Hitchcock v. Cosper

73 N.E. 264, 164 Ind. 633, 1905 Ind. LEXIS 70
Indiana Supreme Court·Decided February 17, 1905·No. No. 20,569·Published·Cited by 11 cases

Opinion

Jordan, J.

This action was prosecuted by appellee to recover $340, with interest thereon. The complaint avers substantially the following facts: The defendant is, and has been since 1884, a son-in-law of the plaintiff. ■ On and prior to November 30, 1892, the relations between plaintiff and defendant were “close and confidential.” During said time the defendant was plaintiff’s confidential adviser in regard to her business affairs. He loaned and collected her money, transacted other business, and was, as averred, “trustee and business agent.” About three weeks prior to said November 30, he received from plaintiff, of her money, the sum of $340. This money, it is alleged, he received in trust, to be replaced and kept at interest by him for plaintiff. He received this money as trustee for the plaintiff, and agreed to loan and keep the same at interest for her. It is alleged that on November 30, 1892, he loaned said sum of $340 to William Donat, and accepted a note, with Allen Donat as surety, for that amount, bearing interest at seven per cent, and due in eleven months. This note, it appears, at the instance of the defendant, was made payable to him. No part of the note has ever been paid, and the same is now due. On November 30, 1892, at the time said loan was made, William and Allen Donat, the makers of the note, were wholly insolvent, and had no property subject to execution. At the time the note in question was executed, the defendant had knowledge of the insolvency of said makers, and in making the loan to them he failed to exercise any care or diligence whatever, and since making the loan he has at no time taken any steps or instituted any proceedings for the collection of said note. It is further charged that within a month after the note was executed the husband of plaintiff died, and that on frequent occasions since the execution of the note the plaintiff has demanded of the defendant that he proceed to collect it. This he has promised to do, stating to plaintiff each time that William Donat was honest and [635] •would pay the note. Plaintiff, relying upon his promises as aforesaid, made no effort to collect said note, and made no demand upon the defendant for the money, or for an accounting concerning the same, until September, 1901, when she demanded of him that he account to her for and with respect to said $340, and that he pay over to her such an amount as, upon a fair and equitable accounting and settlement, should be found to be due, with interest thereon. The prayer of the complaint asks for an accounting, and a judgment -is demanded for the sum of $600. A demurrer to the complaint was overruled, and appellant thereafter filed an answer in two paragraphs: (1) A general denial; (2) six-year statute of limitations. Appellee’s demurrer to the second paragraph of the answer was overruled. Upon the issues joined there was a trial by the court, and upon request a special finding of facts was made, with conclusions of law thereon in favor of appellee. Judgment was accordingly rendered in favor of appellee for $541. Appellant appeals, and assigns that the court erred in overruling the demurrer to the complaint, and in each of its conclusions of law.

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Hitchcock v. Cosper, 73 N.E. 264, 164 Ind. 633, 1905 Ind. LEXIS 70 (Ind. 1905).

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