Case ID: binn_3/html/0413-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Per Curiam.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Clemson against Bush.
    
      Philadelphia,
    
    
      Saturday, March 30.
    The court will defendant out of custody upon the ground of therTínosuggestión of fraud or imposition! but will leave him to make use of that fact upon ins defence *
    UPON the return of a rule upon the plaintiff to shew cause why the defendant should not be discharged on common bail,
    Tilghman C. J. The court will ask any questions which they may think necessary, but not the party. You may however propose to the court any question for the witness, and they will decide upon it.
    
      
      Hopkinson produced a positive affidavit of a debt due by the defendant for goods sold and delivered.
    T „ , , . . . . M. Levy called the plaintiff with a view of interrogating him.
    
      
      M. Levy suggested that the defendant was but nineteen years of age at this time, and he wished to ask the plaintiff whether at the time of selling the goods, he did not know that the defendant was under twenty-one.
   Per Curiam.

We do not think- it proper to inquire into the defendant’s age ill this stage of the cause. If the defendant was under age, and he shall think proper to make that defence, the law will give him the advantage of it; but in the present stage of the business, the court think it immaterial. We do not wish to afford encouragement to persons, who knowing their own age, contract debts which they afterwards wish to get rid of. There has been no suggestion of any fraudulent artifices on the part of the plaintiff, to draw an unwary young man into improper expenses. Should such a case be presented, it may deserve consideration.

Rule discharged.

See Madox v. Eden, 1 Bos. and Pul. 480., Gardiner v. Holt, 2 Stra. 1217., Gladman v. Bateman, Barnes 418.