Gould v. Stanton
Gould v. Stanton
Opinion of the Court
This court having, on the original bill, ,, i the question which was disputed between these parties, as to the title to Jfths of these vessels, and drawn what they believe the legal inference therefrom, resulting in a large balance due to the plaintiff, upon the voyage then in dispute, these defendants, instead of pursuing the bill which was then pending for an account of the next voyage, moved the superior court for a suspension of execution, as Gould was a bankrupt, and out of the state, that it might be ascertained what was due to them on this voyage, that such balance might be set off in satisfaction of the plaintiff’s judgment against them. Execution was stayed accordingly, and this cross-bill filed ; a hearing was had upon the merits ; and on report of a committee, the questions arising thereon were reserved for a hearing in this court; and now an objection is made, that no such cross-bill should have been allowed; and authorities have been cited to this effect. It is not proposed, in this stage of the case, to go into the examination of that question. We think, if that objection could have prevailed, it should have been made in an earlier stage of the proceeding, and exception taken.
Having gone to trial on the facts, and the case being brought to this court for their decision upon these facts, we do not feel bound to examine the formal proceedings before the superior court. We are not satisfied that any error has intervened, as claimed. But if it has, we do not think it is to be settled upon this report.
There are, however, objections made to some part of this claim, that must be considered here ; such as that an attempt is here made to review the proceedings in the former trial. The claim that the plaintiff was not the owner of J fths of the vessels, is one which was tried and decided in the former case; and that Charles E. Phelps was credited with the sum of 193 dollars, 75 cents, on account of the brig Uxor, was a fact appearing on the books of the defendants, as it now does. It is not shown, that there is a single item of evidence now', that there was not before ; nor is it claimed, that they did not know all these facts, as well when they filed their remonstrance against the report, as they now do. To open these questions, then, would be to revise that decision upon the naked allegation that the court had come to a wrong result.
The claim for interest not allowed upon advances made, stands upon similar grounds. The committee found, that no such claim was made before, by the defendants; and of course, no interest was allowed. Here then is a demand, which the party voluntarily, or negligently omitted to make, when their cause was on trial, and another, which, if made, was overruled; and this court are asked, without any reason given, except the negligence or omission of the party applying, to open this subject again.
The defendants do not stand upon any better ground than if they had formally petitioned for a new trial for new discovered evidence. Indeed, this cross-bill is a petition for a new trial, on this part of the case ; and in such a petition, it is a well settled rule, that the party must not only show he has discovered new and material evidence, but he must also show, that he could not before have procured it, by the use of due diligence.
Here, it is not claimed, there is any new discovered evidence, so far as regards the first claim ; but it is clearly shown, that the evidence was in their own hands, subject to their own controul, and even depended upon their own books.
As to the interest, the case is still stronger; for the committee find, that the defendants made no claim for its allowance ; of course, they could not expect it would be allowed. No reason is stated, why this was omitted ; of course, we see po ground upon which the court can stand in granting the relief sought in this part of the case, unless they reverse the maxim, Vigilantibus, non dormientibus, fyc.
How it happened that the return premium of 14 dollars, 23 cents, was not allowed, does not appear ; nor is it stated, by the defendants, that any claim wras made for it, before the committee. It doubtless should have been allowed ; but as the defendants made no claim in their remonstrance on this account, we do not think we ought to disturb the former decree. No reason is shown why it was overlooked in the remonstrance; and it is better that a small loss should be sustained, by these defendants, than that such a door to unlimited litigation should be opened. As it regards these
There is, however, another part of the case, in which we jjave come to a different result.
The defendants have been called upon, by the plaintiff, to account for a voyage of these vessels, which proved to be a fortunate voyage, upon the ground that the plaintiff was an owner; and they now call upon the plaintiff, as owner, to’ assist in meeting the losses of the next succeeding voyage. And it certainly is difficult to understand, why if the plaintiff’s rights remain as they were in the former voyage, his duties should not remain the same.
