The plaintiff, to support his action for a balance due upon a sale of furniture upon installments, proved by the testimony of the defendant that he (defendant) had received the goods and made payments to the aggregate of $105. It was also shown that the agreement of sale, while signed by the defendant’s wife, was not signed by the defendant merely because of his inability to come to the plaintiff’s place of business, after the goods had been selected by him, with his wife. The inference was obvious that credit had been given the defendant, and that he, the disclosed principal, had ratified his wife’s act, as his agent, yet the complaint was dismissed “on the merits” at the close of the plaintiff’s case, and without a submission of the issues on the whole case for determination by the justice. .Certainly the prima facie proof was sufficient, and, if the facts were to be found in favor of the defendant, this result could be reached only after he had rested his case, assuming that the condition of the proof authorized such a conclusion.
Judgment reversed, -and new trial ordered, with costs to the appellant to abide the-event. All concur.