Johnson v. Brashear
Johnson v. Brashear
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiff seeks to recover the amount of a draft, or bill of exchange, dated 17th of February, 1841, drawn by him to his own order, at Lexington, upon the defendant, for the sum of $5319, and accepted by the latter.
The defence is, that no consideration was ever received for the draft; and interrogatories having been propounded by the defendant to the plaintiff for the purpose of showing the alleged want of consideration, they were answered in substance as follows : 1st.
On the trial of this suit below, the defendant introduced in evidence, a letter signed by one Thomas B, Warfield, calling himself the agent and attorney in fact of the heirs of Barr, dated New Orleans, 1st of March, 1842, purporting to be a new arrangement or agreement in relation to the payment of the debts of Barr’s estate ; and to an extension of time to pay the same ; which new arrangement appears to have been accepted by the defendant, under his signature at the foot of the agreement. The draft sued on is not in any way mentioned or alluded to in the letter containing the propositions, or agreement j and appears to be unknown to the self styled agent of the heirs. No evidence has been adduced to show that Thomas B. Warfield was the agent of Barr’s heirs.
On this evidence, the Judge, a quo, rendered judgment in favor of the defendant as in case of nonsuit, and the plaintiff has appealed.
We think the inferior- Judge erred. The bill sued on is in the hands of the plaintiff for the benefit of Barr’s creditors, who ordered this suit to be brought thereon; and it is clear, that the heirs of Barr have no further interest in the matter. The draft, though in the name of the plaintiff, belongs to the creditors ; bat he may well maintain this action in his own name for the re
It is therefore ordered, that the judgment of the District Court be annulled and reversed ; and that ours be in favor of the plaintiff, as prayed for in his petition, with costs in both courts.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Madison C. Johnson v. Walter Brashear
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published