Moses v. Powers
Moses v. Powers
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The plaintiff’s claim in this case is founded upon the follow
It is admitted that Moses, the plaintiff, was the partner who was “ to go out,” etc. The defendant’s contention is set forth in the main in the points for charge submitted at the trial: 1. That, under the terms of the agreement of December 24, 1895, there is no individual liability imposed upon the defendants ; that, if the plaintiff is entitled to recover any amount whatever, it can only be recovered from the firm, the Mahanoy City Manufacturing Company, Limited. 2. That, under the law and the evidence, the verdict must be for the defendants; both of which were refused.
The agreement referred to was signed by the individual members of the partnership association then in existence. The plaintiff bargained to sell his entire interest,'not to the partnership but to his other partners. This is apparent from the paper itself, but it would seem to be necessarily so, in view of the fact that, under the 1st section of the Act of June 2, 1874, P. L. 271, it requires three or more persons to form such an association. No new association was contemplated, so far as the agreement shows, and, having been signed by the individual members of the partnership association, the intention of the parties is apparent. It appeared from the evidence that the plaintiff, in accordance with the terms of the agreement, had collected a portion of the outstanding indebtedness which he bound himself to collect, amounting to $238. Holding this under a claim of right, he was indicted for larceny as bailee and, although found guilty by a jury, does not seem to have been sentenced, having paid the amount collected by him to the defendants. The defendants gave notice to the debtors of the association not to pay to the plaintiff and, in consequence, he was unable to make further collections.
Two defenses were set up: first, that the plaintiff had not collected the money agreed to be collected by him and, second,
The defendants certainly suffered no harm from what is complained of. It may be, as claimed by them, that the question of knowledge or belief of the plaintiff’s right to keep the money collected by him was irrelevant and immaterial; but, if so, the defendants suffered no harm by what was said upon that subject. The defendants, having prevented the plaintiff from collecting the full amount agreed to be collected by him, under the terms of their written agreement, cannot now take advantage of the failure to collect, in order to prevent a recovery. The verdict was justified by the facts; and, upon a consideration of the charge as a whole, we find no reversible error of which the defendant can justly complain.
Judgment affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.