{
  "id": 8653098,
  "name": "W. P. TAYLOR et al. v. THE ALBEMARLE STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY",
  "name_abbreviation": "Taylor v. Albemarle Steam Navigation Co.",
  "decision_date": "1890-02",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "484",
  "last_page": "490",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "105 N.C. 484"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "N.C.",
    "id": 9292,
    "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 5,
    "name_long": "North Carolina",
    "name": "N.C."
  },
  "cites_to": [],
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T15:50:46.302543+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "W. P. TAYLOR et al. v. THE ALBEMARLE STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Shepi-ibed, J.:\n1. The defendant objected to the introduction of the registry of the paper-writing, because it was not such an instrument as is required and allowed to be registered. It is contended that, at most, it was but \u201ca license or easement to deposit and receive freights on the wharf\u201d of the plaintiff.\nWe are of the opinion that the writing is within The Code, \u00a7 1264, in that it purports to convey an \u201cinterest in or concerning land.\u201d It amounts to more than a mere license, for it grants to the defendant a right to land all freights for Winton on the plaintiffs\u2019 wharf for the period of ten years, and confers an exclusive right to receive any freight on said wharf which the defendant may be willing to transport. Taking this to be the grant of a mere right-of-way, it falls within the words of the statute, for a right-of-way is an incorporeal hereditament, \u201c which is a right issuing out of a thing corporate ('whether real or personal), or concerning, or annexed to, or exercisable within the same.\u201d 2 Blackstone, 21.\n2. The objection to the testimony of W. P. Taylor that J. T.\u2019Hill, who executed the writing, was at that time acting as the superintendent of the defendant company, is without merit.\nIt was competent to show this fact, and, even if it were not admissible, the defendant could not have been prejudiced, as his Honor expressly told the jury that there was no testimony tending to show that Plill was authorized to execute the writing, and that its validity depended upon its ratification by the defendant.\n3. The defendant offered to prove that the plaintiff built and leased another wharf to an opposition line.\nThis was very properly rejected, as there is nothing in the contract which prevented the plaintiff from so doing. We will add that the instructions of the Court upon this alleged breach of contract on the part of the plaintiff were fully as liberal as the defendant was entitled to.\n4. The defendant offered in evidence a letter signed by one of the plaintiffs. It was rejected by the Court, and the defendant excepted. No such letter appears in the record, and as it was the duty of the appellant to have had it brought up, and, we are ignorant of its contents, the exception must be overruled.\n5. The first, second, third and fourth prayers for instruction were substantially given by the Court. It was not necessary to show a formal ratification of the contract by the Board of Directors. It was sufficient, as the Court charged, if the defendant \u201caccepted it, acted under it, and performed its terms * * * with full knowledge of its 'import.\u201d This instruction was clearly sustained by the testimony of J. Ii. Bogart, the superintendent of the defendant, who stated that the defendant \u201c liad used the plaintiff\u2019s wharf since the date of the agreement, and acted under it.\u201d\n6. The sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth prayers for instruction are founded upon an erroneous construction of the contract. The defendant agreed that it would land all of its boats touching at Win ton at the plaintiff\u2019s wharf,-in consideration of the exclusive privileges granted, and the plaintiff was to receive a certain rate of wharfage on all of the freight landed and received for shipment. It is very clear that if the defendant erected another wharf near the town of Winton, for the sole purpose of \u201cdrawing freight from the plaintiff\u2019s wharf, as testified to by Superintendent Bogart, and thus, by defendant\u2019s efforts, such freights and business were withdrawn! from the plaintiff\u2019s wharf before the expiration of the agreement, by the instigation of the defendant\u2019s agents, it w'ould be a violation of the agreement.\u201d Such was the charge of the Court upon this question, and we think that it was a correct interpretation of the contract. Upon a perusal of the whole charge, we are unable to discover any error of which the defendant can justly complain.\n7. The third assignment of error in the charge is too general, and cannot be considered by this Court. McKinnon v. Morrison, 104 N. C.\nAffirmed.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Shepi-ibed, J.:"
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Mr. W. D. Pruden, for plaintiff.",
      "Messrs. Winborne & Bro. (by brief), for defendant."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "W. P. TAYLOR et al. v. THE ALBEMARLE STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY.\nContract \u2014 Easement\u2014License\u2014 The Code \u2014 Registration\u2014Ratification \u2014 Corporation\u2014Evidence.\n1. A contract whereby one grants to a company the right, for ten years to land and to receive all freights for a certain town amounts to more than a license.\n2. Taking this to be a mere right-of-way, it falls within the statute allowing registration (The Code, \u00a71204), in that it purports to convey an \u201c interest in or concerning land.\u201d\n3. Evidence that one is acting as president of a company is competent to show he was president.\n4. A contract signed by an authorized agent may be ratified by the company, and for this purpose its acts are sufficient.\n5. As there was nothing in the contract to forbid plaintiff having another wharf, evidence of this was inadmissible.\n6. The question of rejecting a letter offered in evidence is not reviewable in this Court unless the contents of the letter are sent up with the record.