Bradley v. Johnson
Bradley v. Johnson
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
This suit is brought upon a bond made-by the defendant, a married woman, and her husband, dated January 13th, 1871. In each count demurred to the defendant is alleged to have been a married woman at the time of signing the bond. Her liability therefore must be shown under the act of March 22d, 1862. Nix. Dig. 548. Wilson v. Herbert, 12 Vroom 454.
Eckert v. Reuter, 4 Vroom 266, seems to go to the extent of making the remedy at law concurrent with that in equity, and in this respect it was disapproved in Van Kirk v. Skillman, 5 Vroom 109. But I do not understand the latter case to hold that it must be expressly averred in the declaration that the-contract was for the benefit of the wife.
I think it sufficient if the declaration shows that she executed the contract as the principal and not as surety; that she had a separate estate which she thereby intended to charge, and that she received the consideration for the contract. From these facts the presumption arises that the contract was for her benefit.
These facts are set out in this declaration and they are sufficient to support an action on a contract made in this state by a married woman, under the act of 1862. The contract in this case is alleged to have been made in New York.
To make this contract enforceable under our statute it must be shown that a, like liability exists in New York. In this respect the declaration is defective. The only doubt I have entertained is whether this point, as to the contract having been made in New York, can be raised under the specified grounds of demurrer.
The only specification broad enough to include this objection is the general one that “ the plaintiff does not show a sufficient case of action.” This obviously is not such a specification as the plaintiff was entitled to under his demand, and it would have been stricken out upon application for that purpose. But the plaintiff elected to let it stand as an answer to his demand, and went to hearing upon it. Under these circumstances I think the better rule will be to allow the defendant to avail himself of the infirmity which appears in this declaration.
The defendant is entitled to judgment on the demurrer.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- CATHARINE BRADLEY v. EMMELINE H. JOHNSON
- Status
- Published