Case Name: Hamilton v. P. A. Carnes
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1835-03
Citations: 4 Cranch 531
Docket Number: 
Parties: Hamilton v. P. A. Carnes.
Judges: (Thruston, J., absent,)
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 4
Pages: 531–531

Head Matter:
Hamilton v. P. A. Carnes.
An offer by the defendant to the plaintiff’s agent, after the commencement of the suit, to pay the debt in a manner and upon terms 'which he was not authorized to accept, is not a sufficient promise to take the case out of the statute of limitations.
Assumpsit on two promissory notes. Plea, limitations. General replication and issue.
Mr. Nathan Smith,
a witness for the plaintiff, upon the trial testified, that in a conversation with the witness, who was the agent of the plaintiff, the defendant said that if he would withdraw this suit he would give the witness an order on his partner at New Orleans for the amount; but the witness was not authorized to dismiss the suit upon those terms.
Mr. Morjfit, for the defendant,
contended that this was not a sufficient promise to take the case out of the statute of limitations, and cited Reed v. Wilkinson, 2 Wash. C. C. B,. 514, and Bell v. Morrison, 1 Peters, 351.
Mr. Fendall, contra,
cited Wetzel v. Bussard, 1 Wheat. 309.

Opinion:
The Court
(Thruston, J., absent,)
upon the authority of Bell v. Morrison, and because the new promise was made after the commencement of this suit, were of opinion, and instructed the jury, that the defendant's promise so made, did not take the case out of the statute of limitations.