Peterson v. Wheeler

Currier, Judge, delivered the opinion of the court. The plaintiffs sue on five promissory notes aggregating $285, exclusive of interest. The defendant alleges substantially, in the way of defense, that he accounted with the plaintiffs concerning these notes and the payments thereon, and that, upon such accounting, it ivas found that he OAYed them $250; that he thereupon paid $50, and promised to pay the balance on request; that such accounting was in full satisfaction of said notes, and that it was so accepted at the time by the plaintiffs. The fifty dollar payment and a promise to trade with the plaintiffs for the three next ensuing years are alleged as inducements to the settlement, and it is also alleged that the accounting was reduced to writing and signed by the plaintiffs. These facts do not constitute a bar to the action. The notes are not alleged to have been either paid, canceled, or surrendered; nor is it averred that there was any agreement for their surrender or release, or that the defendant has either paid or offered to pay the acknowledged balance against him. The answer seems to have been framed upon the theory of an accord and satisfaction; but the facts alleged merely show an accord without satisfaction, and without even a tender of satisfaction. The allegations on this point go no further than to assert a readiness to pay the agreed balance on demand. The transaction set out in the answer, at most, amounts to an executory accord, and that constitutes no bar to a suit brought to recover the original indebtedness. (See Brooklyn Bank v. De Graw, 23 Wend. 341, and the authorities cited in the opinion of the court.) The circumstance that the “accounting ” was in writing does not vary the result. The statute of frauds is not in question. The defendant’s counsel have endeav [371] ored to put the case on the ground that the facts alleged constituted a release of the original indebtedness, and cited some authorities; but the authorities cited give no support to that view of the subject. At the trial the sufficiency of the answer was drawn in question by the instructions and by objections to the defendant’s evidence, which instructions and objections are based upon the theory that the facts stated in the answer do not constitute a bar to the suit. Instructions were given and refused, and objections to evidence overruled, upon an opposite theory, and therein the court, in my opinion, committed error. The other judges concurring, the judgment will be reversed and the cause remanded.