Henderson v. Richards
Henderson v. Richards
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court.
This was ah action of assumpsit, on the promise of Richards, that in consideration of an agreement by Henderson, to dismiss a suit, then pending in his favor, against Richards and wife, fora debt due by the wife before marriage, Richards would pay him $50, execute his note for an additional sum, and re-deliver to him sundry bonnets, which it seems the wife had received from him (Henderson). The note was executed and the $50 paid, when the assumpsit was-made. But the bonnets were not delivered, and for this failure this suit was brought.
It is very evident, from all the facts, that the promise to dismiss the suit, and that to deliver the bonnets, were independent. The dismission of the suit was not a condition precedent to the delivery of the bonnets. The latter were to be delivered instanter. íhe promise to dismiss, and not the actual dismission, was the consideration. If Henderson had failed to dismiss
Nor was a demand of the bonnets necessary. But if it were, the proof that Richards said he had determined not to deliver them, rendered it unnecessary to prove any demand.
None of the counts in the declaration are exactly correspondent with the evidence. But when all the facts are weighed, the promise set out in the declaration and that proved, can be so far identified as to leave no doubt that a judgment on one would be ail effectual bar to a suit on the other. The apparent difference, therefore, between the “allegata el probata,” as to the bonnets, is not material. The court, therefore, erred in instructing the jury as in case of a nonsuit.
Wherefore, the judgment is reversed, the verdict set aside, and the cause remanded for a new trial.
070rehearing
The counsel for Richards presented the following petition for a re-hearing.
It may appear, «from all the facts, that the promise to dismiss the suit, and that to deliver the bonnets, are independent;” but it is presumed the facts here meant, are those which were stated by the witness, in evidence; and that the allegations in the declaration are not referred to as the facts, But the promise to deliver the bonnets is not declared on as an independent promise. On the contrary, the agreements on the part of plaintiff and defendent, are stated in every count of the declaration, as promises to be performed at one and the same time, and are, therefore, concurrent, and consequently dependent. Nc time is slated by the plaintiff, in his declaration, when he was to dismiss his action; and no time is stated when the bonnets were to be delivered; therefore, neither could hasten the other before he had first performed himself. It is supposed that this is plain law. If Henderson were to agree to pay me $100 to argue a cause for him in the Franklin circuit, nothing being said of the
If, then, dependent promises are different from independent, the allegata et probata, have not here corresponded. Another variance is found, which must be insuperable. The declaration is, that the consideration was the agreement to dismiss a suit in the name qf John Henderson, for the use of Charles Henderson, and the proof is of a suit in the name of Charles Henderson, for the use of Charles Hendersqn.
| still think the declaration is for the failure to deliver bonnets, without identifying them of a certain value, and that the proof is, the agreement was for 23 individual, identical bonnets, being the same which John Henderson had before sold to defendant’s wife, This distinction is a very material one. The bonnets spoken of by the witness are, we suppose, not worth the candles this suit has cost. They were old, unfashioned, unsaleable bundles of straw, which John Henderson had deposited with this woman to be sold, and which this man, Charles, afterwards attempted to impose on her. They would have been returned, but they were seized by a constable under an execution against John Henderson, whose property they had ever been. These things are mentioned only to illustrate the materiality of the difference between the averment and the proof. The difference between the count and proof must always be material, where the measure of recovery would be different, in consequence of the different objects or subjects of the counts and proofs; or where a defence could be made, against the case shovrn, on proof which could not be made against that stated in the count.
The question of variance, on the plea of former decision, is of course, always the same, as might have been made on the evidence, upon the first trial.
To which the courtj by ^udge Robertson, returned the following response.
The counts in the declaration, and the proof, substantially correspond. A judgment in this casé will bar any other suit for the same cause of action.
The promises were not mutual and dependent. The agent of Henderson, swore that he settled with Richards for Henderson, and says “he came to the agreement withRichards, that the suit was to he dismissed-, that the said Richards then paid $50, and ,gave his note for $40, and agreed to go and return them (the bonnets) IMMEDIATELY.” The suit could not be dismissed until court. Court was not then sitting. The vritness swears that a few days after this agreement, he saw Richards and spoke to him about the bonnets, when the defendant informed him that it was not in his power |o deliver the same; and on the same day afterwards
As to the difference between a suit brought in the name of John Henderson, for the use of Charles Henderson, and one in the name of Charles Henderson, for the use of Charles Henderson; we might admit, that this is as strong an objection to the opinion which has. been rendered, as ariy other which is taken. The declaration describes the suit which was pending, and which was to be dismissed, as one in the name of John, for Charles; the witness, in describing it, says, Charles, for, Charles. We suppose that both meant the samp suit. More need not be said.
Petition overruled.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.