Case Name: James Dunlop and others against Jacob Funk
Court: General Court of Maryland
Jurisdiction: Maryland
Decision Date: 1793-05
Citations: 3 Md. 318
Docket Number: 
Parties: James Dunlop and others against Jacob Funk.
Judges: 
Reporter: Maryland reports, being a series of the most important law cases argued and determined in the Provincial Court and Court of Appeals of the then province of Maryland, from the year 1700 [i.e. 1658] down to the [end of 1799]
Volume: 3
Pages: 318–321

Head Matter:
GENERAL COURT,
MAY TERM, 1793.
James Dunlop and others against Jacob Funk.
THIS was an action of assumpsit on a promise to pay the sum of 606/. 2s. 9. 3-4sterling money, with interest from the 10th of October, 1771. Plea, non assumpsit.
At the trial of the case, at May term, 1789, the defendant’s counsel offered to give in evidence, a tender of bills of credit under the act of 1777, c. 9. entitled “ An act to make the bills of credit issued by congress, and the bills of credit emitted by acts of assembly, and resolves of the late conventions, a legal tender in all cases.”
Cooke, for the plaintiffs,
objected to the admissibility of such evidence, and contended that the construction of the clause in the act of 1777, c. 9. was confined to debt, and that the true distinction was where a statute makes a contract void, or only voidable, as the statutes of usury and gaming, which make a contract void ab initio, consequently there never could exist a contract or assumpsit under them; ergo, they may be given in evidence on non assumpsit; but where a statute makes a contract only voidable, it must be pleaded, and cannot be given in evidence. Gilb. Evid. 62.
Matters which go not to the action, but in discharge or avoidance of it, must be pleaded as is the act of limitations. See Buller’s JV. P. 220. as to the statute of usury and the statute relating to sheriffs’ bonds. On nil debet for rent, the act of limitations may be given in evidence j aliter, on non assumpsit. Per Holt, Salk. 278. The offering of the tender law admits the assumpsit, and is in avoidance of it, and therefore comes directly within the eases cited, and, consequently, ought to have been pleaded, and cannot be given in evidence.
Martin,
(Attorney-General,) for the defendant. As to the construction of the act, the affirmative words per» mit it to be given in evidence on the plea of payment. The reason holds as to the assumpsit, there being no negative words in the act. 5 Bac. Abr. 16.
As to the distinction of void and voidable, it existed at common law, and any thing showing the contract void could be given in evidence, as duress, coverture, infancy. So under the statute of usury and gaming. Afterwards, for the sake of remedy, any thing might be given in evidence in discharge or avoidance, and needed not to be pleaded, as a release, which would be an admission of the contract, and showing ex post facto matter to discharge the defendant; so of payment, and, from a parity of reasoning, this act, which discloses ex post facto matter to defeat the plaintiffs’ right to recover, may be given in evidence.

Opinion:
Harrison, Ch. J. and Hanson, J. (Goldsborough, J.
dissent.) said, that tender might be given in evidence on non assumpsit under the act, and the jury were directed, " that if the money tendered was the emission of 1777, and amounted to one fourth of the debt- demanded, it was a discharge pro 'tanto." They also said, that whatever in conscience or equity will bar the plaintiff's claim may be given in evidence on non assumpsit, and need not be pleaded. Burr. 1553. Bl. Rep. 988.
A verdict was found for plaintiff, and damages 325l. 10s. 2d. current money. The verdict was taken subject to the opinion of the court, on the¿following/)ozwí saved, to wit:
It is agreed that the defendant passed the note and as» sumption in the declaration mentioned, in the following words, viz:
"These are to certify, that I have this day settled accounts with Adam Steuart, on behalf of Colin Dunlop and Son Co, down to the 1st of January, 1772, and the balance due them is 606/. 2s. 9. 3-4d. sterling money, bearing interest from the 10th of October last, and to be paid off in bills of exchange, or current money at the exchange then going. As witness my hand this 27th day of February, 1772;
" Jacob Funk."
And that the plaintiffs and defendant were British subjects at the time of the passing of the said note and assumption.
It is also agreed, that on the 10th of July, 1777, there was due for principal and interest on the said note and assumption, the sum of 1,229/. 7s. and the principal sum mentioned in the said note and assumption of 606/. 2s; 9. 3-4d. sterling, equal to 1,010/. 4s. 7d. current money, carried an interest of six per cent. That the plaintiffs continued British subjects from the 27th of February, 1772, the date of the said assumption, till the present time, and still are British subjects. That the defendant, on the 4th of July, 1776, became a citizen of this state, always since that time hath been, and now is, a citizen of this state.
On the trial of the issue in this cause, the defendant proved that he made a tender of 990/. in continental bills of credit, emitted before the 20th of April, 1777, to William Wilson and John Peter, attorneys in fact for the plaintiffs in this state, which they refused to receive. The jury gave a verdict for the plaintiffs for the balance, with interest from the peace, amounting to 325/. 10s. 2d. current money.
It is agreed that such verdict shall be subject to the opinion of the court upon the question which arose in this cause, whether the tender to the agents of the plain tiffs was good in law to bar their claim for the sum tendered, notwithstanding the definitive treaty of peace between Great Britain and America; and if the court shall be of opinion that such tender is not a bar to so much of the plaintiffs' claim as the same amounted to, that then judgment shall be entered for such sum as they may determine to be due, setting aside the tender; but if the court shall be of opinion that the tender was good and valid, notwithstanding the treaty of peace, that then judgment for the damages found by the jury shall remain.
Potts and Cooke, for the plaintiffs.
Martin, (Attorney-General,) for the defendant.
The general court gave judgment upon the point saved for the plaintiffs for 1,886l. 4s. 1. 1-4d* current money, damages and costs.
The defendant appealed to the court of appeals, where the case was entered agreed, at November term, 1794.
See the note in Hanson's Laws of Maryland, to the act of February session, 1777, c. 9.