Gaddy v. Witt
Gaddy v. Witt
Opinion of the Court
On January 27, 1906, J. H. Witt, J. M. Gaddy, C. C. Gaddy, and Minor Moore executed a written guaranty, by which they guaranteed the payment of any existing or subsequent indebtedness of J. Homer Gad-dy to the First National Bank located at Waco, Tex., not to exceed the sum of $2,-000. On January 21, 1908, J. Homer Gaddy became indebted to the bank upon a promissory note executed by him, due 90 days after date, for the sum of $2,000. September 22, 1908, the bank instituted suit upon that note and the written guaranty. J. H. Witt and the heirs of J. M. Gaddy, who was then dead, were made parties defendant; and the insolvency of C. C. Gaddy and Minor Moore’s residence outside of the state were assigned as reasons for not making them parties. Thereafter the defendant J. H. Witt paid the debt owing to the bank, and filed a cross-action against J. Homer Gaddy and C. C. Gaddy. Replying to that cross-action J. Homer Gaddy filed exceptions, a general denial, and a plea of discharge in bankruptcy. The defendant Witt filed a supplemental plea, alleging, in substance, that his signature upon the written guaranty had been procured by certain false and fraudulent representations made by J. Homer Gaddy. He also alleged that subsequent to the latter’s discharge in bankruptcy he had promised to pay the debt sued upon. There was a nonjury trial, which resulted in a judgment that the bank take nothing by its suit, that Witt recover from J. Homer Gaddy the amount paid by him to the bank with interest, and that he recover from O. O. Gaddy one-half of the amount he had paid to the bank, that recovery to be credited with one-half of whatever amount he collected from J. Homer Gaddy, and the two Gaddys have appealed.
The first assignment charges error in rendering judgment against J. Homer Gaddy, because the uncontradieted evidence shows that Witt never paid off Ga'ddy’s note, but that the same was transferred to Witt and is still unpaid. Under that assignment appellant’s brief quotes part, but not all, of the testimony of the president of the bank, to the effect that the papers which the bank held were transferred, without recourse, to appellee Witt. He also testified that Dr. Witt had executed his personal note for the amount owing to the bank, in consideration of which the bank had delivered and assigned, to Dr. Witt, J. Homer Gaddy’s note and the written guaranty. In so far as the bank is concerned, the original note was paid, and we think Witt’s cross-action was so framed as to entitle him to recover against the Gad-dys upon the state of facts disclosed by the testimony.
The second assignment presents the same question with reference to the liability of C. O. Gaddy, and is disposed of in the same way.
The court also found for Witt upon the theory of Gaddy’s subsequent promise to pay, and it is contended that the testimony does not support that finding. We deem it unnecessary to decide that point, as affirmance can be rested upon the other ground.
No error has been shown, and the judgment is affirmed.
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- GADDY Et Al. v. WITT Et Al.
- Cited By
- 5 cases
- Status
- Published