Case Name: JAMES J. HUGHS, ADM'R, ETC., v. RICHARD P. MULLINS
Court: Tennessee Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Tennessee
Decision Date: 1877-09
Citations: 2 Shan. Cas. 394
Docket Number: 
Parties: JAMES J. HUGHS, ADM’R, ETC., v. RICHARD P. MULLINS.
Judges: 
Reporter: Tennessee Cases with Notes and Annotations
Volume: 2
Pages: 394–395

Head Matter:
JAMES J. HUGHS, ADM’R, ETC., v. RICHARD P. MULLINS.
Knoxville,
September Term, 1877.
1. BILLS AND NOTES. Eor bank notes at par, judgment foi’ full amount.
Wliere a note is payable “in bank notes which, shall be ai par,” the judgment thereon must be for the full amount, and not merely for the value of current bank notes. This contract means that the bank notes must be of equal value with lawful money [which is carried out by rendering judgment for the amount in dollars and cents, which can only be discharged in lawful or legal tender money].
2. SAME. Bank notes and Confederate money, sufficient consideration, when.
Such note is not affected by the fact that the consideration thereof was bank notes and partly Confederate money, where not so inadequate as to shock the conscience, where the maker used the. money in paying for land, and where there was no fraud or unconscionable advantage taken of him, though it was a hard and improvident bargain on his part.

Opinion:
McFarland, J.,
delivered the opinion, of tbe court:
The only question in this case is, whether the defendant, Mullins, is liable for the full amount of note, of which the following is a copy: "Three years after date-, with interest from date, I promise to pay James J. Hughs, administrator of the estate of Henry Anderson, deceased, six hundred and eighteen dollars and thirty cents, in bank notes, which shall be at par.'' Dated 18th of September, 1862.
Mullins insists that this -note should be reduced or scaled to the value of current bank notes. It is conceded that ordinarily, this contract would be for bank notes at par, or equal value with lawful money. It certainly excludes the idea that the bank notes should be depreciated or below par value. There is nothing in the record upon which we can relieve the defendant from the contract. The consideration was bank notes and partly Confederate money. It was probably a hard bargain, and improvident on the defendant's part, but in view of the fact that he used this money, or part of it, in paying for land, the consideration is not so inadequate as to shock the conscience, and there was no fraud or unconscionable advantage taken of the defendant.
Tlie decree was for tlie full amount, of the note, and it must be affirmed with costs. The decree, however, will be so modified as to sell the defendant's land on.'a credit of twelve instead of six months.