Fretland v. Mack
Fretland v. Mack
Opinion of the Court
— I. The plaintiff alleges in his petition, among other things, that in 1877 he became surety upon a promissory note executed by Haugen to Hays for money borrowed. In the same year a judgment was entered upon the note against Haugen and plaintiff, which became a lien' upon land owned by Haugen. In 1878 Haugen conveyed the land, in consideration of eighteen hundred dollars, to defendant, which was paid by defendant’s assuming and agreeing to pay certain liens' on the land, and, among them, the judgment against plaintiff and Haugen, above referred to, and the satisfaction of a note and mortgage, held by defendant against Haugen. In addition to the discharge of these liens, defendant agreed to pay the sum of one hundred dollars cash. In the same year Haugen left the state. The next year defendant paid the judgment to Hays, and caused it to be assigned to himself. In 1885 defendant caused execution to be issued on the judgment, and was threatening and proceeding to enforce the same against plaintiff’s property. Plaintiff, having no knowledge or information of the facts just stated, in order to save his property frota execution, executed a note and chattel mortgage to defendant for
II. The facts pertaining to the recovery of the original judgment, its assignment to defendant, his attempt to enforce it, and the execution of the note and chattel mortgage to defendant, are ' not disputed. Defendant’s counsel insist that there is no legal evidence showing that plaintiff was a surety on theJ note given by Haugen and plaintiff to Hays. We need not, in the view we take of the case, determine this question of fact. It is not denied that plaintiff was a party to the note with Haugen, and they were at least jointly and severally liable thereon. It cann ot be doubted that, if so liable, the judgment on the note could not have been enforced against plaintiff, if it had been paid by Haugen as claimed by them. If defendant agreed to pay the judgment as a part consideration for the land, plaintiff ought not in equity to be required to again pay the debt, and defendant’s efforts to compel him to pay are fraudulent, and he will be enjoined from attempting "to collect the note and chattel mortgage, and they will be cancelled. The case turns upon the decision of the question of fact suggested by this statement. Haugen testifies positively that the payment of this Hays judgment was to be a part of the consideration for the land, and that defendant agreed to pay it. This evidence is direct, and intelligently given. Defendant, with equal positiveness, contradicts Haugen ; but we think that Haugen is corroborated to some extent by the attorney of Hays, who testifies to conversations had with defendant in regard to the transaction. From these conversations the witness had the understanding that defendant had agreed to pay the judgment. Indeed, the inference is authorized to be drawn from this testimony that defendant had agreed to pay this judgment. He admits that
Reversed.
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