{ "id": 872838, "name": "Ruth Westcott Vincent, Admx., v. Soper Lumber Company", "name_abbreviation": "Vincent v. Soper Lumber Co.", "decision_date": "1904-04-11", "docket_number": "Gen. No. 11,056", "first_page": "463", "last_page": "467", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "113 Ill. App. 463" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "35 Ill. App. 307", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App.", "case_ids": [ 5003763 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app/35/0307-01" ] }, { "cite": "35 Ill. App. 307", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App.", "case_ids": [ 5003763 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app/35/0307-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 480, "char_count": 8808, "ocr_confidence": 0.55, "pagerank": { "raw": 5.207966869300525e-08, "percentile": 0.3265947165259442 }, "sha256": "ca80560f401170930b6ae3bb80b0407eb6cd349a54e04d9cd43e103461a453b7", "simhash": "1:9b51dc6a0308ad9f", "word_count": 1541 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T15:22:42.184794+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "Ruth Westcott Vincent, Admx., v. Soper Lumber Company." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Mr. Justice Ball\ndelivered the opinion of the court.\nFirst. In Merchants Navigation Co. v. Amsden, 35 Ill. App. 307, this court held that a copy of the last enrollment of a vessel, and of a bill of sale of the same, duly certified by a collector of customs, are competent evidence to establish Xjrima facie the ownership of such vessel. The question of the admissibility in evidence of the enrollment of the \u201cAlbert Soper \u201d is not before us, since the court finally admitted it; but in directing the jury to find a verdict for the defendant, the trial judge held this evidence did not tend to prove that the defendant was the owner of the vessel. This was error.\nSecond. When an officer of a corporation, while acting within the scope of his authority and in the performance of his corporate duties, makes an admission, the corporation is bound thereby. It is true that generally a corporation is not bound by the declarations of its vice-president; but in the absence of the president, and while acting in his stead, in the business of the corporation, such officer may and can bind the corporation. The reason assigned by the court for rejecting the evidence of the witness Hinckley, namely, that such admission was not made in the presence of the plaintiff or to any one speaking for her, is not a good one. The presence or absence of the plaintiff or of her representative is immaterial. Counsel for plaintiff was shut off from a proper and full examination of this witness. The question as to whether or not the conversation took place at a meeting of the directors of the defendant, should have been answered. Non constat, it was had at such a meeting, which was called to discuss this accident, at which the vice-president was in the chair representing the corporation, and in which the plan of defense was talked over and the means therefor were provided. If these things had appeared, (and we cannot say they would not,) and in the course of the proceedings the chairman had said the defendant owned the \u201c Albert Soper,\u201d such admission would be competent evidence tending to show ownership.\nThird. It is said by defendant in error that if it be proved or admitted defendant owned the \u201cAlbert Soper\u201d at the time of. the accident, this is not sufficient to make the corporation liable. Usually the man who owns a carriag-e or a vessel uses it, or controls those who use it. The cases in which he does not are outside of the general rule. Hence, evidence of ownership ought to shift and does shift the burden of proof. \u201c Ships are most commonly in the employment of the owners, and consequently proof of ownership is evidence tending to prove that the persons proved to be the owners of the ship are employers of those having actual custody of the ship; and the register being evidence to the title of the ship, is, I think, evidence that the registered owners are in possession and employ those having the actual custody.\u201d Hibbs v. Ross, L. R. 1 Q. B; 534.\nFor the errors indicated, the judgment of the Circuit Court is reversed, and the cause is remanded.\nReversed, and remanded.", "type": "majority", "author": "Mr. Justice Ball" } ], "attorneys": [ "David K. Tone and Charles E. Collins, for plaintiff in error.", "Smiley & Clark, for defendant in error; James S. Handy and Thomas C. Clark, of counsel." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "Ruth Westcott Vincent, Admx., v. Soper Lumber Company.\nGen. No. 11,056.\n1. Ownership op vessel\u2014what competent to prove. A copy of the last enrollment of a vessel, duly certified by the collector of customs, is competent evidence to establish prima facie the ownership of such vessel. (Merchants Navigation Co. v. Amsden, 35 Ill. App. 307, followed.)\n2. Admissions\u2014who may bind eoiporation by. \"When an officer of a corporation, while acting within the scope of his authority makes an admission, the corporation is bound thereby.