Boehm, Bendheim & Co. v. Juchter

Warner, Chief Justice. This case came before the court below on an issue formed upon an affidavit of illegality to a fi. fa. issued on the foreclosure of a mortgage of personal property. On the trial of the case the jury, under charge of the court, found a verdict in favor of the defendant. A motion was made for a new trial on the grounds therein stated, which was overruled, and the plaintiff excepted. 1. It appears from the evidence in the record, that the defendant had been a clerk for the plaintiffs, and had served them faithfully during the yellow fever epidemic in Savannah, and they advanced him $1,000.00 to enable him to go into business on his own account, for which he gave them his four promissory notes for $250.00 each, dated the 21st of February, 1877, the first note to become due three months after date, the second six months after date, the third nine months after date, and the fourth to become due twelve months after date, with interest at the rate of 12 per cent, per annum, as it appears from the recital in the mortgage which was given by the defendant to the plaintiffs on a stock of goods to secure the payment of said notes, which mortgage was also dated 21st February, 1877, in which it was provided that if the defendant should make default in the payment of any part of the notes when the same became due, that then the plaintiffs might proceed to foreclose the mortgage. It also appears from the evidence, that when the papers were presented to the defendant by the plaintiffs to sign, he declined to do so, saying he could not make the first payment in three months, and required longer [582] time to make the first payment, and that before the defendant signed the papers, the plaintiffs gave him the following instrument, in writing : “ This is to certify, that if Mr. Henry Juchter cannot meet his note of $250.00, due three months after February 21st, 1877, we shall renew the same for one year, providing the balance of the notes are met at maturity. Savannah, February 23d, 1S77. (Signed) Boehm, Bendheim & Co.” The plaintiffs foreclosed the mortgage on the first note op the 17th of January, 1878, when the defendant filed his affidavit of illegality to the mortgage fi. fa., alleging that the first note was not due at the time of the foreclosure of the mortgage, and that was the issue submitted to the jury for trial, the other two notes, due at six and nine months, having been promptly paid by defendant at maturity. The evidence as to whether the paper signed by the plaintiffs was executed and delivered on the same day as the other papers, was conflicting, though dated on a different day, but the jury have found by their verdict that it was, and therefore became a part of the contract between the parties. 57 Ga., 141. In view of the evidence contained in the record, we find no material ei'ror in the charge of the court to the jury, and as they thought proper to believe the evidence for the defendant, in preference to that of the plaintiffs, as it was their privilege to do, we will not interfere with their verdict. 2. As to the newly discovered evidence, it was on the plaintiffs’ own books, and in their possession, and proper diligence would have enabled them to have discovered it, inasmuch as it related to the transaction to be investigated at the trial of the case. There was no error in overruling the plaintiffs’ motion for a new trial. Let the judgment of the court below be affirmed.