Court Opinion

ID: 6409773
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-25 11:51:48.485551+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:51:20.009193
License: Public Domain

Shaw, C. J.
This action being brought on a promissory note, the defendant’s discharge in insolvency was apparently a good bar to the action. The plaintiff offered to avoid that bar by force of the statute 1848, c. 304, § 10, which provides that a claim for necessaries shall not be barred by the certificate, unless it shall have been proved, and by showing in point of fact that this note was given for necessaries. This the plaintiff offered to prove by the production of his book of original entries, verified by his own oath; and the court, before whom the action was tried, decided in favor of the plaintiff, on both points, to which the defendant excepted.
On the first point the court are of opinion that the simple contract debt was paid and discharged by the giving of the note. The rule is well settled in Massachusetts, that the giving of a negotiable promissory note is payment and a discharge of a simple contract debt, unless it appears that it was not so intended. Maneely v. McGee, 6 Mass. 143; French v. Price, 24 Pick. 13. In the present case, so far from appearing that it was not intended as payment, the original account is produced by the defendant, with a receipt of payment without qualification. This tends to show that the note was taken and received as cash. The plaintiff’s claim then was on a promissory note, and not on "an account for necessaries. It was a valid note, neither void nor voidable. This distinguishes it from Earle v. Reed, 10 Met. 387, and other cases, wherein a note is either void, as upon an illegal consideration, or voidable and in fact avoided, by one privileged to do so. It was taken by the plaintiff at his own election. By taking it he obtained the advantage of conclusive proof of his debt, and the power of negotiating it; by retaining his original demand he would have had the advantage of proving his debt or retaining his cause of action against the debtor, in case of *45his insolvency. But we think he could not retain both, and by electing one he relinquished the other.
On the other point too, the court are of opinion, that evidence of the party’s book verified by his oath, ought not to have been received as competent evidence. It would be extending a rule of evidence peculiar to some of the New England states, greatly beyond any of the precedents. Earle v. Reed, 10 Met. 387, affords no authority. There a competent witness had testified that the specific note produced was given for an account, standing on the plaintiff’s books, which were kept by the witness, and were before the parties when the note was given. It was on this ground that the book was admitted; the suppletory oath of the party was not admitted.

Exceptions sustained ; new trial in this cou/rt.