Davis v. Madden
Davis v. Madden
Opinion of the Court
This is a suit for a promissory note for $7012. The defense is that the note was given without any consideration, and the defendant pleads in reconvention an account for $14,300 75.
On the trial evidence was introduced to show that the note was made by defendant to enable the plaintiff to raise money on it by discounting it in bank, in order that the plaintiff might buy horses, mules and cattle, to be sold by deiendant in Louisiana for the joint profit of both, and that as between them there was no consideration for the note. To this effect the defendant swears, and he is to some extent corroborated by his brother and one other witness, who testify as to what plaintiff told them about a due note put in bank by him. On the contrary, the plaintiff swears that the note was given for a
“Lexington, Ky., April 17,1871.
“$7012.
“One day after date I promise to pay to John Davis seventy hundred and twelve dollars, for value received of him.
“WM. C. MADDEN.”
It is evident that such a note, not negotiable in form and due one day after date, was not intended to be used in bank. Nor does it appear to have been so used — but that it has remained in the possession of plaintiff, who at different times indorsed credits on the note, which he swears were placed there in the presence of the defendant. There are other circumstances which make us adopt the conclusion of the district judge, that the want of consideration was not proved.
The objection that the special commissioner named in the commission did not execute it, because he annexed to his signature “ Commissioner for the State of Louisiana,” and did not affix the seal of his office, is frivolous. The person named as special commissioner executed the commission, and the addition of his title, if he be a commissioner for the State, could not vitiate his acts.
The plaintiff objected to the reception of any evidence on the reconventional demand. In the original answer the reconventional demand is based upon an itomized account, which it is alleged is made a part of the-answer, but which, in fact, was not attached to the answer, nor filed, until the trial, when it was objected to. In the meantime an amended answer had been filed to which was annexed an account. This was objected to as too vague and indefinite to enable the plaintiff to meet the issues presented. The account annexed to the amended answer is as follows:
“John Davis To W. C. Madden, Dr.
“1870.
“To amount remitted to Lexington City National Bank____$1,323 73
“ To Check on New York................................ $979 08 “1871.
“To cash............................................... 353 26
“ To check on New York, yr. favor........................ 1,620 00
“ To cash handed you.................................... 900 00
“$5,176 59”
The plaintiff urges that of the two dates given, 1870 and 1871, one was before and the other may have been before the date of the note j and that the month is not given to any of the items, nor the name of the drawer of the check, nor the name of the bank on which it was
It is therefore ordered that the judgment of the lower court be annulled, and that the case be remauded to be tried according to the views herein expressed, appellee to pay costs of this appeal.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- John Davis v. William C. Madden
- Status
- Published