A principal may, as a rule,1 enforce by action in his own name contracts entered into for him by his agent,2 even if the identity of the principal,3 or the fact of the agency4 were not disclosed

19 Terwilliger v. Murphy, 104 Ind. 32; 3 N. E. 404; Andrews v. Ted-ford, 37 Ia. 314; Solomon v. Pen-oyar, 89 Mich. 11; 50 N. W. 644; Walker v. Bank. 9 N. Y. 582.

20 Wallace v. Bently, 77 Cal. 19; 11 Am. St. Rep. 231; 18 Pac. 788; Hancock v. Yunker. 83 111. 208; Duncan v. Niles, 32 111. 532; 83 Am. Dec. 293; Bartlett v. Tucker, 104 Mass. 336; 6 Am. Rep. 240; Brong v. Spence, 56 Neb. 638; 77 N. W. 54; Cole v. O'Brien, 34 Neb. 68; 33 Am. St. Rep. 616; 51 N. W. 316; Patterson v. Lippincott, 47 N. J. L. 457; 54 Am. Rep. 178; 1 Atl. 506; Whitt v. Madison. 26 N. Y. 117; (Farmers', etc., Co.) Trust Co. v. Floyd, 47 O. S. 525; 21 Am. St. Hep. 846; 12 L. R. A. 346; 26 N. E. 110.

21 Taylor v. Nostrand, 134 N. Y. 108; 31 N. E. 346; Cochran v. Baker, 34 Or. 555; 56 Pac. 641; 52 Pac. 520; Kroeger v. Pitcairn, 101 Pa. St. 311; 47 Am. Rep. 718.

22 Hancock v. Yunker. 83 111. 208; Jefts v. York, 10 Cush. (Mass.) 392; Cole v. O'Brien, 34 Neb. 68; 33 Am. St. Rep. 616; 51 N. W. 316; McCurdy v. Rogers, 21 Wis. 199; 91 Am. Dec. 468.

23 Dockarty v. Tillotson, 64 Neb. 432; 89 N. W. 1050.

1 For the exceptions see Sec. 761.

2 Sullivan v. Shailor, 70 Conn. 733; 40 Atl. 1054; Sharp v. Jones, 18 Ind. 314; 81 Am. Dec. 359; Donahoe v. McDonald, 92 Ky. 123;

17 S. W. 195; Foster v. Graham, 166 Mass. 202; 44 N. E. 129.

3 Manker v. Telegraph Co., 137 Ala. 292; 34 So. 839; Powell v. Wade, 109 Ala. 95; 55 Am. St. Rep. 915; 19 So. 500; Central of Georgia Ry. v. James, 117 Ga. 832; 45 S. E. 223; Kelly v. Thuey, 143 Mo. 422; 45 S. W. 300; reversing in banc, 37 S. W. 516; Jones v. Mfg. Co., 32 Wash. 375; 73 Pac. 359.

4 Sullivan v. Shailor, 70 Conn. 733; 40 Atl. 1054; Conklin v. Leeds, when the contract was entered into. The adversary party cannot treat such non-disclosure as fraud.5

The undisclosed principal is subject to such defenses, counterclaims and set-offs as would be valid against the agent,6 though notice before payment, of a principal previously undisclosed, binds the adversary party from that time.7 This right does not exist where the property is not in the agent's possession.8 Thus, where the agent had not possession of the goods, he cannot agree that his debt shall be set off on the purchase price.9

58 111. 178; Usley v. Merriam, 7 Cush. (Mass.) 242; 54 Am. Dec. 721; National Life Ins. Co. v. Allen, 116 Mass. 398; Foster v. Graham, 166 Mass. 202; 44 N. E. 129; Ludwig v. Gillespie, 105 N. Y. 653; 11 N. E. 835; King v. Batterson, 13 R. I. 117; 43 Am. Rep. 13; Foster v. Smith, 2 Coldw. (Tenn.) 474; 88 Am. Dec. 604.

5 Cowan v. Fairbrother, 118 N. C. 406; 54 Am. St. Rep. 733; 32 L. R. A. 829; 24 S. E. 212.

6 Ruiz v. Norton, 4 Cal. 355; 60 Am. Dec. 618; McConnell v. Land Co., 100 Ga. 129; 28 S. E. 80; Allison v. Sutlive, 99 Ga. 151; 25 S. E. 11; Stinson v. Gould, 74 111. 80; Tutt v. Brown, 5 Litt. (Ky.) 1; 15 Am. Dec. 33; Baxter v. Sherman, 73 Minn. 434; 72 Am. St. Rep. 631; 76 N. W. 211; Bernshouse v. Abbott, 45 N. J. L. 531; 46 Am. Rep. 789; Miller v. Sullivan, 39 O. S. 79; Belfield v. Supply Co., 189 Pa. St. 189; 69 Am. St. Rep. 799; 42 Atl. 131.

7 Rice, etc., Co. v. Bank, 185 111. 422; 56 N. E. 1062.

8 Crosby v. Hill, 39 O. S. 100.

9 Bertoli v. Smith, 69 Vt. 425; 38 Atl. 76.