Holman v. Boyce
Holman v. Boyce
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was deliv ered by
The orator’s letter of March 29, 1888, in reply to one from the defendant Boyce, in which the orator denied the existence of the agreement of February 14, 1878, found by the master, and on which the orator now seeks to stand, did not estop the orator from claiming before the master the untruth of his denial, if he did so claim; nor does it disentitle him to the benefit of that agreement now that it is found, it not appearing that Boyce or any of the other defendants was thereby induced to alter their conduct. The rule applicable here is thus stated in Heanc v. Rogers, 9 B. & C. 577 : “ There is no doubt that the express admissions of a party to the suit, or admissions implied from his conduct, are evidence, and strong evidence, against him; but we think that he is at liberty to prove that such admissions were mistaken, or were untrue, and is not estopped or concluded by them, unless another person has been induced by them to alter his conduct, in which case the party is estopped from disputing their truth with respect to that person and those claiming under him and that transaction, but as to third persons he is not bound.” This rule is approved in Newton v. Liddiard, 12 Q. B. 925. See also 2 Whart. Ev. s. 1,077, and cf. Stowe v. Bishop, 58 Vt. 498.
We think that Bates, if living, would be estopped to deny that there were $416.65 due on the notes when the orator took them, and that therefore the administrators of his estate are estopped, and the other defendants, who claim under the administrators. The rule is that when one takes an assignment of a chose in action by the debtor’s procurement or with his assent, and on the faith of representations made by him at the time, the debtor is estopped to impeach the chose by a defence inconsistent with his representations, even though the defence is usury. Payne v. Burnham, 62 N. Y. 69; Smyth v. Munroe, 84 N. Y. 359. The Union Dime Savings Institution v. Wilmot, 94 N. Y. 221, was an
Decree affirmed and cause remanded.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- HEBER C. HOLMAN v. H. E. BOYCE
- Status
- Published