Case ID: stew_2/html/0498-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      By JUDGE PERRY.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Munn v. Pope.
    X. Under tlie*general issue, in assumpsit, any evidence tending to increase ’ or* diminish the value of the article sold, is proper evidence,>so as to ascertain its true value.
    
      2. If a party agrees to receive property in payment, it may be proven as payment under the general issue, to the extent of'its value or stipulated price.
    This was an action of assumpsit tried' in Madison Cir¿uit Court, in which Matthias Munn was plaintiff, and Benjamin S. Pope, was defendant. The action was brought to recover the price of a cotton gin sold and delivered, &c. the pleas.were non-assumpsit, payment and set off . On the trial, the plaintiff, under the common counts, proved the delivery of a forty-seven saw cotton gin to the defendant, and that the usual price of gins was four dollars per saw. The defendant proved that the plaintiff agreed to •deliver him a first rate gin, and to receive in part payment his old cotton gin, and that he had delivered'it to him, and had paid him forty-four dollars for the balance. He also introduced several witnesses to shew that the gin delivered by the plaintiff was not first rate, but was very inferior, and also that soon after the gin was received, that he was-compelled to pay another workman $25, for necessary Work to put it in proper repair. To the introduction of this evidence the plaintiff objected, but the objection was overruled, and the evidence was permitted to go to the jury; to which the plaintiff excepted. There was a ver‘diet for the defendant, and judgment thereupon. The admission of this evidence is assigned for error.
    Brandon and -Urquhart, for the plaintiff in error.
    
    Thornton & PE&TE,.fbf the defendant.
    
      
       Líttell’s selected cases. 198-99-200? X Mason's R. 53.
    
   By JUDGE PERRY.

It is contended that the judgment should be reversed, 1st. Because the Court below permitted the defendant to prove the bad quality of the ■gin; 2d. Because the Court below permitted the defendant to prove repairs done to the gin; and 3dly. Because the Court permitted the defendant to prove that the old gin was taken in part payment for the new one.

As to the first ground taken by the plaintiff in error, I hold it to be a well settled.rule of law, that where a party seeks to recover the value of an article sold, all testimony is admissible on either side, which tendsto prove or ascertain its true value. The plaintiff was therefore bound to shew what the value of the gin was; this he did, by proving that the usual value of gins per saw was four dollars. This testimony would have authorized a recovery for that amount, had the defendant acquiesced. But as the value ■of the gin was the matter in dispute, it was competent for him to shew by proof that the gin was of less value than that fixed as the usual price of first rate cotton gins. The testimony was therefore properly received.

The second point taken by the plaintiff is involved in the first, inasmuch as it was necessary to the usefulness of the gin to have it repaired, it was lessened in value, as proved by the plaintiff, to the extent of the repairs made.

The third question presents the inquiry, if, under the general issue, any thing else besides money, can be a payment? I hold it to be an incontrovertable principle, that whatever a party agrees to receive in payment of a debt, will be considered as such, and can be given in evidence under the general issue. The plaintiff, then, by his agreement, promised to take the defendant’s old gin in part payment for his new one; so far as the value of the old gin could be ascertained, it was a good payment for so much. The Court are unanimous in the opinion that the Court did not err in admitting the defendant’s testimony.

Judgment affirmed.