Swift v. Hathaway

23 F. Cas. 562, 1 Gall. 417

• Court: U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Massachusetts
• Decided: May 15, 1813
• Status: Published

Opinion

STORY, Circuit Justice,

in summing up, stated to the jury, that if they were satisfied, that the notes were originally lodged in the hands of J. & G. Russell with the assent of the administrator; or if afterwards he assented to the collection of the money by them, or voluntarily left the money in their hands and ratified- their proceedings, the firm of Russell & Hathaway were discharged from all responsibility. If a creditor know that his debtor has lodged money in the hands of a third person for his account, and he assents to the proceeding, or gives a new credit to such person on the footing of such deposit, the original debtor is completely discharged.

The jury found a verdict, without difficulty, for the defendant Hathaway. Russell, the co-defendant, did not appear, and was defaulted. The court ordered a general judgment to be entered, that the plaintiff should take nothing by his writ.