Smith v. Taylor
Smith v. Taylor
Opinion of the Court
— Both bonds, with the indorsements thereon, were properly before the jury. They were instructed that, “ for the purpose of ascertaining whether the whole interest has been paid, otherwise than by the note, for which the one in suit was said to bo given, they might examine both the bonds and the indorsements made upon them.” To this there can be no objection. The jury may have erred as to the probative force of the testimony, but that error cannot be corrected by us upon exceptions.
It is difficult to perceive any well grounded cause of complaint to the instruction " that if satisfied the note in suit was given for the note of July 12, 1849, for $150, and that
The jury were further instructed “ with respect to the attachment, that the relinquishment of an attachment by which any valuable interest was secured, would be a sufficient consideration for a note; that they would consider whether the testimony proved, that the relinquishment of the attachment constituted any part of the consideration of the note of 1849, and whether the note was due at the time, and if they should be satisfied, that the relinquishment of the attachment did not constitute a part of the consideration of the note in suit, or if it did, that the attachment was made on a writ founded on a note not due, that then the relinquishment by giving a new note for that one would not constitute a sufficient consideration.”
The jury must have found that the relinquishment of the attachment constituted no part of the consideration of the note in suit, and that the attachment was made on a writ founded on a note not due, for had not both these facts been found adversely to the plaintiff, the verdict must have been in his favor.
If the relinquishment of the attachment formed no part of the consideration, that relinquishment must be regarded as unimportant in its bearing upon the case. Whether it 'did or did not enter into the consideration of the note was properly left to the jury.
If the note for which the one in suit was given, was not due, the relinquishment of the attachment forming no portion of its consideration, then it will be difficult to perceive in what its consideration consisted. In Wade v. Simeon, 2 C. B. 548, Tindall, C. J., said “it is almost contra bonos mores, and certainly contrary to all principles of natural justice, that a man should institute proceedings against another, when he is conscious he has no good cause of action. In
The compromise of a suit, where the legal right is doubtful, is undoubtedly a valid consideration for a promise to pay a sum of money for its abandonment. In such case the inequality of consideration constitutes no valid objection. But in the present case no such question is presented for our consideration. Exceptions overruled.
Judgment on the verdict.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Smith versus Taylor & al.
- Status
- Published