Yohe v. Barnet
Yohe v. Barnet
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
—• The first error, which is a bill of exception to the opinion of the court below, rejecting the bank-book of the firm, offered as evidence, to show that the funds of the firm were exhausted, was abandoned.
The second error, however, is relied on. It is also a bill of exception to the opinion of the court,- -rejecting the statement of an account, in the handwriting of the defendant, between the firm of Yohe, Barnet & Co., and Yohe and Barnet, showing a balance to be due by the former firm to the latter, of $1938.64, which is deducted from the sum of $2606.34, stated to be due to the plaintiff, and showing also according to a further statement there made a loss of $725.73. Now seeing this action has been brought to recover from the defendant, contribution to a loss, which the plaintiff alleges has accrued in carrying on their business as copartners in trade, and has fallen entirely upon him, it would rather seem that this statement, which was offered in evidence by the plaintiff, had some relation to the business in which it is alleged the loss has accrued, and might very possibly therefore have some bearing and influence in determining the issue between the parties; and being a statement made by the defendant himself in his own handwriting, it is reasonable to presume, if it be against his interest, that it. is true; and, therefore, we think it ought to have been received in evidence, so that it might have gone to the jury for what it should appear to have been worth, after all the evidence on both sides was heard.
The third error, which is likewise a bill of exceptions to evidence, is also insisted on. The evidence, mentioned in this bill was offered by the defendant. It consisted of a statement in writing made by the plaintiff, admitting his indebtedness, without stating to whom, for cash received at-various times, as also his liability for various items on account of other persons therein set forth. It was objected to by the plaintiff, but received by the court. This paper being in the possession of the defendant, and produced by him, raised the presumption that it was delivered
The fourth error is likewise a bill of exception to the opinion of the court, admitting evidence, offered by the defendant, but objected to by the plaintiff. It was an account charged by the defendant himself, in his own private book, of cash paid for the firm, amounting to #778.83, and of credits given, for #755.48. It was first proved, however, that when this cause was on trial previously before arbitrators, this same account was produced by the defendant, and given in evidence to the arbitrators by the consent of the plaintiff, who said at the time, he did not know whether the charges contained in it were right or not, but he would not object to it. Although what was said by the plaintiff in regard to the charges contained in this account, can scarcely be said to be a full admission on his part of their correctness, yet it was, perhaps, right to let the matter go to the jury, who might judge of the plaintiff’s motive for letting the account go in evidence to the arbitrators. They might possibly think that he suffered it to go to the arbitrators, because he thought there was nothing wrong in it; especially was it right to receive it in evidence, as the plaintiff had no reason for objecting to its going to the jury, that was not equally well known to him when he permitted it to go to the arbitrators.
The fifth error is, that the court erred in charging the jury; first, by assuming the fact, that the defendant, by the partnership . agreement, was not bound to furnish money as his portion of the capital, but that it was to consist of labour, to be performed by him in transacting the business of the partnership, in the application of his' skill and experience in such business, and in lending his credit to it, so far as it might be. requisite to promote the interest of the partnership. It is certainly true,’ that the memorandum in writing, read to the jury as evidence of the partnership agreement, showing, as it was thought, the terms and conditions of it, does not mention or show what the defendant was to furnish or supply, as capital, on his part, to the partnership. For aught that appears therein, it may have been money, or labour, skill and credit. . This memorandum is in the following words: “ Samuel Yohe, David Barnet, and Theodore R. Sitgreaves, have agreed to become copartners in the grocery, liquor, and wine business, to commence from the 14th day of March 1833, and to continue for and during the full term of two years and six months, under the firm of Yohe, Barnet & Co. David Barnet, and Theodore R. Sitgreaves, to furnish #6000, that is to say, David Barnet #3000, and Theodore R. Sitgreaves #3000. . The profits and losses to be divided equally among the three copartners, Samuel Yohe,
Some of the remaining exceptions to the charge of the court have been answered in what has been said on the exception just disposed of. It seems necessary, however, to notice the opinion of the court, in regard to the liability of the several partners of the firm to contribute to a loss sustained in carrying on the business of it where, for instance, it is agreed that two of three partners shall each furnish a certain sum of money as the capital to be-employed in carrying on the business of the partnership, and likewise give their skill, attention and services towards carrying on and performing the requisite labour of it, and that the third shall only give his attention, skill and.services to the business; and that the profits and losses shall be equally divided among the three. The opinion of the court was, that in such a case, the partner who
The judgment is, therefore, reversed, and a venire de novo awarded.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Yohe against Barnet
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- 4 cases
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- Published