Chester v. Pierce
Chester v. Pierce
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiffs sought to recover of the defendants, who are husband and wife, for goods sold by the plaintiffs, and which, being goods of ordinary domestic use, were procured for and consumed in the household of the defendants. The defendants were living together as husband and wife, and the plaintiffs knew this fact when they sold the goods. The husband interposed no defence. The wife denying any contract on her part, the issue was tried in the district court with a jury. Upon the evidence on the part of the plaintiffs, the court dismissed the action as to the wife.
There was no error in directing a nonsuit. Under the circumstances above referred to, the legal implication was that the purchases, although made by the wife, were on account of the husband; and, before the wife can be charged with liability, this implication must be overcome by proof that by her express contract, or by circumstances other than the purchase of the goods by her fairly establishing a case of implied contract, she had assumed an individual responsibility. Flynn v. Messenger, 28 Minn. 208; Wilson v. Herbert, 41 N. J. Law, 454. In this the plaintiffs’ case was deficient.
There was evidence of a promise by Mrs. Pierce, made after the goods were purchased, to pay out of money belonging to her; but this promise was without consideration and imposed no liability. There was other evidence, to which we have not particularly referred, bearing upon the issue, and confirming our conclusion, which is in accordance with that of the court below.
Order affirmed.
Berry, J., was absent and took no part in this case.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Charles Chester and another v. P. L. Pierce and wife
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published