Rothermal v. Hughes

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Rothermal v. Hughes, 134 Pa. 510 (Pa. 1890)
19 A. 677; 1890 Pa. LEXIS 735
Green, McCollum, Paxson, Sterrett, Williams

Rothermal v. Hughes

Opinion of the Court

Per Curiam:

It was decided in Geier v. Shade, 109 Pa. 180, that a note given in settlement of a criminal prosecution for obtaining money by means of false pretences was founded upon a valid consideration. So far from the settlement of this class of cases being illegal, it is expressly authorized by the ninth section of the act of March 31,1860. Either the magistrate before whom the proceedings are commenced, or the court to which they are returned, may permit it. This principle is so well settled that we are surprised that such a question should be seriousty made in this court.

The note in controversy was given in settlement of such a claim. The plaintiffs were holders for value; there was an accord and satisfaction, and they had no notice of the alleged fraud of Dankle in procuring the signatures.

Judgment affirmed.

Reference

Full Case Name
A ROTHERMAL v. W. M. HUGHES
Cited By
5 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
1. A note is not invalid because given in the settlement before a committing magistrate of a criminal prosecution for obtaining goods by means of false pretences, such settlement being authorized by § 9, act of March ■ 31, 1860, P. L. 432: Geier v. Shade, 109 Pa. 180. 2. Such note being given for a valid consideration, the fact that the principal debtor therein procured the signatures of sureties by means of a fraud upon them, will not invalidate the note, without evidence that the payees had notice of the fraud.