Geiselman v. Brown

Texas Supreme Court

Geiselman v. Brown

33 Tex. 323

DecidedJuly 1, 1870

StatusPublished

This text of 33 Tex. 323 (Geiselman v. Brown) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Texas Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Geiselman v. Brown, 33 Tex. 323 (Tex. 1870).

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Opinion

Walker, J.

The plaintiffs purchased certain six slaves from the defendant, Brown, on the third day .of December, 1862, and ■executed .to him their promissory note for §5000, payable four years after date, with ten per cent, interest per annum. To secure the payment of said note they executed a deed of trust on the six negroes and lots Hos. 1, 2, 8, 4, 5, .6, 7 and 12, in block 310, in tbe city .of Houston, to J. B. Dart as trustee. Dart died, and after tbe maturity of the note the defendant Oliver assumed to act as trustee. The negroes having become free in the meantime, he advertised the lots for sale. The plaintiffs in tbe meantime had made valuable improvements on the lots, and they enjoined the sale of them by Oliver, who came into court, disclaimed all ¿interest in tbe suit as trustee or otherwise, and was dismissed. .Brown intervened, setting up that the note belonged to him, was due and unpaid, and demanded judgment upon it.

The plaintiffs, thus becoming defendants to Brown’s cross action, [324]*324defended on the ground that the consideration for the note had failed, and that the note was to he paid in Oonféderate-money', and, if paid, should be paid in par' funds of the yalue of Confederate money at the time the note matured.

To these defenses the defendant® Brown, demurred', and the court sustained the demurrer, striking out all the answers ; and, without further evidence than the note, instructed the jury to find' for Brown. The jury found in. accordance with the charge. A motion for new trial was made and overruled, and several exceptions were taken, which are urged before this court. We are* of opinion the district court erred m entertaining a demurrer after answer to the merits.

There was also error in sustaining the demurrer to the plea of' failure of consideration,, and also-to the plea-.of illegality of contract. These defenses being admitted by defendant’s demurrer,, the judgment of the court should have-Been for the plaintiffs. We* therefore reverse the judgment of the district, court and dismiss-the case, with costs to the plaintiffs in error.

Reversed: and* dismissed,-

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Walker, J.

The plaintiffs purchased certain six slaves from the defendant, Brown, on the third day .of December, 1862, and ■executed .to him their promissory note for §5000, payable four years after date, with ten per cent, interest per annum. To secure the payment of said note they executed a deed of trust on the six negroes and lots Hos. 1, 2, 8, 4, 5, .6, 7 and 12, in block 310, in tbe city .of Houston, to J. B. Dart as trustee. Dart died, and after tbe maturity of the note the defendant Oliver assumed to act as trustee. The negroes having become free in the meantime, he advertised the lots for sale. The plaintiffs in tbe meantime had made valuable improvements on the lots, and they enjoined the sale of them by Oliver, who came into court, disclaimed all ¿interest in tbe suit as trustee or otherwise, and was dismissed. .Brown intervened, setting up that the note belonged to him, was due and unpaid, and demanded judgment upon it.

The plaintiffs, thus becoming defendants to Brown’s cross action, [324]*324defended on the ground that the consideration for the note had failed, and that the note was to he paid in Oonféderate-money', and, if paid, should be paid in par' funds of the yalue of Confederate money at the time the note matured.

To these defenses the defendant® Brown, demurred', and the court sustained the demurrer, striking out all the answers ; and, without further evidence than the note, instructed the jury to find' for Brown. The jury found in. accordance with the charge. A motion for new trial was made and overruled, and several exceptions were taken, which are urged before this court. We are* of opinion the district court erred m entertaining a demurrer after answer to the merits.

There was also error in sustaining the demurrer to the plea of' failure of consideration,, and also-to the plea-.of illegality of contract. These defenses being admitted by defendant’s demurrer,, the judgment of the court should have-Been for the plaintiffs. We* therefore reverse the judgment of the district, court and dismiss-the case, with costs to the plaintiffs in error.

Reversed: and* dismissed,-

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Bluebook (online)

33 Tex. 323, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/geiselman-v-brown-tex-1870.