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16 S.C.L. 411

Black v. Erwin

Supreme Court of South Carolina

Decided November 15, 1824

Supreme Court of South Carolina · decided 1824-11-15

Trespass to try titles to land. The land in dispute waá granted to Thomas Black, now deceased. To shew title in the plaintiff, the will of Thomas Black was produced, by which his executors, John and James Black, were authorised to sell the land for die purpose of partition amongst his children. The plaintiff then produced a deed signed by John Black, one of the executors, and by Joseph Steel as attorney for James Black, the other executor.

Decided 1824-11-15

¶1The opinion of the court was delivered by

Mr. Justice Johnson.

¶2Admitting that an executor may legally constitute an attorney to sell the }ands of his testator, it .may well be doubted *412Whether a general authority to his agent, in his individual character, without reference to his representative character as executor, would confer such a power. But that an executor cannot act in such a case by attorney, is too clear to admit of doubt.

Clendinen and Hill, for motion.Williams, contra.

¶3The general rule is, that if a man have a bare authority, coupled with a trust, he cannot act by attorney; for this being a trust and confidence reposed in him, he cannot transfer it to another; 9 Rep. 75; 6 Roll. Abr. 330, cited in 1 Livermore on Agency, 29; and the very case under consideration is put by way of, illustration.

¶4Under the act of the legislature,, a majority of the executors are authorized to convey lands, directed to be sold by the will of the testator. But in this case, there were bat two, and it follows that to convey the title both must^ join in ike deed. The motion refused.

Colcock, Gantt, and Richardson, Justices, concurred.
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