Carlon v. Ryan

73 Misc. 594, 133 N.Y.S. 629
CourtCity of New York Municipal Court
DecidedOctober 15, 1911
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 73 Misc. 594 (Carlon v. Ryan) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering City of New York Municipal Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Carlon v. Ryan, 73 Misc. 594, 133 N.Y.S. 629 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1911).

Opinion

Finelite, J.

This action came on for trial before the court and a jury, and resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff, [595]*595by direction of the court. The court thereupon entertained a motion for a new trial upon all the exceptions taken at tlio trial, and on all the grounds enumerated in section 999 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

The facts of the case are, in substance, as follows: The action is brought by the plaintiff upon two promissory notes, one for the sum of $742.49, the other for the sum of $519.74. These notes are respectively dated October 7, 1907, and are made by Francis J. Eyan, James T. P. Eyan and Minnie A. O’Shea, to the order of Minnie A. O’Shea. Tn paragraph two of the first cause of action, and in paragraph two of the second cause of action, the plaintiff alleges “ that the said Minnie A. O’Shea thereafter indorsed and delivered said note to the plaintiff for value.” The complaint further alleges that Minnie A. O’Shea died on or about the 8th day of January, 1911, and that- payment has been demanded.

The defendants, by their answer, admit making the notes in question, and that Minnie A. O’Shea died, as alleged in the complaint, but deny" the allegations contained in paragraph two of the first and second causes of action, “ that the said Minnie A. O’Shea thereafter indorsed and delivered said note to the plaintiff for value.” ' The answer further alleges payment off the notes; that the court has no jurisdiction of the causes of action; that the makers of the notes were copartners in business under the firm name and stylo of P. Eyan; that the notes were made by the three partners to the order of Minnie A. O’Shea, one of the partners, in discharge of a copartnership obligation, to be adjudged by an accounting between the partners, and that no accounting has been had. Thq defendants further allege that the plaintiff has given no value or consideration for these notes and has obtained possession of the same wrongfully and unlawfully after maturity thereof and subsequently to the death of Minnie A. O’Shea, and that the plaintiff is not the real party in interest nor the lawful owner of the notes. "

Upon the trial there appeared to be no conflict of evidence. The plaintiff testified that the notes were in his possession [596]*596at the present time. He recognized the indorsement of the decedent, and stated that no part of the notes or the interest thereon had been paid to him. On cross-examination plaintiff testified that he obtained actual possession of these notes around the 15th or 20th day of April’, 1911. He further testified that he was in possession of knowledge to the effect that the decedent and the defendants were brothers and sister ; that they were partners in the packing box business at Ho. 109 Beade street, in the city of Hew York; that said notes were delivered to him by John J. Hynes, an attorney and counselor-at-law of this city, and that this action was begun within a short time after he obtained possession of the notes; that he paid no consideration to said attorney for said notes; that a demand for payment had been d.uly made.

. Plaintiff offered quite a number of papers in evidence, which were marked as exhibits, and to which the court now refers. Plaintiff’s exhibit C consists of the last will and testament of Mrs. O’Shea and the codicil annexed thereto, which were respectively executed on August 7, 1909, and were duly admitted to probate in the office of the surrogate of the county of Hew York on May 8, 1911. The fifth clause of said exhibit reads as follows: •

I give and bequeath to my brothers, Francis J. Byan and J ames T. P. Byan, all my undivided one-third share and interest in the packing box business, the firm of which is doing business under the name of ‘ P. Byan,’ the same to be divided between them in equal shares, but upon the express condition that they assume and pay all the debts and obligations of said firm incurred and outstanding at the time of my death, and that my estate shall he' wholly released and discharged therefrom.”

The eighth and ninth clauses read as follows:

“Eighth. I hereby release and discharge my said brother, Francis J. Byan, from the payment of the sum of one thousand ($1,000) dollars which he has heretofore borrowed from me.

[597]*597" Ninth. In view of the cruel and inhuman treatment of me by my husband, Martin J. O’Shea, and his utter neglect of me for many years past, I make no provision whatsoever for him in this my will.”

The defendants offered in evidence four exhibits, the first of which was dated the 19th day of July, 1906, wherein the said Minnie A. O’Shea assigned all her interest in the packing- box business, which she held in trust, to Minnie A. O’Shea, Anna Reilly, Grace M. Ryan and the defendants herein, to have and to hold the same equally, share and share alike, together with all the income and profits arising- from said business. The eighth clause of said exhibit reads as follows:

“Eighth. It is understood and agreed that the necessary funds to meet and pay all taxes, assessments, water rates or charges, .interest on mortgages, fire insurance and all other charges of every name, nature and description affecting the real.,estate recently belonging to the said Mary E. Ryan, our mother, now deceased, but now owned equally by the parties hereto, shall be advanced and paid by the parties hereto out of the income or proceeds from the said paclcing box business.”

On the 23d day of ¡November, 1907, this exhibit was canceled by a stipulation signed by Minnie A. O’Shea, Anna Reilly, Grace M. Ryan and the defendants, and on said day a new agreement was entered into, the second clause of which recites that the agreement of July 19, 1906, was duly canceled and surrendered and declared to be null and void and of no1 further force or effect. The third clause of the said agreement of ¡November 23, 1907, reads as follows:

“Third. That the said James T. P. Ryan, Minnie A O’Shea and Francis J. Ryan, three of the parties hereto, hereby jointly and severally agree to assume all debts and liabilities outstanding against the said copartnership firm uf P. Ryan.”

[598]*598The fourth clause reads as follows:

“Fourth. That -the said James T. P. Ryan, Minnie A. O’Shea and Francis J. Ryan hereby jointly and severally agree to indemnify and save harmless the said Anna Reilly and Grace M. Ryan from any and all liability for or on account of the provisions and covenants containéd in the leases of the premises known as No. 109 Reade street, No. 54 Crosby street, and the premises situated on Morton and Washington streets, all in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York.”

At the time of the agreement defendants’ Exhibit 1 was in force, and on or about the 7th day of October, 1907, the said copartnership was indebted for taxes upon the premises No. 614 Washington street, New York city, in the sum of $742.49, and for taxes upon the premises No. 109 Reade street in the sum of $519.34, which respective amounts were advanced by the said Minnie A. O’Shea, and the notes in question were given to her as security for the payment of the amounts so .advanced.

The defendants contend that, as the said Minnie A. O’Shea was still a partner in said firm at the time she advaieced the respective amounts .for the payment of the taxes upon the premises aforesaid, and at the.

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73 Misc. 594, 133 N.Y.S. 629, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/carlon-v-ryan-nynyccityct-1911.