Bell's Administrators v. Logan
Bell's Administrators v. Logan
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court,
The plaintiffs in error sued in covenant upon a written agreement executed by them and the defendant Logan, wherein it was recited and ageed, in substance, as follows, to wit: That they, as administrators with the will annexed of Thomas Bell, held a note and three receipts for money on
The defendant demurred to the declaration, and the circuit court sustained his demurrer.
The only ground upon which the declaration can be sustained is, that the receipts bore interest according to their own legal import and effect, or that such effect was given to them by the covenant sued on. For without charging James Bell with accrubig interest on the amounts mentioned in the receipls, the balance is in his favor and not against him.
As matter of law a receipt for money does necessarilv of itself compel the receiptor to pay interest. *s matter of discretion with a court or jury whethef to allow it or not. Nor does the covenant stir ed on bere vary the extent of the liahility of James 'n that particular. It is merely an agreement to pay the balance that may ultimately he found due by him. Whether or not he should he charged jn{eres¡(. ort fhe amounts mentioned in the re» . , , - , . . . ceipts was to be ascertained from extrinsic circuinstances. We cannot say, as a mere legal deduction, ^lat 'le was chargeable with interest. There are no. facts or circumstances alleged in the declaratios from which such án inference could be drawn.
The judgment must be affirmed, with-costa,
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.