McShane v. Dover , 78 N.H. 507 ( 1917 )

Walker, J.

It does not appear from the reported facts that the plaintiff and the city entered into a contract for the sale, on the one hand, and for the purchase on the other, of the patrol wagon, for which the plaintiff seeks to recover. There is no finding that the plaintiff understood he was contracting with the city or with officials whom he assumed had authority to act for the city in the premises and to pledge its credit for the wagon. He did not charge the price to the city, and no evidence is apparent from which it could be found that he intended to look to the city for his pay. Nor did the commissioners in their negotiations with the plaintiff specifically purchase the wagon on the credit of the city; and the fact that before the purchase' was made, and after the refusal of the city to appropriate money for the. wagon, they arranged or agreed to pay the plaintiff for it by contributing certain sums from their salaries and from the salaries of the patrolmen, is inconsistent with the theory, now relied upon, that they understood they bought it on the credit of the city. The only conclusion is that they pledged their own credit and not that of the city. As neither party to the negotiations intended when the supposed contract was made and as a part of it, to charge the expense to the city, the plaintiff cannot recover in this action. The fact that the commissioners were acting in their official capacity is not sufficient to charge the city with this expense when it appears that they and the plaintiff had no such intention, even if it is assumed they had the power to do so. Whether they had such power, is a question it is unnecessary to decide.

Upon the facts as presented, the plaintiff is not entitled to recover, and in accordance with the provision of the case there must be

Judgment for the defendant.

All concurred.