Case ID: minor_1/html/0176-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Chief Justice Lipscomb\n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Rapier, Administrator of Mays, against Holland and Bruce.
    
      December, 1823.
    In an action on Note payabie to administrator, testate maker cannot be set off.
    
      RAPIER, as administrator of Mays, brought an action of Debt in the Circuit Court of Lauderdale County, against Holland and Bruce, on their Bill single, payable to him as administrator. Defendants pleaded, first, payment to plaintiff : to which there was a replication and issue. Secondly, that Mays, at the time of his death, was indebted to Holland, the principal in the Bill single, in a larger amount than the sum claimed in the declaration, for work done, materi, ais, &c. &c. Replication : that the estate of Mays, at the time of commencing the suit, had been declared insolvent, and commissioners appointed to audit the claims against it, &c. Special demurrer to this replication and joinder. The Circuit Court sustained the demurrer. Rapier prosecuted a writ of Error to this Court, and assigned this matter as Error.
   Chief Justice Lipscomb

delivered the opinion of the Court.

If we were to admit that the special replication of the plaintiff was bad, we should be bound to look back to the first Error of the party demurring : there can be no doubt but that the defendants’ plea of set-off was bad, and would have been so held on general demurrer. In an action on a promise made to an administrator, a debt due from his intestate cannot be set off: the demands are in different rights : to set off the last against the first might do injustice to the rights of other creditors, and with our Statutes as to insolvent estates, &c. would tend to involve estates in endless confusion.

Coalter, for plaintiff in Error.

Martin, for defendant in Error.

Judgment reversed and cause remanded. 
      
      
        see Laws Ala. p. 329.