Case ID: ad_40/html/0572-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Landon, J.:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Luella Banker, Respondent, v. Alonzo B. Coons, as Executor, etc., of Avery Horton, Deceased, Appellant.
    
      A contract to pay upon a contingency, after the promisor's death, is enforcible.
    
    An instrument in the following terms:
    “ Sharon, April, 1878.
    “After the death of Elizabeth and Avery Horton, for value received, I promise there shall be paid by my administrators or executors to Luella Banker, if living, if not to her heirs, if any, if none, to my nearest kin, three thousand dollars, with interest.
    “AVERT HORTON.”
    constitutes upon its face a valid contract which, in the absence of proof that no-consideration in fact existed therefor, is enforcible by Luella Banker against the executors of Avery Horton in case she survives Elizabeth and Avery Horton.
    
      Queers, as to the effect upon the contract of the' death of Luella Banker before that of Elizabeth and Avery Horton.
    Appeal by the defendant, Alonzo B. Coons, as executor, etc., of Avery Horton, deceased, from a judgment of the Supreme Court in favor of the plaintiff, entered in the office of the clerk of the county of Schoharie on the 10th day of August, 1898, upon the report of a referee.
    
      L. H. Jackson, for the appellant.
    
      N. M. Banker and H. V. Borst, for the respondent.
   Landon, J.:

The plaintiff has recovered judgment upon an instrument in these words •

“ Shabon, April, 1878.
“After the death of Elizabeth and Avery Horton, for value received, I promise there shall be paid by my administrators or executors to Luella Banker, if living, if not to her heirs, if any, if none, to my nearest kin, three thousand dollars with interest.
“AVERT HORTON.
“ N. B. Luella keep this note very secure. Will you ? ’

The maker, Avery Horton, delivered the instrument to the plaintiff about the time of its date. She has had possession of it ever since. Aside from the words value received,” there is no evidence as to consideration. The Elizabeth Horton named in the instrument was Avery Horton’s wife. She died in 1881. Avery Horton died in 1896, leaving a will in which the plaintiff is one of the legatees. No interest had been paid upon the instrument.

We think that the judgment should be affirmed. The instrument is a contract made upon a consideration expressed therein, and not disproved. Its genuineness and delivery to the plaintiff by the maker were proved. It is not necessary to characterize it as a non-negotiable note; it is simply necessary to observe that it is a valid contract to pay upon consideration a fixed sum to the plaintiff, if' she should be alive to receive it at the due day thereof. (Prindle v. Caruthers, 15 N. Y. 425.) She was alive and, therefore, entitled to the benefit of the promise. We are not called upon to consider what would be the case if she had died before the contract matured. Presumably the consideration moved to the maker from the plaintiff, or in her behalf, and if she chose to be content with an obligation which would substitute some one in her place upon her death before its maturity, and the promisor assented, the law assents, no question of public policy existing. It certainly cannot displace her as the obligee or payee contrary to the conditions of the obligation. The obligation is not a gift; the consideration disproves that, and also the claim that it is a testamentary provision. The maker could promise, upon consideration, that his executors or administrators should pay. (Hegeman v. Moon, 131 N. Y. 462.) The consideration was not disproved, and, therefore, the defense fails.

The defendant now objects to the costs awarded in the judgment upon the direction of the referee. No exception seems to have been expressly taken as to costs. The case does not present the facts necessary to enable us to pass upon the question.

All concurred.

Judgment affirmed, with costs.