Finnegan v. Lucy

• Decision Date: 03 December 1892
• Citation: 157 Mass. 439,32 N.E. 656
• Parties: FINNEGAN v. LUCY.
• Court: United States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Supreme Court

157 Mass. 439

32 N.E. 656

FINNEGAN v. LUCY.

Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, Essex.

December 3, 1892

COUNSEL

J.P. Sweeney and H.R. Dow, for plaintiff.

Chas A. De Courcy and Walter Coulson, for defendant.

OPINION

ALLEN J.

Under Pub.St. c. 100, § 25, the plaintiff must have given "notice in writing, signed by her," in order to recover. A notice in writing was given bearing her name, but her name was written by another person, at her request and in her presence, she knowing and understanding the contents and object of the notice. The question is whether this was a good notice. The defendant chiefly relies upon the rule for the construction of statutes given in Pub.St. c. 3, § 3, cl. 25 which is as follows: "The words 'written' and 'in writing' may include printing engraving, lithographing, or any other mode of representing words and letters; but, when the written signature of a person is required by law, it shall always be the proper handwriting of such person, or, in case he is unable to write, his proper mark." The argument is that the "written signature" of the plaintiff was required in this case, though the statute only says "signed." This rule for the construction of statutes was copied literally from Gen.St. c. 3, § 7, cl. 20, and it originated in Rev.St. c. 2, § 6, cl. 19; the first portion, as to the words "written" and "in writing," being an adoption of the decision in Henshaw v. Foster, 9 Pick. 312. No explanation of the meaning intended by the latter portion of the rule is given by the commissioners in their report on the General Statutes. But, in giving a construction to a rule of this description, regard must be paid to the state of the law in respect to signatures, as it was at the time the rule was enacted, and to the usages which then prevailed. It was and still is very generally held that, when a document is required by the common law or by statute to be "signed" by a person, a signature of his name, in his own proper or personal handwriting, is not required. For example, in the case of wills, it has long been well established that neither the testator nor the attesting witnesses need sign in that manner. Nickerson v. Buck, 12 Cush. 332; Lord v. Lord, 58 N.H. 7; Vernon v. Kirk, 30 Pa.St. 218; Jesse v. Parker, 6 Grat. 57; Upchurch v. Upchurch, 16 B.Mon. 102; Compton v. Mitton, 12 N.J.Law, 70; Jenkyns v. Gaisford, 32 Law J.Prob.Div. & Adm. 122; 4 Kent, Comm. 514, note; In re Clark, 2 Curt.Ecc. 329; 1 Jarm. Wills, (Bigelow's Ed.) 77, 78, 82; Williams, Ex'rs, 63-67. So, also, in cases arising under the statute of frauds. Sanborn v. Flagler, 9 Allen, 474; Schneider v. Norris, 2 Maule & S. 286; Saunderson v. Jackson, 2 Bos. & P. 238, 3 Esp. 181; Durrell v. Evans, 1 Hurl. & C. 174; Tourret v. Cripps, 48 Law J.Ch. 567; Brayley v. Kelly, 25 Minn. 160; Browne, St. Frauds, §§ 355b, 356, 357; Benj. Sales, (Bennett's Ed. 1892,) 213, 215-217, 220, 221; 2 Kent, Comm. 511; 1 Sugd.Vend. 142. In like manner, a deed signed with the grantor's name in his presence and by his request, though by a stranger, is sufficiently well executed. The signing in such case is deemed to be the grantor's act, (Gardner v. Gardner, 5 Cush. 483; Wood v. Goodridge, 6 Cush. 117; Burns v. Lynde, 6 Allen, 305, 309, 310; Frost v. Deering, 21 Me. 156; Mackay v. Bloodgood, 9 Johns. 285; Irvin v. Thompson, 4 Bibb, 295; Videau v. Griffin, 21 Cal. 389; 3 Washb. Real Prop. 252;) and in various other instances a signature is held to be sufficient though not in the proper handwriting of the person to be bound, (see Com. v. Ray, 3 Gray, 441; Merrifield v. Parritt, 11 Cush. 590; Wheeler v. Lynde, 1 Allen, 402; Bank v. Crafts, 4 Allen, 447; Boardman v. Spooner, 13 Allen, 353, 358; Bartlett v. Drake, 100 Mass. 174; Wellington v. Jackson, 121 Mass. 157; Corporation of Dublin v. Judge, 11 Ir.Law R. 8; Story, Ag. § 51.) In England, in some instances, depending on the construction of particular statutes, a signature in the proper handwriting of the person has been held necessary. Hyde v. Johnson, 2 Bing.N.C. 776; Toms v. Cuming, 7 Man. & G. 88; Williams v. Mason, 28 Law T. (N.S.) 232. In other cases, however, statutes calling for signatures have not received so strict a construction, and a signing in other forms has been held sufficient. Reg. v. Justices of Kent, L.R. 8 Q.B. 305, 307; Bennett v. Brumfitt, L.R. 3 C.P. 28; In re Whitley's Partners, 32 Ch.Div. 337.

