McGeehan v. Reed
McGeehan v. Reed
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court:
This action was brought by appellant against the defendants, contending that defendant Swope was indebted to plaintiff in the sum of $1,809.54, with interest, for moneys advanced by plaintiff “for the use of, on account of, and at the special instance and request of, said Thomas H. Swope.” At the close of plaintiff’s testimony the court, upon motion of defendant, ordered a nonsuit, and plaintiff appeals.
Plaintiff and defendant Swope were interested in a company called the San Juan Gold Mining and Milling Company. This company was working the Sampson group of mines under a lease, and became indebted to divers people in the sum of about $9,000. Defendant Swope authorized the plaintiff to compromise this indebtedness by paying $3,600.00 or $4,000.00, for one-half of which amount plaintiff was to give his note to Swope. In a letter written by defendant Swope to plaintiff, on the 4th
Upon the 28th of July, 1894, plaintiff entered into a contract with the bank at Silverton, being the bank mentioned in plaintiff’s letter, wherein it is recited that plaintiff was indebted to the bank in the sum of $3,825.00, of which he paid $1,525.00, leaving a balance of $2,300.00; and that the party of the first part (meaning plaintiff) agreed that he would pay to the second party the said sum of $2,300.00 in the manner following: The first party being a part owner- of the capital stock of the Sampson Mining and Milling Company, Which is the owner of the following mining claims (describing them), “and as such he proposes to negotiate the sale of said mining claims, and when such sale or transfer is made, or in any dealing in relation to said properties whereby first party obtains a commission, first party hereby agrees to pay to second party a one-fourth part of the amount realized by him as commission in any such transaction, and the balance of said sum of $2,300.00, which may thereafter remain unpaid, first party agrees to pay out of any further moneys coming to him in the sale of said properties as commission or otherwise, until the full amount of said sum of $2,300.00 is paid.”
Swope furnished the money to pay the $1,525.00. In 1897 plaintiff sold the Sampson claims, mentioned in the contract with the bank, and, out of the proceeds, the $2,300.00 and the interest thereon, making
“To charge the defendant, the evidence must show a promise at least; to charge him with the deferred payment to the Silverton bank, the evidence must show a promise, either expressed or implied, on his part. The only point in the testimony upon which a promise could be predicated at all, it seems to me, is the expression of one of -the letters of July, 1894, with respect to the deferring of a payment to the bank; that language, in my judgment, is simply a suggestion, and raises no promise on the part of the defendant,” was correct. If that suggestion had amounted to a direction or a promise, it would have been necessary for the plaintiff to have executed it in terms, that is: “To promise the bank and others
This money was not obtained out of the affairs or business of the San Juan Company, but was obtained out of the property in which the defendant was in no wise interested. The trial.court having properly sustained the motion for a nonsuit, the judgment will be affirmed. Affirmed,.
Chiee Justice Steele and Mr. Justice Goddard concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- McGeehan v. Reed, Trustee
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- Published