Gails v. Osceola

Land, J. This suit was commenced by a provisional seizure for the recovery of the sum of $456 40, alleged to he due for materials furnished and work and labor done on the schooner Osceola, for which the plaintiff claimed a privilege on the vessel. The defendant excepted to the jurisdiction of the court, on the grounds that his domicil was in the parish of Livingston, and that the plaintiff’s privilege, if it ever existed, had been lost by limitation. He also moved to set aside the writ of provisional seizure. His exceptions were overruled, and he answered to the merits by pleading a general denial, payment, novation, and a demand in recon-vention for $1200. The general denial was waived by the pleas of payment and novation. Dean v. Jackson, 1 N. S. 172 ; Furgurson v. Thomas, 3 N. S. 75 ; Judice v. Brent, 6 N. S. 226. These pleas admitted the former existence of the draft, and the defendant thereby assumed the burden of proof on himself to show that the debt had been extinguished in one of the modes pleaded in his answer. Prom the evidence, it appears that the plaintiff and defendant, G. W. Watterson, the owner of the schooner, had a settlement of accounts for the materials furnished and the work done on the Osceola, and that the plaintiff signed a receipt at the foot of his account, in these words : “ Eeceived, April 5th, 1857, from G. W. Watterson one hundred dollars in cash and an order on S. Newburger for the balance in full.” It is well settled law, that where the creditor “ receives in payment of Ms debt” either the note of his debtor or that of a third person, or a draft upon a third person, it is a novation of the debt, which is thereby extinguished with all its aeeessory rights and privileges. Barron v. How, 2 N. S. 144; Abat v. Nolté, 6 N. S. 637 ; Hunt v. Boyd, 2 L. 111; Walton v. Bemiss, 16 L. 140 ; White v. McDowell, 4 A. 543. In the case of Barron v. How the account was receipted as follows : “ Eeceived payment by David Falcott’s notes at three and four months.” . In the case of Abat v. Nolté the proof was direct that the draft had been received in payment of the antecedent debt. In the case of Hunt v. Boyd, the account was receipted as follows : “ Eeceived payment by draft of John Boyd & Co. at thirty days sight. In the case of Walton v. Bemiss the account was receipted thus : “ Eeceived payment by note payable at four months.” In the case of White v. McDowell the account was receipted : “ Eeceived payment by note of Elizabeth Boss.” [55] In all these cases there was an express acknowledgment in writing, or direct proof that the note or draft had been received in payment. In the case before the court there is no such express admission or direct proof that the order or draft on Newburger was received by the plaintiff in payment of the balance of his account. The draft was received for the balance in full ; and it is as just and reasonable to say that it was received in full of the account when paid, as to say it was in full payment of the account. Novation is not presumed, it must be express, or result clearly from the terms of the agreement, or from a full discharge of the original debt. O.'O. 2186. The defendant has, therefore, failed to prove a novation of his .original debt, and has likewise failed tojjrove its payment. As to the reconventional claim of defendant, we are of opinion that his settlement of accounts with the plaintiff on the 5th of April, 1857, was a waiver of any demands that he might have had against plaintiff growirig out of his contract for materials and repairs to the schooner Osceola. The exception to the jurisdiction of the court was properly overruled ; the proceeding was in rent founded on a privilege which attached to the schooner. Hennen v. Steamer St. Helena, 5 An. 352. The privilege was not prescribed at the date of the seizure. The vessel was in possession of the plaintiff, undergoing repairs, on the 22d of March, 1857, and this suit was commenced and the schooner provisionally seized on the 13th of April following. C. C. 3212 ; Lee v. Creditors, 2 An. 599 ; Scott v. Creditors, 3 An. 40. It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment bo affirmed, with costs in both courts.