Troutman v. Lucas
Troutman v. Lucas
Opinion of the Court
The execution was for $500.00 principal, and $424.81 interest to judgment, February 18th, 1868. It was against Troutman as principal, and Everett as security on appeal, and was in favor of Lucas, for the use of M. A. Marshall. It was levied by the sheriff upon Troutman’s property, on March 29th, 1875. Troutman made an affidavit of illegality on September 9th, 1875, alleging that he had compromised and settled up they?, fa. with Mrs. M. A. Marshall, the owner thereof, for the sum of $300.00, paying her on said compromise $120.00, leaving a balance due of $180.00, with interest thereon from February 25th, 1871; and that a summons of garnishment had been served upon him in an attachment suit in favor of W. H. Creer vs. M. A. Marshall and his wife, Laura Marshall. The affidavit closed with a prayer for an equitable decision of the matter, and that the amount of. the attachment be deducted.
At the trial of the illegality it appeared that Mrs. Marshall, wife of M. A. Marshall, was the real owner of the fi. fa., and that her agent, Parsons, in February, 1871, called upon Trout-man for a settlement. Troutman’s testimony of what took place then and subsequently was substantially as follows : “ I told him I was not able to pay him the whole of the debt, and would like to compromise it. He said he had settled a similar claim at forty cents in the dollar, and inquired if I would make a like settlement. Finding by a calculation that it would amount to about $300.00, I told him I would give him that in settlement, but could not pay it then. We agreed on the compromise, but I paid no money at that
“Received, February 25th, 1871, of Joba F. Troutman, one hundred dollars, in part payment of a.)H.fa. against Troutman in Houston superior court, in favor of M A. Marshall for his wife, as a compromise of said debt.” , 1
On the fi-fa- was an entry in these terms: “Paid on this fi-fa. one hundred dollars, December 1st, 1871, to J. L. Parsons.” Also, two credits signed by M. A. Marshall, one for five dollars, dated the 9th, and one for fifteen dol
There was evidence on behalf of the plaintiff in fi.fa., tending to show that the compromise agreement was in contemplation of immediate payment of the whole sum of $300.00, and that Parsons, the agent, did not stipulate to give time, etc.; but as the case is ruled upon the testimony of Troutman himself, the other evidence need not be set out. The jury found the issue in favor of Troutman, and a motion having been made for a new trial, on several grounds, among them that the verdict was against law and evidence, the motion was granted. The error assigned is in granting a new trial.
We have no doubt that a new trial ought to have been granted. Section of the Code 2881 is in these words: “ An agreement by a creditor to receive less than the amount of his debt, cannot be pleaded as an accord and satisfaction, unless it be actually executed by the payment of the money, or the giving of additional security, or the substitution of another debtor, or some other new consideration.” Here there was not payment, but part payment; there was no additional security, no substitution of another debtor, and no new consideration of any kind. Grant that by accepting what was paid the creditor was bound to accept the balance if tendered in a reasonable time, no tender was made, and no excuse shown for the omission to tender. According to the evidence of the debtor 'himself, he had no case.
Cited by counsel: 13 Ga., 406 ; 29 lb., 315; 3 lb., 216; 51 lb., 633, 636; 54 lb., 525 ; 56 lb., 497; 60 lb., 428.
Judgment affirmed.
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