Max Grab Fashion Co. v. Sheer

BIJUR, J.

Plaintiff sued defendant on a written contract providing for the payment of $50 by defendant for the privilege of looking at and copying certain dress models. It is conceded that defendant never called for the models to be sent to his place of business for his use. The contract was signed in plaintiff’s place of business by defendant’s son, Martin, in defendant’s name.

The only question litigated was the son’s authority. The only witnesses called to prove the authority were the son and the father. Both denied the authority, claiming that the son was merely a salesman and bookkeeper for the father. Both denied that the father had any knowledge of this transaction until the claim was made upon him, at which, time he repudiated it. There is not a scintilla of evidence to establish the authority, except the vague hint suggested in the fact that the son opened the mail and signed the father’s name to the inquiry card which led to this transaction. But his authority to do that is similarly negatived.

While the learned judge below undoubtedly felt that an injustice had been done, and that the witnesses were not telling the truth, that conviction cannot take the place of the affirmative evidence, whether direct or by way of inference, necessary to establish the son’s authority to sign the defendant’s name, or to bind him otherwise in the premises.

Judgment reversed, and new trial granted, with $30 costs to appellant to abide the event. All concur.