Nichols v. Ruggles

Danforth, J. The only question presented by the report in this case is whether the instrument under which the plaintiff claims title to the horse replevied should have been recorded under R. S., c. Ill, § 5. If so the plaintiff fails in his title and-in his action. The statute provides that, "No agreement that personal property bargained and delivered to another, for which a note is [27] given, shall remain the property of the payee till the note is paid, is valid, unless it is made and signed as a part of the note ; nor when so made and signed in a note for more than thirty dollars, unless it is recorded like mortgages of personal property.” It is conceded that the instrument comes within the statute description in every respect except that it does not contain the note therein required. The objections are that the price to be paid was not payable in money and that its payment depended upon a contingency. But an examination will show that neither of these objections are well founded. The statute uses the word " note ” only, omitting the qualifying adjective "promissory,” and whether the construction is to be so limited as to apply only to such promissory notes are recognized by the commei-cial law with all the requisites required by that law, may well be doubted. It is certain that the term "note” without the qualification is often used in a more extensive sense than with it, and it is equally certain that when used to express a promise to pay, whether in property or money, it is equally within the mischief to be prevented. In this case, however, the promise is both absolute and to pay in money. There is no condition attached to it and the amount is fixed and definite. It is said that it is to be paid from a particular fund. This may be true; but it is evident that the intention of the parties was that its payment was not to be confined to that fund, but that it was to be paid whether the fund should fail or otherwise. Besides there is nothing in the instrument indicating any uncertainty or contingency as to the fund; and if there were it would not render the promise contingent. Story on Prom. Motes, § 26; Byram v. Hunter, 36 Maine, 217; Redman v. Adams, 51 Maine, 429. The fund is established by contract and is more than sufficient to pay the amount promised. The service by which it is to be produced was to be rendered by the promisor and if he fails to perform the service there can be no pretense that such failure would relieve him from the obligation of his promise which is unconditional in its terms. Sears v. Wright, 24 Maine, 278. The promise is also to pay in money. The promise to per [28] form the service under the contract for carrying the mail is one thing, that to pay for the horse another and a very different thing. The former is for service to be performed, the latter for a definite amount and no words to indicate that it is to be paid in any thing but money. Judgment for the defendant and for a return of the horse replevied. Appleton, C. J., Walton, Barrows, Peters and Libbey, JJ., concurred.