Case ID: dall_1/html/0444-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "The Chief Justice", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Cummings, Assignee, versus Lynn.
    THIS was an action of Covenant, and the circumstances under which it came before the Court, were these: The plaintiff filed a declaration in the following words;
    
      "Joseph Lynn, late of the county of Philadelphia, yeoman, was sum " moned to answer James Cummings, assignee of James Campbell, and "Stephen Kingston, who were assignees of George Turner, of a plea that " he hold with him the covenants and agreements of him the said Jo- " seph with the said George made, according to the force, form, and " effect of a certain deed thereof by him the said Joseph, with the said " George made, &c. And thereupon the said James Cummings faith, that" on the 6th day of February, in the year of our Lord, one thousand " if seven hundred and eighty-four, at the county aforesaid, a certain " Nicholas Eveleigh, of the State of South-Carolina, by his certain of obligation, or writing obligatory, sealed with his seal, and to the if Court here shown, whose date is the day and year aforesaid, ac" knowledged himself to he held and firmly bound unto a certain " Lewis Lestargette, in the sum of three hundred: and sixty-four pounds, " twelve shillings, sterling money, in gold or silver specie at the rate of " four shillings and eight pence to the dollar, or one pound one shilling and " nine pence to the guinea, to be paid to the said Lewis his certain " attorney, executors, administrators and assigns, when he should ‘ afterwards be thereto required. And the said James Cummings, in ‘ fact faith, that the same sum of money, or any part thereof, be- " ing in no wife paid or satisfied, a certain Joseph Parker, for whose " use and benefit the obligation or writing obligatory aforesaid, was ‘ made as aforesaid, afterwards, to wit, on the twelfth day 01 May, ‘ in the year of our Lord, 1784, at the county aforesaid, by his ‘ certain deed ot assignment on the obligation or writing obliga- " tory aforesaid, under his hand and seal duly made and executed, ‘ before two credible witnesses, did assign, indorse and make over ‘ the obligation or writing obligatory aforesaid, to the said Joseph Lynn, as by the same deed of assignment, to the Court here shewn " appears. And the said James Cummings further in fact faith that “ the said Joseph Lynn afterwards, to wit, on the 8th day of Sep‘‘ tember, in the year last aforesaid, at the county aforesaid, the said sum of money, or any part thereof, being in no wife paid or satis “ fied, by his certain deed of assignment on the said writing obligatory under his hand and seal duly made and executed, before two cre " dible witnisses, did assign, indorse, and make over the said obligation, or writing obligatory, to the said George Turner for value “ received of him. And the said James Cummings further in fact “ faith, that the said Joseph Lynn, in and by his said deed of assign “ ment did covenant and agree to and with the said George Turner, “ and his assigns, that the sum of money aforesaid should be well and " truly paid to the said George Turner, or his assigns, agreeably to “ the said obligation, or writing obligatory, as by the same deed of “ assignment to the Court here shown appears. And the said James “ Cummings further in fast faith, that the said George Turner after “ wards,* wit, on the 18th day of November, in the year last afore- “ said, at the county aforesaid, the said sum of money, being in no “ wife paid, or satisfied, did by his certain deed of assignment, on “ the said obligation or writing obligatory duly made and executed, under his hand and seal, before two credible witnesses, assign, in- “ dorse, and make over the said obligation or writing obligatory, “ to the said James Campbell, and Stephen Kingston, and their assigns, for value received of them, and by the same deed of assignment “ the said George did then and there covenant with the said James ‘ Campbell and Stephen Kingston, and their assigns, that the said sum ‘‘ of money should be well and truly paid to the said James Camp- “ bell and Stephen Kingston, or their assigns, agreeably to the said ob- " ligation or writing obligatory, as by the same deed of assignment" to the Court here shown appears. And the said James Cummings further in fact faith, that the said James Campbell and Stephen King" ston afterwards, to wit, on the eighteenth day of December, in the " year last aforesaid, at the county aforesaid, the said sum of money being in no wife paid or satisfied, by their certain deed of " assignment on the said obligation or writing obligatory duly made "and executed, under their hands and seals, before two credibly witnesses, did assign, endorse, and make over the obligation or writing obligatory to the said James Cummings, and by the same deed of assignment, the said James Campbell and Stephen Kingston did then and there covenant, with the said James Cummings, that the said sum of money should be well and truly paid to the said James Cummings, agreeably to the said obligation or writing obligatory, as by the same deed of assignment to the Court here shown appears, Yet the said Nicholas Eveleigh, or the said Joseph Parker, or the said Joseph Lynn, or the said George Turner, or the said James Campbell, or Stephen Kingston, the sum of money aforesaid, or any part thereof, to the said James Cummings, although often required, hath not paid, by reason whereof action hath accrued to the said James Cummings, to demand and have the Said sum of money of and from the said Joseph Lynn: Nevertheless the said Joseph Lynn, the same sum of money, or any part thereof, to the said James Cummings hath not paid, although to do this the said Jojeph Lynn afterwards, to unit, on the 19th day of the same month of December, in the year last aforesaid, at the county aforesaid, was, by the said James Cummings required, but the same to him to pay hath hitherto refused, and still doth resuse, to the damage of the said James Cummings, One thousand pounds, lawful money of the State of Pennsylvania, and thereof he bringeth suit, &c.” “ “ u if it it it a tt it 6* ft “
    
