Wall v. Ninety-Five Thousand Feet of Lumber
Wall v. Ninety-Five Thousand Feet of Lumber
Opinion of the Court
The controversy in this case has arisen out of the difference between the master of the schooner Sarah Potter, and her agents or managing owners. In the spring of 1880, Cousens & Pratt, of Boston, owning and representing the majority in interest of the schooner, which for some years had been run by the master in southern ports, were anxious to bring her to this vicinity. On the seventeenth of March they executed a charter-party to Mosely, Wheelwright & Co. for the transportation to Boston of a cargo of lumber from Pensacola, where the schooner then was, at $8.50 per thousand. The master, on the presenting of the charter, refused to recognize it, or to load the schooner. Subsequently, on the third of May, 1880, the master, at Pensacola, executed a charter to ITyer Bros., of that place, for a cargo of lumber to New York, at the rate of nine dollars per thousand. She was thereupon, loaded, and brought to New York. Hyer Bros, were 'in reality acting for the firm of W. I). Wheelwright & Co., of New York, the same firm as Mosely, Wheelwright
The evidence shows, not only that Cousens & Pratt represented the majority in interest, but, upon testimony that I think should be held satisfactory, that they held a power of attorney signed by the master, who was a one-eighth owner, and by various other owners, amounting altogether to forty-two sixty-fourths, giving them authority, as ship’s husbands and managing owners, to attend generally to all the business of the ship, including the chartering of her, as well as the collection and settlement of bills for freight. As the power of attorney was lost, having been destroyed by water, there is possibly some uncertainty as to its precise terms; and it may be that the express authority to charter the schooner was not inserted; but, in the view that I take of the case, that is not material. Under the other powers contained in that instrument, they were authorized to obtain possession of the vessel; to take such steps as might be necessary for the purpose of settling her freight-bills; and to make such agreements in that behalf as, in their judgment, were necessary. Upon the evidence it is clear that the arrangement with Wheelwright & Co., to accept the charter of the third of May, was made for the purpose of bringing the vessel within their reach, and on an agreement to charge but eight dollars a thousand for the lumber, notwithstanding that the charter price was nine dollars. They have so testified upon this trial. The power of attorney clearly gave them authority to settle bills for freight, and, as incident to this power, to agree upon a remission of one dollar per thousand, if they would accept the charter. This authority bound the master, as well as the other owners who executed the power of attorney. If the remission of one dollar in the freight was an abuse of their power, those interested in the vessel must look to the agents to answer for it. The agreement is valid between the agents, who wore the managing owners, and Wheelwright & Co., the claimants. It was an agreement outside of the charter-party and independent of it. It embraced the subject of the execution of the charter-party, as a part of the prior oral agreement, upon the condition of a remission of a dollar per thousand. That agreement is fully proved. There is no dispute of the fact. It was made by the ship’s husbands and agents, who, as against the captain, had the prevailing authority; and that agreement is therefore the prevailing agreement. No recovery can be had, therefore, in this action beyond eight dollars per thousand.
The rate of eight dollars per thousand having been paid shortly after the libel was filed, a decree will be entered for the amount of demurrage, with interest and costs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Wall, Jr., Master, etc. v. Ninety-Five Thousand Feet of Lumber
- Status
- Published