Opinion
Argued June 12, 1877
Decided November 13, 1877
James E, Wheeler, for appellant.
Sam. J. Crooks, for respondents.
The onus was upon the plaintiffs to show: First. That the drawing of the check by the agent was within the power delegated to him by the defendant; and, Second. That it was in a transaction and for a consideration in respect of which the disabilities of the defendant as a feme covert were removed, and she at liberty to contract and assume liabilities as if she were feme sole. There was no evidence that the husband of the defendant had assumed to act or had acted with the knowledge of the defendant without or beyond the scope of the written power of attorney, so that no question can arise as to the extent of his powers. The real and apparent power being the same, it must be determined by the instrument by which it was conferred. The attorney was authorized "to make, sign, indorse, and accept all checks, notes, drafts, and bills of exchange for" the defendant, and in her name, and the power of attorney was deposited with the bank in which she kept an account, as its authority to accept the signatures and indorsements of the agent in the name of the principal in all matters mentioned in the instrument.
All the acts authorized ex vi termini necessarily had respect to the separate estate and property of the defendant, as to which she had the statutory ability to contract. She could not delegate power beyond this, or authorize another to do that for her, which she could not do in person. The power granted was to deal with the moneys and choses in action, parts of the separate estate of the defendant, and not to create a debt, or charge the separate estate for a debt, although contracted for the benefit of the estate. The bank was not authorized to pay a check if the defendant was without funds to meet it; and had it done so, the separate estate of the defendant would not have been charged with its payment. The plaintiffs were bound to know: First. The legal capacity of the defendant to contract; and, Second. The actual authority of the agent with whom they dealt. ( North River Bank v. Aymar, 3 Hill, 262.) The agent did not by the check transfer, or assume to transfer, or act in respect to funds and moneys on hand, and subject to draft as a part of the separate estate of the defendant. The effect of the transaction, if legitimate and obligatory, was to contract a debt payable in the future, and charge the same upon the separate estate of the defendant, which was not within the terms of the authority. But had the defendant in person drawn and delivered the check to the plaintiffs upon the same consideration, it could not have been charged upon her separate estate without proof that the debt was contracted for the benefit of her estate. In McVey v. Cantrell ( 70 N.Y., 295), recently decided, the declaration of the defendant at the time of borrowing the money that she wanted it to pay interest due upon a mortgage upon her land, was held sufficient evidence that the debt was contracted for the benefit of her estate.
A married woman may be estopped by her acts and declarations in all matters in respect of which she is capable of acting sui juris. ( Bodine v. Killeen, 53 N.Y., 93.)
The common-law disabilities of married women are so far removed by statute in this State, that they may make contracts and create debts in or about any trade or business carried on by them or relating to or for the benefit of their separate estate. Upon contracts thus made, and for debts thus created, their separate estate is chargeable by law. They may also create an express charge upon their estates upon and for other contracts and debts, or as security for others; but it must be created in terms and by writing. ( Manhattan B. M. Co. v. Thompson, 58 N.Y., 80; Corn Ex. Bank v. Babcock, 42 N.Y., 614.) There is no charge upon the estate of the defendant created by the terms of the check. It is in the ordinary form of a draft upon a banker, and only imports the ordinary obligations of that class of commercial instruments. The defendant was not carrying on a trade or business. The management of her landed property, the receipt of the rents and income and disposing of them, was not a trade or business within the meaning of the statute enabling married women to carry on a trade or business. That statute has respect to business pursuits, mechanical, manufacturing, or commercial. The care and supervision of lands and property owned by a feme covert is not the carrying on of a separate trade or business. If it were so, every married woman who owns a house and garden, or has a deposit in a savings bank, would be a tradeswoman carrying on a business.
There is no evidence that the check related to, or was given for the benefit of, the defendant or her separate estate, or in her business, or that the plaintiffs supposed it was so given. Upon the face of the transaction, it was given for money loaned to the husband. The plaintiffs gave their check, payable at sight to the order of the husband, and received for it the check in suit, payable several days in the future. If we were at liberty to assume, without proof, the principal and main fact necessary to maintain the action, we could affirm the judgment. But the affirmative upon this, as upon every material issue, and as to every fact necessary to be established, was with the plaintiffs. The referee has not found this fact, and could not have found it upon the evidence. The plaintiffs, suing a married woman, were bound to prove every fact, not only the contract, and that it was made by her or by her authorized agent, but that it was a contract she was capable of making. The law does not authorize the presumption, and courts cannot assume, without evidence, that a simple contract, without anything on its face to indicate the fact, was made for the benefit of the estate of a married woman. The disabilities of a married woman are general, and exist at common law. The capabilities are created by statute, and are few in number, and exceptional. It is for him who asserts the validity of a contract of a feme covert by evidence, to bring it within the exceptions.
The judgment must be reversed, and a new trial granted.
All concur, except RAPALLO, J. not voting, and FOLGER and MILLER, JJ., absent.
Judgment reversed.