It has never been supposed that the statutory rule of construction now under consideration, as to written signatures, had so wide a scope as to set aside the established doctrines of law as to signatures, and to require a signature in the proper handwriting of a person in all cases where a document is to be signed by him; and such a construction should not be given to it, unless that clearly appears to have been the intention of the legislature. We think it was intended to require a signature in the proper handwriting of a person only in those cases where, by express language or by usage or by implication arising from the nature of the document to be signed, a written signature is required by law, as the direct personal act of the person whose name is to be signed. Numerous instances of this character are to be found in the constitution and statutes. For example, a certain oath is required to be taken and subscribed by every person chosen or appointed to any office, (sixth amendment to constitution;) and the oaths of the governor, lieutenant governor, and councilors are to be taken and subscribed in the presence of the two houses of assembly, (Const. pt. 2, c. 6, art. 1.) For various statutes respecting the taking and subscribing of oaths by different officers, by insolvent debtors, and by poor debtors, see Pub.St. c. 14, § 55; Id. c. 18, §§ 10, 14; Id. c. 21, §§ 3, 4; Id. c. 27, § 88; Id. c. 157, § 76; Id. c. 158, §§ 2, 6; Id. c. 162, § 38. Various certificates also are to be made by different public officers, which according to usage bear their signatures in their own handwriting, such as certificates of the acknowledgments of deeds and of the taking of oaths. See Pub.St. c. 27, § 88; Id. c. 120, § 6; Id. c. 150, § 5; Id. c. 157, § 77; Id. c. 162, §§ 1, 2, 17, 19, 40; Id. c. 169, §§ 40, 48. Commissioners to take acknowledgments in other states and in foreign countries must file in the office of the secretary of the commonwealth impressions of their seals, together with their oaths of office and their signatures. This must necessarily imply signatures in the proper handwriting of such commissioners. Another illustration is found in the twentieth amendment to the constitution, though this was not adopted till after the establishment of the statutory rule under consideration. This amendment provides that no person shall have the right to vote or be eligible to office who shall not be able to read the constitution in the English language and write his name. A signature in the proper handwriting of the voter or officer is plainly contemplated. Without going further, it is apparent that there are many instances where it may well be deemed that a "written signature" is required by law, without including the ordinary cases of wills, deeds, contracts, notices, demands, and other documents where the nature of the case does not require such formality.

It is further urged by the defendant that there are various statutes in which it is expressed in terms that required signatures may be made either by the person himself, or by an attorney or agent or some one in his behalf, and that the omission of any such clause in Pub.St. c. 100, § 25, raises an implication that a signature by the person himself was intended to be required. See Pub.St. c. 52, § 21; Id. c. 78, § 1, 3-5, (Statute of Frauds;) Id. c. 120, §§ 1, 3; Id. c....