The plaintiff says, however, that he is charged as owner, and the committee have found he was not owner, and so the foundation of the claim is taken away. The committee do not find Charles Gould was not owner, unless it is to be inferred from the fact that they find that the owners of the vessels were the same,and in the same proportions, as stated in the bill of Gould now pending; so that if Gould was, in the former case, owner, it would seem that he now remaines owner. The finding of the committee is so far in the language of the defendants’ bill, in which they charge Gould as owner.
He claimed as assignee of Manice; and the important question before was, whether Manice had good title. That was determined in his favour, and that Gould was his assignee. If therefore the parties remained in the same situation as they were on the former voyage, the allegation in the bill is substantially found to be true, by the committee ; and the question fairly arises, whether the plaintiff, standing in the same relation to these vessels as he did in the former voyage, has the same rights and is subject to the same duties as in that.
If, as assignee of Manice, he could recover for the profits of a former voyage, he must, in the same character, be responsible, where Manice himself would be, in the succeeding voyage. If while representing Manice, a court of chancery treated him as owner, we see not why they should not continue so to treat him, while acting in the same capacity.
We see, therefore, no obstacle in coming to the real question between these parties.
The court were called upon, in the former case, to decide as to the title to these vessels, and finding that, to adjust the
But it is said, on the part of the plaintiff, that the defendants, having denied the title of the plaintiff, and acted in opposition to it, and recognized others as the owners, can not now claim the plaintiff to be owner; and it is compared to the case of a
Suppose it was the case of an ordinary partnership,instead of that kind of partnership which exists between ship owners. A and B are known partners. C also claims to be a partner. This is denied by A and B. A trial is had ; and the fact of C’s right in that partnership is established. Will C, therefore, have the right to bring down his partnership to the exact time when the concern begins to become unprofitable ? Or must he continue a partner, until he can show a dissolution, in some legal mode? Such we consider the case of the plaintiff. He has shown himself as having the rights of a part-owner, at a given time. Having done this, he remains subject to the duties of that relation, until he can show they are legally dissolved.
It is said, the defendants were appointed ship’s husbands or agents, for the former voyage, but not for the second. They were appointed for both voyages, by a major vote of the ship owners. Their powers and duties, therefore, are the same, in the one case, as the others. It is true, they did suppose they were acting for other persons, and not the plaintiff; but the plaintiff having established his legal title, the law decides the question for whom they are acting; and the settlement of that question would seem to conclude the parties.
But it is said, that these defendants have received compensation for their advances from the insurance which was made for the benefit of “ those whom it might concern and if the same rule of law existed as to the right of the ship’s husband to make insurance for' the part-owners as exists with respect to his making advances for repairs and outfits, we should think this answer conclusive. But so it is, the plaintiff has satisfied the court, that this is an obligation the ship’s husband cannot impose upon the part-owner. He may insure or not, at his own election; and on the former trial, this plaintiff expressly disavowed any right in these defendants to insure for him. We are not able to discover by what rale of law or justice he can claim the benefit of insurance, in one case, while he disavows the right to insure, in the other. He has given the defendants no new authority; and the law has not invested them with any new power.
But it is said, the insurance is “ for whom it may concern.” But how did it concern the plaintiff? It was not intended for him, by the defendants. It is clear he did not consider himself as concerned, when he rejected the former insurance. By
If it be asked, shall those persons, who, it now appears, had no interest in the vessel and outfits, retain this money ? Whether the insurance company can recover it back; or whether these persons, who made it, not as a mere gaming contract, but under the belief that they had a real interest, can retain it; is not a question now before the court; and as the interest of persons not parties to the suit is concerned, it would not be proper to intimate an opinion. It is enough to say, that this plaintiff, with all the rights he ever had to this property, having disclaimed the right of the defendants to make insurance for him, can have no claim to the money received under this insurance. And so is the superior court advised.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Gould against Stanton and others Stanton and others against Gould
- Status
- Published