the decree of the Chancellor be reversed, and the bill here dismissed.