Butterfield v. Graves
Butterfield v. Graves
Opinion of the Court
This action is brought to recover the balance unpaid on a promissory note of $700 given by the appellant and William McFeeters and Clarence E. Graves, on the 1st day of March, 1887, payable one year from date, at eight per cent, interest, to the plaintiff. The appellant signed said note as surety merely, and his defense is that the time of payment of said note had. been extended by an agreement between the plaintiff and said McFeeters in consideration of two per cent, additional interest thereon, without the knowledge or consent of the appellant. The other defendants did not answer, and this was the only question litigated on the trial.
The testimony of said McFeeters was that he wrote to the plaintiff, asking for said extension, and that the plaint
We have very carefully examined the numerous exceptions on the evidence and the charge of the court, and we are unable to find any error that ought to reverse the judgment. The following question and answer were clearly improper: “ State whether or not you ever gave or intended to give any extension of time upon this note ($700 note) that would put it out of your power to sue the note at any time? The plaintiff, as a witness, answered: “ I never-did.” This was a question of law that the witness was not competent to decide or to express an opinion upon. Rut the plaintiff, as a witness, answered more than once, positively, that he never gave any extension of time on said note. This evidence renders the said question and answer immaterial. It could not have added any force to his positive testimony that he never had given such extension, and could not have influenced the verdict. It being immaterial, it ought to be disregarded as not affecting the justice of the case or the substantial rights of the defendant. Sec. 2829, R. S.
By the Gowrt.— The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Butterfield v. Graves, imp.
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- Published