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1 Muscott I'. Stubbs, 24 Kans. .520 ; McCrary V. Ruddick, '33 Towa, 521.

2 Hertzog V. Hertzog, 29 Pa. St. 4g5; Hall V. Fincli, 29 Wis. 278.

В« Bartholeinew v. Jackson, 20 Johns. (N. Y.) 28; James v. O'Diiscoll,

2 Bay (S. C), 101.

* Allen V. Bryson, 67 Iowa, 591.

6 Dearborn V. Bowman, 3 Mete. (iMass.) 155; Hicl.S V. Burhans, 10

Johns. (N. Y.) 243; Wilson v. Edmonds, 24 N. H. 517.

BY AGREEMENT. 27

But while gratuitous services may raise no promise to com-

pensate, a promise to perform a gratuitous service, followed

by an actual performance, in whole or in part, may be en-

forceable to the extent of rendering the agent liable for negli-

gence. But whether this is on the ground of contract or tort,

Is not clear.I Moreover, as to third persons, the question

whether there is any consideration as between employer and

employee is immaterial.

§ 14. Parties, — competency of, generally.

Generally speaking, parties competent to make any con-

tract are competent to make a contract of agency.^ As be-

tween the principal and agent this rule is well enough, but as

between the principal and third persons it calls for further

examination and modification. On the one hand, we have to

inquire whether an incompetent person, as a lunatic or an

infant, can make a contract through a competent agent ; on

the other, whether a competent person can make a contract

through an incompetent agent. This discussion is applicable

to cases of gratuitous agency and of ratification, as well as to

cases of agency by contract.

§ 15. Parties. — Infant principals.

It is sometimes said that all contracts of an infant are

voidable except two, — the contract for necessaries, which is

binding, and the contract for the appointment of an agent,

which is void.^ It is the last proposition which calls for

special notice.

If an infant, by contract or otherwise, appoints an agent,

and this agent makes a contract with X. in behalf of the

infant principal, is the contract so made void or voidable ?

If the appointment of the agent is a void act, then obviously

no legal results can flow from it, and the contract with X.

must likewise be void. If void, it could not be ratified by any

subsequent act of the principal.^ There are many cases

1 Thorne i'. Deas, 4 Johns. (N. Y.) 84. See post, В§ 29.

2 See generally Huffcut's Anson on Cont. Pt. II. Ch. iii.

8 Fetrow v. Wiseman, 40 Ind. 148, 155.

* Post, В§ 41.

28 FORMATION OF AGENCY

wliich make the sweeping statement of the law that the

ai>pointuK'nt of an agent by an infant is a void act, and that

the acts done by the agent in behalf of the principal are likewise

void.^ But these authorities are in most cases based upon the

appВ«jintment of an attorney by formal warrant of attorney,

and the rule to be deduced from them is that the formal

power or warrant of attorney by an infant, not conveying a

present interest, is void.- The American cases show a decided

tendency to confine the rule to this class of cases, and to hold

that the appointment of agents by an infant generally, is a

voidable and not a void act.^ Yet there is authority for the

broader rule that the appointment of any agent by an infant

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