Peavey v. Brown

The opinion of the Court was drawn up by Tenney J. — The note by its terms was barred by the statute of limitations, when this suit was commenced, and the defendants rely upon that statute. The plaintiff attempts to avoid that defence, by showing a new promise on the part of [103] one of the defendants within six years before the action was brought. Another ground is also taken by the plaintiff, which it is unnecessary to consider. To determine, whether a new promise was made or not we must look at what took place at the time, when it is said to have been made, and ascertain the meaning, of the party, attempted to be charged. It is well settled, that previous to the time, when the Revised Statutes' took effect, an express promise, or one made upon a condition, which has been performed, or a clear, unambiguous, and unqualified acknowledgment of the debt, as existing and due at the time of such acknowledgment, though such promise or acknowledgment be verbal, was sufficient to take the case from the operation of the statute. Perley v. Little, 3 Greenl. 97 ; Porter v. Hill, 4 Greenl. 41. The acknowledgment must be unaccompanied with any declaration, which expresses or implies an intention in the one who makes it not to pay, and to rely upon his legal rights. It is to be determined too, by all, which he said at the time, when taken together. Clements v. Williams, 7 Cranch, 74; Bangs v. Hall, 2 Pick. 368; Whitney Bigelow, 4 Pick. 110; Bailey v. Crane, 21 Pick. 323. Let us apply'these principles to the note in suit. The evidence relied upon by the plaintiff is, “ Charles Peavey asked me two years ago this fall to call upon James Brown, and ask him to pay a note, which he, Peavey, had against him. I asked Mr. Brown, if he would take up this note, and give a new one; he said he would and a time was appointed, for it to be done.” It is argued for the defendants, that the witness was employed to put one specific question to Brown, and the answer was given to another inquiry and therefore not binding. It does not distinctly appear, whether the defendant at the time referred to, had possession of the note, if it were put into his hands, the request of the plaintiff, that he would call on the defendant, Brown, would imply an authority, to receive the amount, and a promise to one thus empowered would be equally valid, as if made to the plaintiff. The acknowledgment however, if made would be sufficient, on the authority of decided [104] cases, though the same, was to one not authorized to make any1 request of the debtor. Whitney v. Bigelow, 4 Pick. 110. Was the. evidence of the promise to renew, unambiguous ? The deponent testifies, in addition to the language already quoted, “ but he afterwards got some one to look at or over the note and then refused to give the new note, &c.” In order to relieve the note from the effect of the statute, the burden is on the plaintiff to' produce satisfactory evidence. The defendants’ counsel insists, that as “afterwards,” will alike apply to a subsequent part of the same conversation, and to a conversation at another subsequent time, the language, here relied upon# when taken in connexion With the other, is ambiguous and equivocal, and is therefore insufficient. The term “ afterwards’* is certainly susceptible of both these meanings, and we must look at the whole sentence in which it stands, to ascertain the intention of the witness. And this we are to do, by the agreement of the parties, in the same manner that a jury would do' under the instruction of the Court. No reason can be imagined, why the defendant, Brown, should not have looked at the note himself, if it were present, instead of employing another to do it. If it were not present, it would be very unnatural to suppose, that a messenger would have been sent to the place, where it was, and that he should have examined it and made report, before the parties to the conversation separated. We think, when the whole is taken together, that “ afterwards” refers to a subsequent time and a different conversation. Again, it is urged, that Brown may have referred to another note, than the one in suit. It is not pretended,- that there was another, and without proof, of any besides the one in suit, we think a jury would be authorized to infer, that this was the one referred to. The deponent testifies, that he asked him, if he would renew this note. The want of consideration is not a sufficient objection to the effect of the acknowledgment. The same could be urged with equal propriety where an express promise to pay, is made. What then is the meaning of the language used ? “ He promised to renew the note, and a time was appointed to do it.” [105] This must be taken to mean, that at the time appointed, he would take up the note referred to, by giving his other note,_ for the amount due. Would a person, not intending to pay the note use this language ? Bid he not by promising to give a note, which if giveu would bind him for the whole sum claimed, convey to the mind an admission, that the note was still due, and an existing debt against him? Will a man promise to give his note, for what he does not intend to say he owes? Suppose he had said, that he would take up that note, by one of another person, or of a bank, would it not be an acknowledgment of indebtedness? If he had given such a note, he surely would have been holden thereon. And when he promised to do that, which if done would bind him, we cannot conceive, that the language did not clearly imply that the note was unpaid. He had some meaning, and we cannot doubt that it was a willingness to consider himself liable. Bangor Bridge v. McMahon, 1 Fairf. 478.