United States v. Patterson — 11 U.S. 575

Majority

p. 575

THE UNITED STATES v. PATTERSON.

Absent....Tom), J.

Syllabus

A debtor or YtateY^YhY puts evidence Mmseir U¡n-to the hands

THIS was also a writ of error to the Circuit Court, for the district of Kentucky.

The case was submitted without argument, and

delivered the opinion of the Court, as follows :

p. 576

of a public of. Uuited^States to collect and’ nev^when're cei'v’ed)tathe credit of such debtor m account with the United States, to^uoii'credit until the mo-the hands’"?» public officer of the. United wr^ceive'it Its being in the agent o°a person who at the claims"*'611 were put into his hands tor “"r cerofthe rained ufreceive.debts nhaistates0" but whose oiffice became extinct before the money •was received to entitle such cred™ inac count witMhe United States therefor.

This case has been considered in connexion With that against January & Patterson.

A suit was instituted on the bond dated 23d March, against Arthur & Patterson; and pending the suit Arthur died. The Defendant pleaded performance, which the Plaintiffs replied, alleging as a breach of tlie condition, that the stipulations therein contained .had ,i0^ been performed, and that the Defendant' was in arrear to'the Plaintiffs,the sum of g 16,1S1 15 1-2. &c. on w],ich issue was joined. **

The evidence, exhibited in the suit against January & Patterson, was produced in this case. On. the trial the Defendant took several exceptions, but not having aPPea*ec*t they are not open to examination.

The Plaintiffs also took an exception to the allowanee a credit to the Defendant. The supervisor had received the evidence of a number (if outstanding debts ^ue to Arthur, which he undertook to collect, and pro-raised to apply the proceeds to Arthur’s credit. Among was the bond, of Eeclor & Moore,. which was sued; at tlie trial of this suit, it appeared that the amount of that bond had actually coiné into the hands of the, agent of tlie person who had'been supervisor; hut that .office being extinct,”it was contended on the part of thfe United States, that the payment could not Be considered as a payment to government. The Court was of a different 0PÍn*on> ant* instructed the .jury accordingly ; to which opinion of the Court, an exception was taken, and a writ of error prosecuted.

# . This Court is of opinion, that the Circuit Court er-in the-decision thus made. .The reception of the outstanding debts by1 the supervisor, for tlie purpose of having suits commenced for the recovery of than, was an accommodation t<> the Defendant. who could not be justly entitled to credit until the money wps in the hands qt some public officer authorised to "receive it.

Judgment reversed.