Savage v. Russell & Co. , 84 Ala. 103 ( 1887 )

STONE, C. J.

The present suit is prosecuted in the name of Russell & Co., claiming to be a corporation under the laws of Ohio. Corporate power is not a natural right. It is a franchise, to be conferred by the law-making power. It may be granted by direct legislative enactment, or, it may be done under a general legislative system authorizing it. If the former course be pursued, the law not only defines the powers conferred, but it creates the corporation. . Under that system, the legislature itself does every act'necessary to the, creation of the artificial being, except that the corporators must provide the capital stock, and organize by the election of officers.

In modem times corporations have greatly increased, alike in their numbers, and in the objects to be accomplished by them. The tax on legislative bodies created by this increased demand for chartered privileges, and a desire to prescribe certain cardinal rules for the government of corporations organized for private emolument, have caused many of the States to establish, by their constitutions and by general laws, a method for obtaining private charters, and of compelling applicants for them to conform to that method. And these systems or methods, are different in the different States. Hence, what may be termed the charter, or act of incorporation, obtained under a general law, is, if considered alone, very incomplete. It can neither be fully understood nor interpreted, without the statute which authorized it. Now, while it is clear that a foreign corporation, as a rule, may maintain actions in our courts, before they can recover they must prove their corporate capacity, unless defendant, by his contract or pleadings, has estopped himself from denying it. — McCreary v. State, 73 Ala. 480; Bank of Michigan v. Williams, 5 Wend. 478; Silver Lake Bank v. North, 4 Johns. Ch. 370; Ang. & Ames on Corp. §§ 632 et seq. The proof of incorporation in this case'was wholly insufficient, in the absence of the Ohio statute authorizing it. 1 Greenl. Ev. §§ 486 et seq.

The present suit was for the recovery of a saw-mill and steam engine. The proof fixed a separate valuation on each, thus showing that they were separate things, and had ascertainable, separate values. The verdict and judgment are each imperfect and erroneous in not ascertaining the separate values. — Jones v. Pullen, 66 Ala. 306; Townsend v. Brooks, 76 Ala. 308; Jones v. Anderson, Ib. 427; Same v. Same, 82 Ala. 302; Tait v. Murphy, 80 Ala. 440.

Under the testimony found in this record, there can be no question that the property sued for belonged to Bussell & Go. That corporation made an agreement to sell the engine and saw-mill to Lumpkin & White. The purchasers, Lump-kin & White, had the trade been consummated, would have acquired both the right and the possession from Bussell & Go. Savage and his associates had had possession of the engine and mill, and had operated them, under an older agreement of purchase from Bussell & Co., but which had been rescinded, or declared inoperative, thus leaving the title in Bussell & Co. The engine and mill remained on the site where Savage and his associates had operated them. The sale to Lumpkin & White was defeated by a letter written by Savage to Lumpkin. In that letter Savage claimed the engine, and mill as his property, described the lands on which he said they were situated, and notified Lumpkin • not to go upon the lands “nor to touch the saw-mill nor engine thereon,” or lie would be dealt with as a trespasser. He further claimed in said letter that the property was in Ms possession, tbat be bad so notified Russell & Co., and bad further notified them that, if they set up any claim to the mill and engine, they would have to bring suit to get it “out of bis possession.” This statutory detinue was then instituted by Russell & Co., the property seized by the sheriff, and Savage gave bond, with sureties, to have the property forthcoming to abide the result of the suit, if be, Savage, was cast iii the action. Still be attempted to defend this suit on the ground that be, Savage, bad not the possession of the mill and engine when the suit was instituted. The Circuit Court did not err in bolding that be bad estopped himself from setting up that defense. — Gamble v. Gamble, 11 Ala. 966.

There was no error in giving or refusing charges.

Reversed and remanded.