\n3. Admissions\u2014 who may bind corporation by. - Generally, a corporation is not bound by the declarations of its vice-president, but, in the absence of the president and while acting in bis stead in the business of the corporation, such officer may and can bind the corporation.\n4. Admissions\u2014what does not destroy competency of, to bind corporation. The mere fact that an officer does not make the admissions sought to be proved in the presence of the plaintiff, or in the presence of one speaking for the plaintiff, is immaterial so far as their competency as against the corporation is concerned.\n5. Ownership \u2014effect of proof of, as tending to shoio control. Where a prima facie case of ownership of a vessel is established, it at least shifts the burden of proof to show that such vessel was not under the control of the persons so established prima facie as owners.\nAction on the case for death caused by alleged wrongful act. Error to the Circuit Court of Cook County; the Hon. Elbridge IIanecy, Judge, presiding. Heard in this court at the October term, 1903.\nReversed and remanded.\nOpinion filed April 11, 1904.\nStatement toy the Court. Plaintiff in error brought suit against defendant in error for negligently causing the death of her intestate. It appears that June 27, 1898, the deceased was engaged in shoveling coal on a barge lying in the Chicago river. The coal was taken from the dock and deposited in the barge by means of a steam derrick. The two-ton coal bucket when filled was- swung by the derrick from the dock over the barge and then its contents were dumped. As each filled bucket came over to the barge the deceased had to watch its course and position in order to avoid personal injury. At the time of the accident he was standing on the rail of the barge looking at the bucket which was coming near him. At this moment the steam barge \u201cAlbert Soper\u201d struck the coal barge at an angle of' about forty-five degrees. The shock was so great that the deceased, who was facing from the moving vessel, was thrown into the river and drowned. The accident occurred in the day time. There was nothing to prevent those in charge of the \u201c Albert Soper \u201d from seeing the deceased as he stood on the rail of the coal barge.\nIn order to prove that the defendant was operating the \u201c Albert Soper,\u201d or that the persons having it in charge were employed by the defendant, plaintiff offered a certified copy of the- \u201c last and current certificate\u201d of enrollment of the \u201c Albert Soper,\u201d filed in the office of the collector of customs for the district which includes the city of Chicago. The certificate, under the hand and official seal of the deputy collector of customs, is dated April 2, 1902. Such enrollments are required by the United States statutes. By this copy it appears that April 30, 1895, Alexander C. Soper, the president of the company, swore that the defendant then owned 85-120ths, Howard E. Perry owned 15-120ths, and he, Alexander C. Soper, owned 20-120ths of the \u201c Albert Soper.\u201d When offered, upon objection being made, the learned trial judge ruled this certificate out; but before final action by the court, it was admitted in evidence.\nTo further establish this contention the plaintiff called C. W. Hinckley, the treasurer of the defendant, who testified that he had a conversation with the vice-president of the defendant \u201cas to who owned this boat in 1898, at the office of the company. The president of the company was away at this time.\u201d Whereupon the following colloquy was had :\n\u201c The Court: Any admission of the officers of the corporation authorized to speak for it to the plaintiffs or anybody speaking for them, would be an admission that would be binding or competent, but the admissions or statements of an officer of the corporation to some third party, not a party to the suit or representing them in any way, would not be admissible in evidence.\nMr. Tone: Q. Where was it this conversation took place \\\nMr. Clark : I think we have been over that enough.\nThe Court: Objection sustained.\nMr. Tone: I want to show it was in the office.\nThe Court: You are simply trying to show how annoying\u2014 how much time you can spend over nothing.\nMr. Tone: I don\u2019t think this witness stated where this conversation took'place.\nYes, he did.\nQ. Was this at a directors\u2019 meeting that this conversation took place ?\nMr. Clark : I object.\nThe Court: Sustained.\nMr. Tone: Exception.\nMr. Tone: Q. Was it where anything was discussed in reference to \u2014\nThe Court: I won\u2019t let you ask any more questions. It is evident you are doing it simply to kill time.\nMr. Tone: I take an exception to that.\nThe Court: Exception to each one, but in the future see that you don\u2019t do that. What next ? You cannot ask any more questions on that line; have I made myself plain ?\nMr. Tone: I will stop and take an exception to the court\u2019s ruling.\u201d\nThereupon the court instructed the jury in writing to find the defendant not guilty; and judgment was rendered upon the verdict. To reverse this judgment the present appeal was perfected.\nDavid K. Tone and Charles E. Collins, for plaintiff in error.\nSmiley & Clark, for defendant in error; James S. Handy and Thomas C. Clark, of counsel." }, "file_name": "0463-01", "first_page_order": 479, "last_page_order": 483 }