Stewart v. Stewart
Stewart v. Stewart
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The learned court below made absolute the rule to show cause why the judgment should not be opened and the defendant, Betty P. Stewart, let into a defense. Prom this order the present appeal was taken. The defense relied on is that Betty P. Stewart, a married woman, signed the note as surety for her husband, and that such an undertaking by a married woman not only contravenes public policy, but offends against a positive
In the case at bar some of the testimony introduced
Then, again, appellant will have an opportunity at the trial of offering testimony to sustain his contention, and this may throw light upon many of the disputed points. The record can then be put in shape so that each separate question may be raised as the rules require for determination on appeal if that be deemed advisable. Our conclusion is that the learned court below committed no reversible error in directing the judgment to be opened and the appellee let into a defense upon the merits.
Judgment affirmed.
Reference
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- Syllabus
- Judgments — Opening judgments — Husband and wife — Wife as surety for her husband — Evidence—Judicial discretion. 1. An application to open a confessed judgment is addressed to the equitable powers of the court, and on appeal the question is whether there has,been a proper exercise of judicial discretion. 2. Where the averments in the petition to open the judgment are denied in the answer, there must be evidence to support the allegations of the petition as a basis for the exercise of judicial discretion, but if there be such evidence, no matter how conflicting, a finding of the chancellor based thereon should not be reversed. 3. The discretion of a chancellor is not abused and an order opening a judgment on the petition of a married woman for a rule to open a confessed judgment, alleging that she had signed the judgment note upon which the judgment was entered as surety for her husband, will not be reversed where there was evidence that the petitoner’s husband had borrowed $5,000, for which he gave a promissory note payable one year after date, and 1,250 shares? of stock as collateral security; and that on the same day the judgment note was also given, executed by the petitioner, her husband and a third person, in connection with and as part of the transaction whereby the loan was made.