Hatten v. Robinson

Dewey, J. Assumpsit. The declaration contains two special counts, one founded on a promise by Hatten to Robinson to execute to him a promissory note for 700 dollars, the other on a promise to make a note for 600 dollars; there is also a count for money had and received. Plea, the general issue. The cause was submitted to the Court without a jury. Judgment for the plaintiff. The evidence was as follows: One Howard, with Hatten as his surety, had given to Robinson a promissory note for 700 dollars, the consideration of which was corn purchased by Howard from Robinson. Howard absconded. Robinson and Hatten pursued and overtook him. It was arranged among the three, that Howard should pay Robinson 100 dollars, and execute his four notes to Hatten, with one Kelley as his surety,. each for 150 dollars, payable in one, two, three, and four years, with 10 per cent, interest; that Robinson should deliver up, as satisfied, the note for 700 dollars against Howard and Hatten; and that Hatten should become solely responsible to Robinson for 600 dollars, the balance of the 700 dollars due on the note given up. This arrangement Avas carried into immediate execution, and Hatten repeated his promise to Robinson to pay him the 600 dollars, and often, afterwards, admitted the promise and his liability to pay the money. To the sufficiency of this evidence the defendant objected; his objection was overruled, and he excepted. We do not think the evidence justifies the finding and judgment of the Circuit Court. The special counts are not sustained, because they lay promises to execute notes; and the undertaldng proved was to pay money. This variance is fatal. The general principle governing actions for money had and received is, that the defendant must have come to the possession of money, which he cannot conscientiously withhold from the plaintiff. But as the action is equitable in its character, and peculiarly designed for the advancement of justice, many cases have been decided in favour of plaintiffs with strong claims to redress, in which the defendants have not actually received money. In all these cases, however, they had received something which really, or presumptively, was converted into money before suit brought, or which was received as money and instead of it. The defendant in this case did not [481] receive any money; nor can it be presumed that the notes which he did receive had produced money at the ment of the action, for none of them was due at that time; nor did he receive these notes as money, either in his own estimation or in that of the plaintiff. A. S. White, R. A. Lockwood, and J. Pettit, for the appellant. 1. Naylor, for the appellee. Could the plaintiff have maintained an action for money had and received on the original note for 700 dollars, which was cancelled, or in other words, if that note would have been evidence that its makers owed him for money had and received, he could contend, with great plausibility, for success in this suit. That a promissory note is such evidence, against a maker who has been benefited by its consideration may be true; but it is not evidence of money had and received against a surety who had no connection with the consideration, Wells v. Girling, 8 Taunt. 737. Had either of the special counts been sustained by the evidence, the result might have been different. As the case presents itself, the action cannot be maintained. Per Curiam. The judgment is reversed with costs. Cause remanded, &c.