Wheaton v. Bartlett

Mr. Justice Burke delivered the opinion of the court. The construction of the note introduced in evidence is the sole question involved in this case. Appellant contends that the clause purporting to limit his liability will be given effect when the language alone of the note is properly construed, and that if there be doubt as to its meaning, parol evidence is admissible ' to show the intention of the parties in inserting such clause. The object which is to be aimed at in construing the contract of the parties is to discover and give effect to their intention. Where a clause in a'contract is capable of two constructions, one which will give it some operation and the other which' will render it meaningless, the contract should be so construed as to render the clause effectual. Each part of the instrument should be viewed in the light of the other parts thereof, in order to arrive at the intention of the parties. These are elementary propositions requiring the citation of no authorities and which must be applied to the interpretation of the language of this note. The meaning of the agreement as to liability in this clause of the note is to be found in its words read in the light of surrounding circumstances as disclosed by the evidence. Street v. Wharfing and Storage Company, 157 Ill. 605; Ferry v. Miltimore, 64 Ill. App. 557. The abstract does not show of what kind of partnership the new firm was, whether trade, professional or other kind; and even though the signing of this note did not come within the scope of the partnership, still as between the members of the new firm and Bartlett, the liability to Bartlett could have been made joint, and a partnership liability. It is a legal presumption that Griffith, Jones and Wheaton, through the said purchase from Bartlett, each acquired an undivided third interest therein, whether purchased by them as partners, or as individuals. However, under the rules of construction of contracts, no meaning must be imported into the note which the law does not place there, and it is therefore impossible to say from the note itself whether the undertaking, even if joint, is that of the members of a partnership as such, or of the members as individuals. A partnership is not a legal entity. Meadowcroft v. People, 162 Ill. 56. It is true the note is signed Griffith & Company, but are Griffith & Company a partnership of such kind that this note can become a partnership liability as distinguished from the joint liability of three men not in partnership ? Bearing in mind that each of the three acquired an undivided one-third interest of the retiring partner, such interest passed through each purchaser before it became, if ever, a portion of the assets of the new firm. What Bartlett .sold was his interest in the net balance of the assets of the firm remaining due him after all partnership debts were paid and the equities between him and his copartners were adjusted. Sindelar v. Walker, 137 Ill. 43; Trowbridge v. Cross, 117 Ill. 109. The abstract shows that Wheaton, Griffith and Jones bought out their partner and thereafter formed the new firm. The abstract shows that the sale and purchase did not follow, but preceded the creation of the new firm. It therefore follows that Wheaton, Griffith and Jones did not as the new firm, but did as individuals, purchase the interest for which the note in question was given. Moreover, there is some conflict among the authorities as to whether parol evidence is admissible, and if so, how far, to reconcile and make effectual the various terms and clauses of the note. It is a principle of evidence that a written contract can not be contradicted or varied by evidence of an oral agreement entered into between the parties before or at the time of making such contract; consequently, parol evidence of an oral agreement alleged to have been made at the time of making the note in question can not be permitted to vary, add to or subtract from the absolute term of the written instrument. Walker v. Crawford, 56 Ill. 444. From this record we do not know of what the assets or property of the old firm of Griffith & Company consisted, and it was doubtless intended that Wheaton, Griffith and Jones should proceed with the business, whatever it may have been, and that the new firm from its business would pay this note according to its terms; and judging from the indorsements which appear on the note, the firm did pay at the rate stipulated for six months, and then six payments of $25 each were made by appellant, but whether these payments were made by him with partnership assets or not, the record does not show. It is evident from a careful reading of this note and from the facts of the case, that the payee accepted it as though it read, “ We, each, however, limiting his personal liability to $300, promise to pay, etc., $900; but to, make up this sum, each one of us does not hereby make himself personally liable to pav more than $300.” This reading of the note does not seem to do violence to its meaning and true intent. The payee and retiring partner accepted, for reasons of his own, this note with such limitation. It is not an unnatural construction to be given to the note. It would be absurd, in an attempt to give effect to this clause limiting liability, to say that it was merely a memorandum of adjustment by and between Wheaton, J ones and Griffith. Such an agreement certainly would not bind creditors of the firm and would not make more certain the respective interests of Wheaton, Jones and Griffith. We hold that the trial court was right in refusing to receive parol evidence that would modify the note; but as we understand the offer of counsel, the. evidence offered might have been received without committing reversible error, for it would not have contradicted or modified the note; but we think that in view of the state of the record and the relation of the parties admitted by counsel, and the context of the note, that the court erred in entering judgment. As the case must be retried, the issues should first be formed and regard be had to the condition of the record as to the pleadings. The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.