City Bank v. Adams & Bath Mut. Marine Insurance
City Bank v. Adams & Bath Mut. Marine Insurance
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was drawn up by
The defendant was the owner of three-sixteenths of the ship Lavinia Adams. The owners had effected several insurances upon her, one of which was at the office of the trustees. The vessel was lost, and the defendant received from insurance companies, in which policies had been effected and in adjustment thereof in part, the sum of $7428,50, which was more than his share of the whole loss.
It appears from the deposition of the defendant, which, by agreement, is made a part of this case, that the defendant loaned the firm of J. Berry & Son, of which firm Joseph Berry, who owned one-sixteenth of the ship, was a member, the sum of three thousand dollars, and took from them their note for that amount.
After all this, and before the adjustment of the policy effected upon the Lavinia Adams, at the office of the trustees, by Samuel II. Fuller, for whom it should concern, service was made in this process upon the defendant and the trustees.
The authorities are conclusive that parol evidence is not admissible to show that a promissory note was intended as a receipt. Billings v. Billings, 10 Cush. 178. The defendant testifies that the thousand dollars which are in the hands of Berry & Son, was a loan to the firm. In the adjustment of the policy with the trustees, it was so treated, and the amount due Joseph Berry thereon, was paid to his assignees. Whatever may have been the secret understanding between the parties, the insurance company cannot, upon their disclosure and upon the other evidence, be charged as trustee, without entirely disregarding their statements.
Trustee discharged.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- City Bank versus Benjamin Adams and Bath Mut. Marine Insurance Company, Trustee
- Status
- Published