U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Massachusetts, 1813

Swift v. Hathaway

Swift v. Hathaway
U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Massachusetts · Decided May 15, 1813 · Story
23 F. Cas. 562; 1 Gall. 417
Swift v. Hathaway

Opinion of the Court

STORY, Circuit Justice,

in summing up, stated to the jury, that if they were satisfied, that the notes were originally lodged in the hands of J. & G. Russell with the assent of the administrator; or if afterwards he assented to the collection of the money by them, or voluntarily left the money in their hands and ratified- their proceedings, the firm of Russell & Hathaway were discharged from all responsibility. If a creditor know that his debtor has lodged money in the hands of a third person for his account, and he assents to the proceeding, or gives a new credit to such person on the footing of such deposit, the original debtor is completely discharged.

The jury found a verdict, without difficulty, for the defendant Hathaway. Russell, the co-defendant, did not appear, and was defaulted. The court ordered a general judgment to be entered, that the plaintiff should take nothing by his writ.

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