Case ID: ala_6/html/0737-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "GOLDTHWAITE, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

VANCE v. WELLS & CO.
    1. Where'a feme is sued on a promissory note nwde by her when covert, and she pleads her coverture in bar, it is not a good replication that she promised to pay tire trote after her husband’s death, unless some new consideration or previous! 'Moral obligation is shewn to- support lire promise.
    Weít of erior to the Circuit Co’uut of Russell county.
    Assumpsit by Wells & Co.- against Mrs. Vance, on a promissory note. Plea, coverture. Replication, that since the death of the husband, the defendant promised to pay. The defendant demurred to this replication, but the court oveiruled the demurrer, and gave judgment for the plaintiff. This is now assigned-as error.-
    S'. Heydenfeldt, for the plaintiff in error
    cited 1 Strange,. 94; 1- Shower, 188; 2 B. & A. 811; 8 Term, 545; 1 Bailey, 184; Ruger v. Lesporles, ex-r, 1 Dudley. 188; 1 Com. on Con. 162; Gould’s Plead. 453, 567.
    No- counsel appeared for the defendant in error.
   GOLDTHWAITE, J.

A married woman, in general, can-

not be a party to a promissory note or bill of exchange, so as to charge herself to liability in a court of law. [Chitty on Bills-, 24.] Indeed, it has been held, that during, coverture, she is not capable to contract, although separated from her husband. [Marshall v. Rutter, 8 Term, 545.] In the case of Lee v. Muggeridge, [5 Taunt. 37,]. where a feme was under a moral obligation to pay' a bond executed by her when covert, and she, after the death of her husband, promised to pay it, her executors were held liable on this subsequent promise. But here, there is no moral obliga-tion shown, nor any new consideration to support the subsequent-promise; and as the contract was wholly void by reason of co--verture, the subsequent promise to pay, was without consideran tion, and cannot bind her.

Judgment reversed, and cause remanded.-