    The Defendant craved Oyer of the bond, condition, and assignment stated in the declaration, which was given in the following Words:—
    
      “ South-Carolina.
    
    “KNOW all men by these presents, that I Nicholas Eveleigh, “ of the said State, planter, am held and firmly bound unto Lewis “ Lestarjette, merchant, in the full and just sum of three hundred “ and sixty-four pounds, twelve shillings, sterling money, in gold “ or silver specie, at the rate of four shillings, and eight pence to “ the dollar, or one pound, one shillings, and nine pence to the “ guinea, to be paid unto the said Lewis Lestarjette, his certain attor “ ney, executors, administrators, or assigns: To which payment “ well and truly to be made and done, I bind myself, and each “ and every of my heirs, executors, and administrators, firmly by “ these present, sealed with my seal, and dated the sixth day of Fe “ bruary, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and “ eighty-four.
    “THE CONDITION of the above obligation is such, that if the above “ bound Nicholas Eveleigh, his heirs, executors, or administrators, shall and do well and truly pay, of cause to be paid, unto the above “ named Lewis Lestargette, his certain attorney, executors, admi- “ nistrators, or assigns, the full and just sum of one hundred, and eighty-two pounds, six shillings, sterling money, in gold and sil “ ver specie, at the rate of four shillings and eight pence to the “ dollar, or one pound, one shilling, and nine pence to the guinea, “ with interest from the date hereof, on or before the first day of “ January, which will be in the year of our Lord, one thousand “ seven hundred and eighty-five, without fraud or further delay, “ then the above obligation to be void and of non-effect, or else “ to remain in full force and virtue.
    N. EVELIEGH.” (L.S.)
    
      Sealed and delivered in the presence of John M'Queen,
    “ N. B. This bond is a renewal of an old debt contracted by Col. “ M. Eveleigh to Mr. Jos. Parker, for the above amount, in the year “1780. L. LESTARJETTE.”
    “I DO hereby assign all my right, title, claim, property, and “ demand of the within bond to Joseph Lynn, of the city of Phila- “ delphia, merchant, for his sole use and benefit, for value received, “ 12th May, 1784.
    Witness.
    JOS. PARKER.” (L. S.)
    Cropley Rose, Alexander Major.
    “I DO hereby assign at the request, and with the consent of “ the above signed Joseph Parker, all my right, title, claim, pro- “ perty, and demand, of, in and to the within bond, to George Tur- “ ner, of Philadelphia, for his sole use and benefit. Value received * of him, this twenty-eighth day of September, 1784.
    Witness.
    Jacob Baker, Cad, Morris.
    JOSEPH LYNN.” (L.S.)
    '“IDO hereby assign all my right, title, claim, property, and “ demand of, in and to the within bond, to Messrs. James Camp- “ bell, and Stephen Kingston, of Philadelphia, merchants, for their “joint use and benefit: Value of them received, this eighteenth “ day of November, 1784.
    Witness.
    G. TURNER.” (L. S.)
    Alexander Major, Henry M. Van Slingen.
    “ W E do hereby assign all our right, title, claim, interest, pro- “ perty, and demand of, in and to the within bond, to James Cum“ ming, of Charleson, merchant, for his use and benefit: Value re “ ceived in account with him, Philadelphia, 18th December, 1784.
    Witness.
    JAMES CAMPBELL, (L. S.) STEPHEN KINGSTON.”
    James Rankin, Alexander Major-
    
      Upon this, the Defendant demurred for the variance between the covenants dated and assigned in the declaration, and the covenants appearing upon Oyer of the bond, condition, and assignments: And upon a joinder in demurrer, the question was brought before the Court, Whether this action of Covenant could be maintained on Lynns alignment? which was argued at the last term, by Tilghman and Sergeant, for the Defendant; and Lewis and Ingersoll for the Plaintiff.
    
