Chisholm ex rel. Bigelow & Co. v. Newton

GOLDTHWAITE, J. — The general principle on which the. competency of admissions as evidence rests; is, the interest which the party making them has in the suit, or its subject matter. From -this it would seem that the admissions of one who [372] has no interest in a suit, ought not to be allowed to control it. It is said by Mr. Starkie in his compilation of the rules of evidence, (2 Starkie on evid. 40) that the admission of a jearly on the record is always evidence, though he be but a trustee for another, and although it appear from the admission itself that he is such; for this he cites the case of Bowerman v. Rodenius (7 Term, 663.) This case when examined, does not support the rule in its great extent, as stated by the commentator. It was an action brought in the name of one person, when the actual interest was in another; toprove the interest of the latter, in order to let in an admission made by him, a letter from the nominal plaintiff was offered, which the judge at nisiprius rejected, but which was afterwards ruled by the Court of King’s Bench to be competent evidence. This decision, then, was merely that the admission of the plaintiff of record, was proper evidence to show the actual interest in the suit was in another, whose admissions ought then to have b'een allowed to control the case. This case evidently does not warrant the conclusion, that the admission of the plaintiff on the record, will be allowed to control the case against the interest of the actual plaintiff, after that interest is disclosed. Indeed, the reverse of the principle laid down by Mr. Starkie was ruled in the case of Cowling v. Ely (2 Star, cases 366) where it was held that the admission of a guardian who was the plaintiff on the record, was not evidence against the infant. Although this action is brought in the name of Chisholm, yet, the admission is made in the record that the interest in the suit is in Bigelow & Co. If it be said that this interest is only equitable, it may be answered that courts of law now recognize and protect the rights of an equitable assignee, and will not give effect to a release procured from the assignor after notice of the equitable assignment; or allow a satisfaction made to him.— Welch v. Mendeville, (Wheat. 233) Littlefield v. Story, (3 John. 426) Legh v. Legh, (1 B. & P. 447) Raymond v. Squire, (11 John 47) McCullum v. Coxe, (2 Dall. 139.) To refuse to permit a nominal plaintiff to enter satisfaction, or [373] give a release, after the assignment, and yet, nevertheless to allow him to defeat the right of the assignee, by an admission, without oath, or cross examination, seems to present a conflict of principle which we cannot sanction by our decision. The Supreme Court of New York in the case of Frier v. Evertson [20 John. 142] decided the precise question now raised and the influence of this case confirms us in the conclusion that the evidence was improperly admitted. The other question is not very distinctly presented by the facts shown on the record, we therefore decline considering it, the more especially as the conclusion already arrived at will reverse the judgment and give the parties the opportunity to present the facts more fully, before a determination can properly be made, whether the note wasgvoid or voidable only in consequence of the illegality or the failure of the consideration. Let the judgment be reversed and the case remanded.