Wright v. Sewall
Wright v. Sewall
Opinion of the Court
In January, 1841, Charles A. Sewall and Thomas T. Williamson, who were doing business in the parish of Caddo as commercial partners, under the firm of Charles A. Sewall & Co., dissolved their partnership. The defendant Sewall, became the transferee of all his partner’s interest in the stock in trade, notes, accounts, and assetts of the firm, and bound himself as principal, and his co-defendant, Gilmer, as surety, “ to pay all the debts and liabilities of the firm, and to hold Williamson harmless from the same.” In July, 1842, Williamson was arrested at Washington city, for an unpaid debt of the partnership, being a note of $1070 73, in favor of J. P. Boyd & Co.,
The appellants’ counsel contends that the plaintiff cannot recover, because no demand of payment was made at the counting-house of Lee & Co., in New Orleans, where the note was made payable; and that, at all events, the judgment is for too large an amount, the note being only for $1090 73; that if the surplus was for interest, none was due on the note, as it had not been protested; and that if it was for costs, there is no proof in the record as to their amount.
The evidence shows that T. B. Lee was called upon by J. P. Boyd with regard to the note, and that some conversation took place in relation to it in the counting-house, but that Lee had no instructions or funds to pay it. Admitting that this does not prove a demand at the place of payment, it is shown that in the summer which followed the maturity of the note, Charles A. Sewall, well knowing that he had provided no funds for its payment in New Orleans, promised while in Boston, to pay the note in New York, which he failed to do. This promise would probably have relieved the holder from the necessity of proving a demand, even in Louisiana; but surely had Williamson attempted to resist the claim on the ground that no demand had been made, such a defence would not have availed him 'in a place where the settled law is, that it is not necessary to allege and prove a demand of payment in order to maintain an action against the maker of a note; but that it is a matter of defence, if the maker was ready at the place and offered to pay, to be pleaded and proved on his part. Wallace v. McConnell, 13 Peters, 136. United States Bank v. Smith, 11 Wheaton, 171. It is further shown, that this debt figured on a list of debts exhibited to Williamson, which Sewall stipulated to pay on the dissolu
Judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Morehead Wright v. Charles A. Sewall and another
- Status
- Published