      For the Defendant, it was contended, in support of the demurrer, that the alignment by Parker, was not within the act of assembly, 1 State Laws, 77. for Lestargette was the legal obligee, and Parker only the obligee in interest; and, as no suit could have been maintained in Parker’s name, arguments drawn from the act cannot apply to support the present action, but the assignment must be considered as made at common law.
    That although Turner might have sued Lynn, yet, as it was only an equitable assignment, which is the case in respect to all choses in action, where positive law does not interpose, Turne,’s assignee could not support such an action, 2 Vez. 181. 1 P. Will. 252. 2 Black. Rep. 1140. Cho. J. 179. The alignment is only an authority to receive the money; or, at most, a covenant, that, if Lynn received it, he would pay it to his assignee. There is nothing like an express covenant on the part of Lynn; though, relying on the word assigned, it will, perhaps, be contended, that there is an implied covenant. But, that (as it is already observed) is only an authority to receive the money; and the assignor can be guilty of no breach, unless he interferes with the recovery of his assignee.—1 L. Raym. 683. 3 Keb. 304. 2 L. Raym. 1242. 12 Med. 553. 1 Mod. 113. The law, indeed, will make a covenant where a man contravenes his agreement, by deed under hand and seal. See 11 Mod. 171. Cro. E. 157. But no action of covenant has ever been brought in England by the assignee of a bond against the assignor, which furnishes a strong argument that no such action will lie; 1 L. Raym. 683 12 Mod. 553. And there has been no judgment of any Court in Pennsylvania upon this point. The law is clear with respect to chattels in possession, that then an express warranty is necessary. 2 Salk. 210. 1 Stra. 459. See Bull. N. P. 272. Promissory notes are assignable to this effect by positive statute; for, at common law, the indorsee could not sue the indorser in his own name. See 1 State Laws, 77.
    (That, at least, due diligence ought to have been used to obtain the money from the obligor, as in the case of bills of exchange, or promissory notes, where a demand should not only be proved, but alledged, or it would be fatal on a writ of error. See Doug. In the present case no action was ever brought, nor any other attempt alledged to have been made for the recovery of the money, from the person who was originally bound to pay it,
    
      
      For the Plaintiff, in answer to these objections, it was insisted, that the assignment was under the act of assembly; and the following books were cited. 1 Bac. Abr. 527. 30. 2 Com. Dig. 560 a. 4; 2 Black. Rep. 1640. L. Raym. 442. 1 Salk. 133. That, by all the cases cited, it appeared, that the word assigned amounts to a covenant that the money should be paid; that it was immaterial whether the assignment was legally made to Lynn, or not; since, if he had assigned what he had not a right to assign, that would in itself be a breach to support an action of covenant; that a bill, originally negotiable, will be so in the hands of every indorsee, although, the indorsement should not be to order. 1 Black. 295. 1 Stra. 557.—And that as this bond was assignable in its nature, by virtue of an act of assembly, the defendant, having undertaken to assign it, rendered himself liable in an action of covenant to every subsequent assignee. And that if a demand was at all necessary, it sufficiently appeared in the general allegation in the declaration.
   The Chief Justice

now delivered the unanimous opinion of the Court;—That the assignment by Joseph Parker to Joseph Lynn was not an assignment according to the act of assembly ( 1 State Laws 77.)but only a transfer of the equitable interest in the bond ; and that Joseph Lynn could not by virtue thereof maintain an action against the obligor in his own name. The bond was payable to Lestargette; and, although Parker might have released it, it could only at common law, be sued or assigned by the former, See Jenk, Cent. 221. ca. 75.

That Joseph Lynn, the defendant, only assigned his equitable interest in the bond to George Turner. It appears indeed manifestly by the previous assignment of Joseph Parker (which was equally known to Turner and to Lynn) that he had no other interest to assign. It is, therefore, the mere transfer of a chose in action; and, even if an action of covenant might have been brought by George Turner against Lynn on the word assigned; yet, no such action could be maintained against him by the present Plaintiffs, as Lynn's assignment is not made to George Turner and his assigns.

That the covenant implied by the word assigned, extends only to this, that the assignee should receive the money from the obligor to his own use; and, if the obligee should receive it, that then the assignor would be answerable over for it.

By the Court :—For these reasons, let judgment be entered for the Defendant.