Collins v. Bane

Cole, J. 1. action: commencement of action: original notice. I. It is seldom that a cause is submitted to us, upon printed argument, evincing more ability and thoroughness of research, than are manifest in the arguments of the respective counsel in this, One questioning, in its nature preliminary, first demands our attention. Our statute of limitations (Revis [388] ion, section 2742), which enacts that the limitation prescribed by it “shall not apply, if from the answer of defendant, or from his testimony as a witness, it appears affirmatively that the cause of action still justly subsists,” was repealed by section thirty-five of chapter one hundred and sixty-seven, of the laws of 1870, approved April 16, 1870, and which took effect by publication, etc., three days thereafter. While the petition in this case was filed January 28, 1870, before this repealing act was .passed, the original notice was not delivered to the sheriff for service till the 17th day of June, 1870, after said act took effect. So that, although the act itself provides that it “ shall not affect the rights of parties in actions pending at the time of the passage of the act,” it does affect these parties, and repeals section 2742 as to them, for the delivery of the notice, was the commencement of the action. ^Revision, -section 2744. Section 2842, does not apply. 3. statute of limitations: new promise evidence: letter II. Our statute of limitations also ■ enacts, that actions founded on written contracts must be brought within ten years, after the cause of action accrues. Rev., § 2740, subd. 4, and also § 2751. “ Causes of action founded on contract are revived by an admission that the debt is unpaid, as well as by a new promise to pay the same. But such admission or new promise must be in writing, signed by the party to be charged thereby.” The cause was tried to the court, and all the evidence offered was admitted, subject to objections by defendant as to its competency, etc., with the understanding that the court would decide the questions of evidence, thus raised, when he should decide the case; and on the final hearing the court held all the evidence, as well the letters, as the parol testimony of the defendant in aid thereof, incompetent, and excluded the same in his consideration of the case. One item of evidence thus offered and rejected is a letter written and signed by the defendant, Cruson Bane, under [389] date of July 6th, 1868 (but which it is agreed was written and should be dated July 6, 1870), addressed “ dear cousin,” which letter tended to prove an admission that the debt is unpaid. In connection with this letter, the plaintiff also offered to prove by the oral testimony of defendant, that John Bane was the person addressed as “ dear cousin,” and that the letter was written by defendant in answer to one (now destroyed) from John Bane to him, which letter was signed by “ John Bane, executor of Robert Bane, and defendant supposed him to be such,” and stated that he had the note for collection and requested payment; this testimony was also rejected. Hereon is the first point made by the assignment of errors, and in the argument of counsel. The precise ground of objection to the admission of the letter in evidence is, that it was not addressed to a party in interest or to his agent. Without now deciding whether an admission in writing that a debt is unpaid, must, under our statute, be made to a party in interest, or to his agent, though it must be admitted that the tendency of the modern cases is, to hold that it must (3 Pars. on Cont. 5th ed., 85 and cases cited in notes; Bloodgood v. Bruen, 8 N. Y. 362), we are of the opinion that this letter was competent testimony, as was also the oral testimony of the defendant offered and rejected. The oral testimony was to establish the contents of-, a letter proved to have been written and destroyed. To that extent the testimony was the letter itself, it was in place of the letter, which being destroyed, rendered the oral testimony primary evidence. It was on the same subject-matter and between the same parties, and was a writing necessary to make the first letter fully understood, and was, therefore, within the rule prescribed by Revision, section 3992. Prom both letters it does appear that the admission in writing was made to a person claiming to have possession of the note for collection, and who was supposed by the defendant to have authority [390] to receive the money. Again, we think it was competent to show by parol, who it was that was addressed as “ dear cousinand this, upon the well-settled rule that parol evidence is admissible to show the subject-matter referred to, the person intended, and the surrounding circumstances of the author of the instrument, etc. 1 Greenl. on Ev., §§ 277, 282, 290, and cases cited in the notes. The whole of these facts being before the court or jury, might justify a finding that the person addressed, and to whom the admission was made, had a beneficial interest in the note, and, therefore, within the strict rule contended for by appellee’s counsel. III. The court also refused to consider, and rejected as incompetent a letter dated at the defendant’s residence June 3, 1868, and addressed to “ Dear Uncle; ” but to which there was no signature. The court did not err in thus ruling, since our statute requires the admission to be in writing signed by the party to be charged thereby. Rev., § 2751. IY. Another letter, which is marked “ A,” but is without date, and is signed “from Cruson Bane to Robert Bane,” was also rejected by the court, and not considered, for the reason that it was held incompetent, on the ground that it did not identify, refer to or specify the note sued on. This point was directly examined and passed upon by this court in Penley v. Waterhouse, 3 Iowa, 418 (i. e., 445), and while it was admitted that the authorities were in conflict (and many of them were cited), it was, nevertheless, held, that it was proper to leave the question to the jury to determine whether the defendant intended to acknowledge the particular debt sued on. We see no good reason to now justify us in overruling that decision The court erred therefore in rejecting this letter. V. Another letter of date April 19, 1868, addressed to ' Dear Uncle, Robert Bane,” and signed by the defendant, was also rejected for the same reason as the last. In this, [391] there was error also. But the counsel for appellee insist, and in an acute and well-put argument, seek to show that this letter instead of admitting the debt, does, in fact, deny that it is his debt, and asserts that it is the debt of David Bane, whom he proposes to make pay it. But whether the letter does admit the debt to be that of the defendant, when taken in connection with the other letters and evidence, is a question of fact for the jury, or the court acting in the place of a jury. Since the evidence was rejected by the comt, and there has been no finding upon it either way, it is, of course our duty to remand the cause for a trial upon the evidence, in the first instance, by that court VI. The plaintiff introduced the defendant as a witness, and he testified that the debt referred to in the letters written, by him was the note in controversy, etc. This testimony the court also rejected as incompetent. There was no error in so doing. The statute requires the admission to be in writing; parol evidence is not competent to prove it. 9.-surety. VII. The defendant testified in his own behalf, and without objection, that he was only surety on the note, for David Bane, and the payee so understood it; that the note was given tor money borrowed in this State, and he got none of it. It is now claimed by appellee’s counsel, that since the principal debtor is discharged by the statute of limitations, the defendant cannot be held on his new promise or admission. But, since the original debt was contracted upon his credit, as well as that of his principal, it is justly his debt. McNitt v. Helm, 29 Iowa, 302. Reversed.