Case Name: Saam against Saam
Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 1835-09
Citations: 4 Watts 432
Docket Number: 
Parties: Saam against Saam.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Volume: 4
Pages: 432–433

Head Matter:
Saam against Saam.
In trover against an executor de son tort for goods of decedent, he may, under the general issue, give in evidence payment of defats to the value thereof, in mitigation of damages.
But his book of original entries is inadmissible as evidence of such payment, by way of retainer; though it might be, to prove goods sold to, or work done for, the intestate.
ERROR to Westmoreland county.
This was an action of trover by Jane Saam, administratrix of Adam Saam, Jun. deceased, against the executors of Adam Saam, Sen. deceased, to recover the value of the goods of the plaintiff’s intestate, which came to the hands of the defendant’s testator as executor de son tort. The plaintiff having established her right to recover, the defendant offered in evidence the books of his testator, for the purpose of showing that he had paid the debts of Adam Saam, Jun. to an amount equal to the value of the goods. The evidence was objected to and rejected by the court, (Young, president).
Alexander, for plaintiff in error,
cited, 7 Serg. & Rawle 196; Gord. Law of Dec. 90; Esp. Dig. 578.
Beaver and Coulter, contra.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
—It is said there is no defence by an administrator de son tort to the action of a rightful representative; that is, he cannot plead payment of debts to the value; yet it seems to be agreed that he may plead the general issue, and give such payments in evidence in mitigation of damages; and that if they amount to the value, the plaintiff shall be nonsuited. The present is an action of trover against the representatives of an executor de son tort, and the defence attempted would doubtless be competent, if it were supported by competent proof. But were the books of the executor de son tort legal evidence of the existence of debts, or of their payment, or of payment in their order'? For all these must concur to entitle him to an allowance. It will not be pretended that they are proof of debts paid to third persons, or that they are, in respect to these, any more than the declarations of the party. Entries in day-books are evidence to charge a party with the price of goods sold, or of work done, but not with money paid or lent; and though the books here might have been competent to prove goods sold to the intestate, or work done for him, if that had been alleged, yet they could not be proof of payment by way of retainer, because an executor de son tort cannot retain. The form of (he entries has not been put on our paper books, and we would, were if necessary, intend it to be such as would best support the judgment; but in no form could the entries be admissible, and they were therefore properly rejected.
Judgment affirmed.