Fowler v. Smith
Fowler v. Smith
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The first eight assignments of error are to the charge, first as a whole, and then to detached sentences, many of the latter of the most unimportant character. Such practice is not to be encouraged. The charge as a whole presents to the jury the nature of the controversy, the claims of the respective parties, the burden of proof, and the province of the jury. These are the substantial elements of the case, and though presented very briefly and in the most general way, we cannot say that
No ground of objection is shown to the competency of L. H. Smith as a witness. He was a brother of the defendant, but he was not a party to the suit nor did it appear that he had any interest adverse to the plaintiff’s testator. So far as his relationship to defendant affected his character as a witness it bore upon his credibility not his competency.
The exceptions relating to the prior mortgage cannot be sustained. The existence of such mortgage, and whether or not it was a lien were merely collateral facts. Mr. Woodward who
The answers to the points were at least as favorable to the appellant as she was entitled to. Any matters which have arisen subsequent to a judgment, and which amount to payment in fact or in law may be pleaded in bar as a defence, and may be proved by parol: Savage v. Everman, 70 Pa. 315; Hendrick v. Thomas, 106 Pa. 327. And the reason that payment of money in discharge of a larger amount presently due is not a good accord and satisfaction (Mechanic’s Bank v. Huston, 11 W. N. 389), is that the debtor gives nothing he was not already bound to give, and the creditor receives nothing he is not already entitled to receive, and there is therefore no consideration. But if there is any advantage to the creditor the law will not weigh the adequacy of the consideration: Hendrick v. Thomas, supra; Grayson’s Appeal, 108 Pa. 581. In the present case the payment- of money was by the defendant’s mother out of her own estate on which Fowler had no claim whatever. It was therefore a new consideration from a new party and not within the rule that the receipt of a smaller sum is not a good accord and satisfaction of a larger one, and the learned judge was entirely right in charging that the facts made a good defence if believed by the jury.
Judgment affirmed.
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- Charge of the court — Comment on evidence. In charging the jury, it is largely within the discretion of the trial judge as to how much detail shall be entered into; how minute the reference to the testimony shall be, and how extended the discussion. Where the date of a collateral circumstance bearing strongly on the credibility of the main fact in issue is disputed, it is not error for the court in commenting upon the evidence to say that “ it was alleged” that the circumstance occurred in a certain year. Evidence — Competency of witness — JRelationship. In an action by an executor, a brother of the defendant, who was not a party to the suit, and has no interest adverse to plaintiff’s testator, is a competent witness. So far as his relationship affects his character as a witness, it boars upon his credibility and not his competency. Evidence — Satisfaction of judgment — Prior mortgage. On scire facias to revive a judgment, where the defence is that defendant’s mother had paid to plaintiff a sum of money which, though smaller than the judgment, was in full satisfaction of it, evidence of the existence of a mortgage prior to the judgment is immaterial. Any contest on such a point would serve only to divert the attention of the jury from the fact whether the agreement of satisfaction was made or not, to the consideration of whether it was wise or prudent to make it, a matter not within their province to decide. Accord and satisfaction — Payment of judgment by third person. Payment by a third party of a sum of money less than the amount of a judgment, with the understanding that it should be in full satisfaction of the judgment, is a valid accord and satisfaction. In such a case there is a new consideration from a new party, and the rule that the receipt of a smaller sum is not a good accord and satisfaction of a larger one, does not apply.