Court Opinion

ID: 8828720
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-26 15:55:12.696236+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:04:51.462682
License: Public Domain

Mr. Presiding Justice Graves delivered the opinion of the court. This is a writ of error to reverse a judgment for $2,250 against the estate of J. Pennington Bennels, deceased, based on a promissory note signed by the said Bennels and payable to the defendant in error. Defendant in error is a daughter of the maker of the note. The overwhelming proof in this record shows that there was' no valid consideration for the giving of the note. If it be true as defendant in error claims, that her father, the deceased, had promised to give her a certain piece of real estate and, having failed to do so, executed and delivered the note sued on in lieu of the real estate, it was merely a promise to give money based on a former unfulfilled promise to give real estate as a gratuity. It is well-settled law in Illinois that a promissory note intended as a gift, or made in pursuance of a void unenforceable contract, is without consideration. Williams v. Forbes, 114 Ill. 167; Richardson v. Richardson, 148 Ill. 568; Armstrong v. Armstrong, 142 Ill. App. 507; In re Sexton’s Estate, 162 Ill. App. 222. The promise of the father to give to defendant in error the real estate in question, if it be admitted that he made such a promise, furnished no consideration for the giving of the note sued on. The judgment of the Circuit Court is therefore reversed with the finding of fact to be incorporated in the record of this court that the note sued on was a mere promise to make a gift and was without consideration. Reversed with finding of fact.