Fitzgerald v. Alexander & Mullen — 19 Wend. 402

Majority

p. 402

Fitzgerald vs. Alexander & Mullen.

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May, 1838.

Headnote

Where a defendant after having obtained an insolvent’s discharge on receiving a letter from the plaintiffs said, “ It is an honest debt, I will pay it. I will pay part if not the whole before you leave,” and there was no evidence of any other debt due to the plaintiffs than that declared upon, which consisted of two notes given by the defendant to the plaintiffs before his discharge, and the defendant did not produce the letter, it was held that the evidence was prima facie sufficient to support the replication of a new promise.

Where, however, there was a discrepancy in the testimony of the witness as to the new promise: as where on his first coming upon the stand he testified that the defendant said, in speaking of the debt, “ I will pay it, or part of it,” and afterwards, as in the preceding paragraph, it was held that the evidence ought to have been submitted to the jury, and that it was erroneous to charge them that the evidence was sufficient to entitle the plaintiffs to a recover.

Where it is stated in a bill of exceptions that the judge declared the evidence sufficient to entitle the plaintiff to recover, and with that direction left the cause to the jury, it will be deemed a positive direction to find for the plaintiff; and when there are circumstances in the case which ought to have been submitted to the jury, a new trial will be awarded.

In case of a new promise after an insolvent discharge, the plaintiff may de. clare on the original promise, and insist on the new promise by way of replication.

Error from the superior court of the city of New York. Alexander and Mullen declared on two promissory notes given to them by the defendant, one dated in August and the other in September, 1830, each payable in four months, amounting together to near Si000. The defendant pleaded an insolvent discharge from all debts owing by hitji, obtained in April, 1831, to which the plaintiffs replied a new promise, and the defendant took issue. After proving the making of the notes, the plaintiffs called a witness who testified that in February, 1833, he presented to the defendant at New Orleans, a letter wrjtten by the plaintiffs, who resided at New York, and that the defendant after reading it said, “ This is an honest debt; if it is the last money I have in the world I will pay it, ox part of it, adding, “ I will call and pay part of it, if not the whole.” At a subsequent day the defendant observed that he had not called and inquired when the witness would leave for New York. On another

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day he said, he had no money at that time, but would have about the time that witness would leave: in this last conversation he spoke of the plaintiffs, their house, and that it was to them the money was to go. On his cross-examination the witness stated that after reading the letter the defendant observed that it was an honest debt and he intended to pay it; he was sorry times were so dull, and observed that he had understood that the plaintiffs had lost money. In answer to an inquiry by the judge, he answered that when the defendant had read the letter he said, “ It is an honest debt; if it is the last money I have, I will pay it. I will pay part, if not the whole before you leave.” The plaintiffs having rested, the defendant’s counsel moved for a nonsuit on the ground that the evidence was not sufficient to entitle the plaintiffs to a verdict. The judge denied the motion declaring the evidence sufficient, and with that direction, as expressed in the bill of exceptions, “left the cause to the jury,” who found a verdict for the plaintiffs. The defendant having tendered a bill of exceptions, which was sealed, sued out a writ of error.

J. L. Wendell, for plaintiff in error.

S. Stevens, for defendants in error.

By the Court,

That it is sufficient to declare on the original promise, and insist on the new one by way of replication, was spoken of by Marcy, J. in Depuy v. Swart, 3 Wendell, 141, as well established. No authority has been cited to the contrary. Wait v. Morris, 6 Wendell, 394, is in point; and so is 14 Johns. R. 178, 180.

These notes fell due in 1830, and 1831. In the spring of the latter year, the defendant obtained his discharge, and soon after went to New-Orleans. Short of two years after, on being called on by the witness (Mullen) with a letter from the plaintiffs, he read it and said it was an honest debt; and if it were the last money he had in the world he would pay it, or part of it, as the witness first had it. On explanation, he put the expression without any alter

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native. MI will pay it. I will pay part, if not the whole before you leave.” That was a promise, if the defendant intended it of these notes. On another occasion the defendant mentioned the plaintiffs as the persons to whom he owed the money which he at first promised to pay. No other debt appears to have existed between the parties, and the letter is kept back by the defendant. It was evidently in reply to a demand made in the letter that the defendant spoke. I am inclined to think that the testimony was prima facie sufficient as to the identity of the debt to which the promise referred. The old debt, however, should not only be referred to by the new promise, but that promise should be absolute and unqualified. Stafford v. Bryan, 3 Wendell, 532. Mucklow v. St. George, 4 Taunt. 613. Marcy, J. in Depuy v. Swart, 3 Wendell, 139. Lynbuy v. Weightman, 5 Esp. Rep. 198. Fleming v. Hayne, 1 Stark. Rep. 370.

The language of the defendant to the witness, Mullen, did not precisely and in terms refer to the debt, nor did he, according to Mullen’s first version, make an express promise except as to part only ; but afterwards, on being recalled, Mullen explained, giving such language as seems to have imported a promise to pay the whole debt. After such a discrepancy, I think the defendant had a right to insist on the case going to the jury. Wilkinson on Lim. 152. Fleming v. Hayne, 1 Stark. R. 370. And if the court positively charged the jury that the matters proved were sufficient, the judgment should be reversed. Read v. Hurd, 7 Wendell, 408. If we are to consider the words of the bill in saying that the court held the evidence was sufficient, and with that direction left the cause to the jury, as, meaning the charge to the jury in such strong language, then the case last cited applies. In that case, it is stated that the court delivered an opinion to the jury that the evidence was sufficient. The expression here is in different words. A motion was made to nonsuit, because the evidence was not sufficient. The court denied the motion, declaring the evidence sufficient, and with that direction, says the bill, left the cause to the jury. In fairness of con

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struction, I can not understand this as meaning any thing less than a positive direction to the jury, without leaving it open for them to say whether the witness’ first or last version of the defendant’s promise were the right one. It struck me at first, that to raise this point the bill should show that the judge was requested to leave the question open, and content himself with observing upon it. But that form was not required in Read v. Hurd. See Bull. N. P. 319, for the form of a bill of exceptions. I fear there may have been a proper charge, and that its apparently positive character may have arisen from a slip in drawing the bill; but without being hypercritical, it is impossible to distin guish this from the case cited.

Judgment reversed ; a new venire to go from the court below, the costs to abide the event.