Beuter v. Dillon

Mr. Presiding Justice Pleasants delivered the opinion oe the Court. On July 1, 1889, W. H. Gilstrap borrowed of Albert Beuter, the deceased husband of plaintiff in error, the sum of five hundred dollars and delivered to him therefor a promissory note as follows: “ $500. Bloomington, Ill., July 1, 1889. One year after date we jointly and severally promise to pay to the order of Albert Beuter five hundred dollars at the National State Bank, Bloomington, Illinois, for value received, with interest at the rate of eight per cent per annum from date,” which was signed by the borrower and also by each of the appellees—the latter being understood by the lender to be sureties only. Beuter died in January, 1892, intestate, leaving appellant, his widow, who was duly appointed administratrix, and as such on October 25, 1892, brought a suit at law against Gilstrap and defendants in error, on said note. Thereupon the latter filed the bill herein to enjoin its prosecution and be discharged from liability on the note, upon the ground set forth, that Beuter extended the time of payment by agreement with Gilstrap, the principal, without the consent or knowledge of complainants, the sureties; and that Gilstrap, the only person by whom such extension could be proved, was incompetent as a witness in the case at law. The answer denied that there was any valid agreement to extend the time of payment. A general replication was filed and the cause referred to the master to take and report the evidence and his conclusions. He reported in favor of complainants, and the court, upon final hearing on the pleadings and report, made a decree according to the prayer of the bill, upon which this writ of error was sued out. The question involved is one of fact, whether Beuter did agree with Gilstrap, for a valid consideration, to give him a definite extension without the consent of his sureties. It appears that the loan was originally made by Beuter through O. A. Shaw, his agent. Gilstrap moved to Tacoma, Washington, about six months afterward, and subsequent negotiations respecting extensions were through agents of each respectively, or by correspondence, but little of which was produced. We deem it unimportant to consider the questions made as to the first of the alleged extensions—being for one year from the maturity of the note—because in our opinion the evidence fairly.tends to show valid agreements for extension of six months from July 1, 1891, and also for a like period from January 1, 1892—the first, in consideration of the payment of $20 in advance, on account of interest, and the last, of an agreement to keep the money for that period at the same rate and the actual payment of a bonus of $500. Gilstrap testified that at the end of the first year’s extension (July 1, 1891), he wrote to Beuter and asked an extension until he could get money for some work he was doing, which Beuter granted. The answer he received was as follows : “ Bloomington, Ill., July 24, 1891. Hr. W. Gilstrap: Found the pocket book and draft a few days after I left you. I advertised it and had to pay $2.81 for protesting, etc., but it is all right. Please inform the bank it had been cashed here. In regard to your note will say that I do not need the money, having arranged for ■the purpose I wanted it for. Tou can have it for six months longer, and by that time if you should want it for the year it will be all right. Very respectfully, Albert Beuter.” And the note bears the following indorsement: “Received interest to July 1,1891, and $20 on interest due July 1, 1892.” From this evidence it may reasonably be inferred that the draft referred to in Beuter’s note was from Gilstrap, for the interest then due and the $20 indorsed on account of interest to become due. Gilstrap was an artist, but in what line or on what work he was then employed, does not appear. His request indicated no definite time, but his note was payable at one year from its date and his first extension was for one year. It is therefore not probable that he expected another for a longer period. Beuter could not know from his request just how long a time he desired, but had no reason to presume it was more than one year. The amount he received was in full for six months. He therefore accepted it as an advance payment for that period, but added that if at the end of that period Gilstrap should want to keep the money for the rest of the year it would be “ all right.” That was as satisfactory to Gilstrap as a present extension for a year. He might therefore well testify that by the consent of Beuter to an extension for six months, and the promise of six months more if he should then want it, his wish was fully met and his request, though indefinite as to him, fully “ granted.” Hence there was no occasion for a reply accepting the offer of Beuter, if it may be called an offer. Their minds had met. Beuter so understood it, for he kept the $20, indorsed its receipt on the note and never asked Gilstrap if it was satisfactory to him; nor did Gilstrap ever object. His silence, under the circumstances, was an acceptance. As the six months were about to. expire, he did express his wish to keep the money for the remaining six of the year, and says he sent. to Beuter $5 as a lonus for allowing him to do so, and received from him a card as follows: “ Bloomington, Ill., Dec. 15, 1891. To W. H. Gilstrap:— Letter and' draft for $5 received. The matter will be all right. Hope you will succeed. Very respectfully, Albert Beuter,” which is just what he had said in letter of July 24th; it would be, in that event, “ all right.” It is not claimed that to either of these extensions the sureties or any of them consented. Gilstrap’s testimony was not contradicted in any particular. He was a competent witness. Bradshaw, adm’x, etc., v. Combs, 102 Ill. 428; Dodgson v. Henderson, 113 Ill. 360. His request for extension implied an agreement to keep the money for the time granted and pay interest at the original rate, which was a valid consideration for it. Dodgson v. Henderson, supra; Crossman v. Wohlleben, 90 Ill. 537. So of interest paid in advance. Warner v. Campbell, 26 Ill. 282; Flynn v. Mudd, 27 Id. 323; Danforth v. Semple, 73 Id. 170. Even though it be usurious if actually paid and received for that purpose. Ibid., and Myers v. First Nat’l Bank, 78 Id. 257. Any valuable consideration so paid and received will make the agreement for extension valid. Danforth v. Semple, supra; Montague v. Mitchell, 28 Ill. 481. It appears that the decree was expressly based on a further extension by plaintiff in error before she was appointed administratrix and of which there was no allegation in the bill, as well as on those above stated. Evidence of such extension was introduced before the master and reported by him. The finding thereon by him and by the court, were unauthorized, and the decree so far as based thereon, was error, in all probability due to oversight; but if it was supported by proof of others given by her husband as alleged, it is not vitiated by such error. In our opinion it was so supported and will therefore be affirmed. Decree affirmed.