Byrnes v. Martin
Byrnes v. Martin
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff sued defendant to recover back ■overpayments on a mortgage. The excess which he received .seems to have been due to compounding of interest. There is not much dispute as to the amount, but only as to the’ liability to plaintiff, or liability in this action.
In 1868, plaintiff’s husband bought 240 acres of land of one Ryan, and gave back a purchase-money mortgage for the unpaid part of the price, and this was assigned to defendant. This land was convejed subsequently to plaintiff, who made
Several points made on the trial and in this Court seem to us not very important, as the facts as presented to the jury admit of but one result.
Defendant covenanted with the rest that there was $6,000 due. All of them were estopped from claiming anything less. If any money had been paid beyond what would have left this sum due, it was therefore money paid without consideration, and, as plaintiff paid the whole of it, she alone could recover it back. The only possible pretext for requiring or receiving it was that the parties had agreed it might be taken for forbearance. But this the jury have negatived. They have also negatived payment on any other idea than an honest ignorance of the state of the account, and a reliance on defendant’s statements of the proper balance. The legal' theories were all properly laid down by the court, and, as we can see no theory which would exonerate defendant from refunding, we are not disposed to theorize on the subject.
There is no error in the judgment, and it must be affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Catharine Byrnes v. Joseph H. Martin
- Status
- Published