Proctor v. Woodruff ( 1909 )

LEHMAN, J.

The plaintiff has brought an action against the defendant for goods sold and delivered, and for work, labor, and materials. At the trial the defendant, called on behalf of the plaintiff, testified that he was living with his wife at the Touraine apartment house, in an apartment leased in his name, and for which he had agreed to pay the annual rent of $1,500, and that he paid the rent and other household expenses. Plaintiff’s salesman then testified that he sold certain goods to Mrs. Woodruff for use in her apartment, and did work in decorating the apartment, and that the reasonable value of the goods sold and the work done was $245.69; that these goods were charged to Mrs. Woodruff, and he did not communicate with the defendant before furnishing the goods. Plaintiff’s bill collector testified that about two years thereafter he called upon the defendant and asked him to pay the bill, and defendant said that he was very much surprised that the bill was not paid; that, after everything was finished, he gave his wife the money to pay this bill; that he would have to investigate the bill; that he was going to Germany anyway, and would see his wife about it, and when he came back he would settle it. At the same time he asked whether the plaintiff would not compromise it in some way, and take something off the bill, because he was under a great deal of expense. .The plaintiff then rested, and the court dismissed the complaint. ' ,

The plaintiff has failed to show that the goods were necessaries^ and it appears that there were no previous dealings between the parties, in which the defendant had held out his wife as his agent, and in fact credit was apparently originally given to the wife, and not to the husband, upon the plaintiff’s books. The complaint was therefore-properly dismissed, unless, it appears that the plaintiff has made aprima facie case of actual, as distinguished from implied or apparent,, agency. The plaintiff has shown that the goods were delivered and the work done in an apartment where the defendant lived, and of which he was in control, and that they were intended for use in that apartment, and therefore probably for the defendant’s use. He liasen joyed the result of the contract made by his wife, and has admitted' that he gave money to his wife, not to obtain these articles and decorations, but to pay the bill for them. If the alleged agent had been his housekeeper, and not his wife, I think that it would be evident that he would be liable for the bill incurred under these circumstances. If the defendant actually authorized his wife to contract with the plaintiff, the marital relation with his agent can certainly be no defense. The question of the actual authority should therefore have-been submitted to the jury.

The judgment should be reversed, and a new trial ordered, with, costs to appellant to abide the event. All concur.