Ducros v. Gottschalk
Ducros v. Gottschalk
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiff has moved to dismiss this appeal taken by the defendant, on the ground, as stated in the motion, “that no appeal
Motion denied.
Opinion on the Merits
On the Merits.
The defendant, who was sued for two mortgage notes left with him on deposit, appeals from the judgment requiring him to restore them to the plaintiff or pay the full amount thereof. It appears that the defendant was the notary who passed a deed from J. B. -St. Amand to Prank Michinard, on fifteenth October, 1859, for a tract -of land, a sawmill and some other property situated in the parish of St. Tammany, and that the two notes in controversy were executed in evidence of part of 'the price. It also appears that these notes were left on deposit in the hands of the said notary during the life time of -St. Amand, whose succession is represented by the plaintiff, and that .since his death the said depositary refuses to restore them.
Iu answer to the demand, the defendant alleges that the notes were left with him on deposit by St. Amand and Michinard, there to remain until St. Amand should furnish to said Michinard a detailed statement -of the advances made by him for the sawmill, and until the said Michinard had reimbursed said advances to said St. Amand; after which the said notes were to be delivered to said Michinard. “Defendant disclaims any ownership of said notes, but avers that long previous to the institution of this suit said Michinard had lodged in his hands a written notice to comply with the terms of deposit afore.sáid.”
The defendant excepted to the ruling of the court in refusing to allow him to pi ove the alleged stipulation in the contract of deposit in favor of Michinard. In this we think the court did not err, because having disclaimed any ownership of the notes, the defendant disclosed no interest in setting up such a defense, and he ought not to .have been heard proving a defense which concerned Michinard alone.
Whatever right, if any, Michinard may have to the notes, shown by :the notarial act to belong to the testator, can not be determined in this suit, because he is not a party, But the defendant suggests that it is not his duty to make parties, that this is plaintiff’s duty. To this the reply is, that a defendant who has no defense to set up for himself, has
The judgment of the court below is correct, and'the appeal is frivolous. We can not impose damages, however, because they have not .been asked by the appellee.
Judgment affirmed.
Rehearing refused.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.