Bruton v. Wooten

By the Court. Starnes, J., delivering the opinion. This plea, which sets forth a release, cannot have the effect that is claimed for it by the plaintiff in error*, because it does not show that the release is founded on a sufficient consideration. [1.] Every release must be founded on some consideration, otherwise fraud must be presumed. Lord. Ch. Bar. Gilbert, For Rom. 57. Lord Redesdale in Roche vs. Morgell, (2 Sch. & Lef. 727.) [2.] It seems that the seal does not necessarily import a consideration, when such an instrument is relied on, byway of plea in Chaxxcery; bxxt the consideration must be set out, and its fairness averred by the plea. Roche vs. Morgell, (2. Sch. & Lef. 728.) [8.] Whether this be so or not, where the instrument sets forth a consideration, the seal certainly canxxot import a consideration different from that which is expressed. And in the release relied upon here, the consideration is set forth, as the delivery to the defendant in error, (the legatee under the will of Aquilla Bruton,) of negroes which had been bequeathed to him, with their increase. [4.] The consideration, then, on which the instrument rested, was the delivery, to him, of that to which he was already, by law, entitled, according to the record before us; and it could constitute no consideration for the hire due on account of these slaves, if there were hire due. Whether or not, under the terms of this will, the executor was responsible for hire for these negroes, from the date of testator’s death until the delivery to the defendant, we do not decide, inasmuch as we have not been called on for an opinion upon this pointand we are [572] informed that it has been decided, upon demurrer, from which there has been no appeal. [5.] The above considerations render it unneccessary to discuss, at any length, the principle, that a particular recital in a deed qualifies general words which follow. This is a correct rule, and is intended to apply where the particular recital in a release, for example, is in the nature of an acknowledgment of payment, or a receipt for money, or other thing, (without a specific statement that it is to constitute the consideration for the release,) followed by a general release of all demands, &c. In such case, as where one acknowledges the receipt of 10 l. of another, (the old and familiar example adjudged in 5 Jac. 1, B. R. 3 Mod. 277. Bacon Abr. Art. Release K. and releases and acquits him of all demands, &c. the particular recital qualifies the general, and nothing is discharged but the 10 l. This doctrine has been recognized and sustained in many modern cases. In the case at bar, the receipt of the thing delivered, is explicitly stated to be the consideration for the release of all dedemands, and there is no necessity for resort to the above rule of construction. Plainly, therefore, it results, that by the terms of the instrument, itself, there was no legal consideration moving to the legatee, for this general release of the executor from all responsibility ; and the plea was, on this account, insufficient. Judgment affirmed.