Everts v. Bostwick
Everts v. Bostwick
Opinion of the Court
The exception to the decision of the court below, in admitting the note in question, as evidence in the case, is founded on a supposed variance between the note offered and that described in the condition of the bond declared upon. The question is not as to the identity of the note, as a question of fact, but whether the note offered.is to be taken, by legal intendment', to he another, and different note from that described in the contract.
Should it be found, that the exception is well founded' in this particular, it would be well to inquire, how far the error of admitting it, as evidence, affords a ground for reversing the judgement. The expression in the contract, that the defendants “ shall well and truly pay, satisfy^ and discharge, a certain mortgage deed,”' admits of no. other-construction, than,, that they shall pay tk«-
If, however, we'regard the decision of the court below as important, it will be found that the exception is not well founded.
The objection to the evidence was that the note was variant from that described in the condition of the bond. Upon a comparison of the two instruments, it is found, that the note is correctly described in the bond, except that the time when the note became payable is not there specified. This is an omission merely of one particular, but such an omission is not a variance. There is enough to identify the note, and when the note is produced, it answers the description. There is no discrepancy nor any difference, except that the note is not as fully described as it might have been. It is true, that, where a note does not express any time of payment, the law intends that it is payable on demand : but this inference of law is rebutted, in this case, by the production of the note. The law makes no such intendment, in a case like this, for the mere purpose of creating a variance, and defeating the intention of the parties. Nor is there any reason, in such a case, for any such intendment. The note is sufficiently identi
It is further objected, that the note produced is signed by W. Everts and B. Bishop, whereas the bond describes the note of W. Everts. The remarks already made are applicable here. This is another particular in which the description of the instrument is silent, but it cannot be necessary, to the purpose of this description, to include every particular. Besides, the mortgage was executed by Everts alone, and the note in question, being joint and several, is well described as executed by him, although it was signed by Bishop also ; especially as the latter signed as surety merely.
It is also urged, that this note is not described in the mortgage-. This is true; but it is to be observed, that the mortgage is not made, by the reference, a part of the contract. The condition of the bond expressly provides for the payment of the note in question and it becomes therefore immaterial, whether it be secured by the mortgage or not.
But if it were material, a very satisfactory answer to the objection is furnished by the bond itself. The bond not only provides for the payment of this note, but declares it to be one of the notes secured by the mortgage : the defendants are therefore estopped by the bond, from denying the lact.
Judgement affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- William Everts v. Joseph Bostwick, and others
- Status
- Published