\nThis was a civil action, tried at Fall Term, 1889, of HERTFORD Superior Court, before Brown, J.\nThe defendant compan}', through its treasurer, John T. Hill, on April 13th, 1875, entered into a contract with W. P. Taylor and A. J. Northcott, the material parts of which are hereinafter set out. The same was also afterwards ratified by the company. Plaintiff afterwards became the assignee of Northcott\u2019s interest. In 1884, defendant caused a new wharf (Anderson\u2019s) to be erected about three hundred yards below' the one described in the contract, and offered inducements for shipments from it, and caused their steamers to stop there, by which plaintiff claimed that the contract was broken.\nThe plaintiff covenanted and agreed, for himself, his executors, administrators and assigns, \u201cfor and in consideration of two hund\u00ed ed dollars per annum, to give to the party of the second part the right to land all freight for Winton on the wharf now belonging to the parties of the first part, and known as the \u201c Northcott\u201d wharf, situated on the Chowan River at Winton, North Carolina, and the exclusive right to receive any freight which the party of the second part may be willing to carry for a term of years hereinafter specified; and the partj^ of the second part covenant and agree to cause all boats owned and run by the aforesaid company on the Chowan River to land and receive all freights to be landed or received at Winton at the aforesaid wharf,\u201d &c.\nIn consideration of the above contract, J. T. Hill, treasurer, covenanted and agreed, under seal, for himself and his company, to cause the company\u2019s boats to land at this wharf, and that the agreement should remain in force for ten years from April 1st, 1875. This contract was duly registered in the office of Register of Deeds for Hertford County.\nDefendant objected to the introduction of the registration book to prove the contract. The objection was overruled. Defendant excepted.\nThe jury found that plaintiff did and the defendant did not comply with the terms of the contract, and fixed plaintiff\u2019s damages at $666.25\nThe Court gave judgment accordingly, and defendant appealed.\nDefendant asked the Court to charge, in substance\u2014\n1. Agent cannot bind his principal by contract under seal, unless the principal gave him authority under seal.\n2. Agent\u2019s authority and acts cannot be proved by his own declarations.\n3. Where agent\u2019s company is a corporation, his authorized acts cannot, or will not, be binding until ratified by a board of directors, upon full disclosure of all the facts and circumstances.\n4. The burden is upon plaintiff to show that the contract has been ratified and he has performed his part.\n5. If plaintiff erected and leased an opposition warehouse, where defendant lost freight, he is not entitled to recover.\n6. If defendant landed and shipped all freights actually received and offered at plaintiff\u2019s wharf, he cannot complain.\n7. Contract only applied to the freights shipped to and from the town of Winton.\n8. Defendant did not violate contract by shipping to and from Anderson wharf.\n9. The plaintiff is not entitled to recover on the evidence in the case, if you believe it all.\n10. That if the plaintiff, by his acts and conduct, prevents the defendant company from receiving at said wharf any freight which it was willing to carry there, the plaintiff has violated his said contract, and cannot recover.\nDefendant objected to the introduction of evidence showing that J. T. Hill, treasurer, was also acting as superintendent of the company.\nObjection overruled. Defendant excepted.\nDefendant offered to prove that, after date of contract, plaintiff built and leased another wharf to a rival line of steamboats.\nDefendant objected. Objection overruled. Defendant excepted.\nDefendant offered in evidence a letter signed by plaintiff, which was rejected by the Court. Defendant\u2019s exception was overruled.\nThe Court charged the jury, in substance, as follows:\nUpon the first issue, this contract, so far as the evidence discloses, was not executed by the defendant at date thereof, there being no evidence that Hill, as treasurer, was authorized to sign and execute it. Its validity depends upon its ratification and acceptance by defendant. If the defendant accepted it, acted under it, and performed its terms, up to November 1, 1884, with full knowledge of its import, then it is a ratification, and the jury should answer the first issue Yes.\nAs to second issue, this contract requires defendant to cause all its boats on the Chowan to land and receive all freights for the town of Winton at plaintiff\u2019s wharf, in order that plaintiff might get the benefit of the agreement and receive wharfage.\nThere is nothing in the contract which prohibits the defendant from landing its vessels at a wharf outside the town of Winton, and nothing which would prevent defendant from landing or receiving such freights as were tendered at such wharf by the voluntary act of the shipper; and if defendant, fairly and in good faith, did no more than this, that would not be a violation of its ageement, and you should answer the second issue Yes.\nBut if defendant, while undertaking to perform its agreement with plaintiff, by stopping its vessels at plaintiff\u2019s wharf, had the Anderson wharf built, and solicited and procured the merchants and shippers of Winton to deliver freights there instead of, as before, at plaintiff\u2019s wharf, and if its purpose in establishing the Anderson wharf was solely to draw freight from plaintiff\u2019s wharf, as testified to by Superintendent Bogart, and thus, by defendant\u2019s efforts, such freights and business were withdrawn from plaintiff\u2019s wharf before the expiration of the agreement, by the instigation of the defendant\u2019s agent, it would be a violation of the agreement, and the defendant wTould not have performed its contract, and you should answer the second issue No.\nMr. W. D. Pruden, for plaintiff.\nMessrs. Winborne & Bro. (by brief), for defendant."
  },
  "file_name": "0484-01",
  "first_page_order": 510,
  "last_page_order": 516
}