Watkins v. Stevens

4 Barb. 168
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 4, 1848
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 4 Barb. 168 (Watkins v. Stevens) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Watkins v. Stevens, 4 Barb. 168 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1848).

Opinion

By the Court, Paige, J.

The following questions were raised on the argument of this cause, viz. 1. Whether the defendant’s promise to pay the note was absolute, or conditional; 2. If conditional, whether it should not have been specially replied ; 3. Whether the promise, as proved, ivas sufficient to take the note out of the statute of limitations ; and if conditional, whether it was available for this purpose, without showing the performance of the condition ; 4. Whether the plaintiffs could avail themselves of the promise, in this case, it not having been made either to them, or their agent.

To revive a debt barred by the statute of limitations, “ there must be an express promise, or an acknowledgment of a present indebtedness; a subsisting liability, and a willingness to pay.” (Allen v. Webster, 15 Wend. 259, per Savage, Ch. J. 15 Id. 306. Roosevelt v. Mack, 6 John. Ch. 290. Bell v. Morrison, 1 Peters, 351, 362.) “If there be no express promise, and one is to be raised by implication of law, from an acknowledgment, such acknowledgment ought to contain an unqualified and direct admission of a previous, subsisting debt, which the party is liable and willing to pay.” (1 Peters’ U. S. Rep. 362, per Story, J. 3 Wend. 190.) An acknowledgment which will authorize a jury to find a promise to pay, must be explicit and unconditional; and any suggestion which qualifies it, or repels the idea of a promise to pay, destroys the effect of what is said. (Cocks v. Weeks, 7 Hill, 46, Beardsley, J.) In Cocks v. Weeks a promise of the defendant, to pay the note, (on which the suit was brought,) as soon as he conveniently could, was held to be a conditional promise, and equivalent to an engagement to pay when able. And it was further held, that to make such promise effective, the defendant’s ability to pay must be shown. (7 Hill, 46.) The promise in the present case was in these words: “I owe the plaintiffs about $700 and intend to arrange my business and pay them this fall or winter, as soon as I can.” It seems [171]*171to me, that the condition of this promise was not a condition as to ability, but as to time. The defendant promises, or expresses an intention to pay the plaintiffs, during the then fall or the ensuing winter, as soon as he could arrange his business to do so; that is, he intended, at all events, to pay them by the expiration of the winter, and sooner if he could so arrange his business as to enable him to do it. The acknowledgment, by the defendant, of his indebtedness, is an explicit and direct admission of a previous subsisting debt, which he is liable and willing to gay. And it is wholly unqualified, except as to the time of payment; and that is limited by the expiration of the ensuing winter. When that time expired, the acknowledgment or promise became unqualified and unconditional.

A promise to pay money at a future day, is just as absolute and unconditional, as a promise to pay immediately, or on demand. (1 Peters, 371.) I am aware that the witness Smith," on his cross-examination, does not give the promise or acknowledgment of the defendant in the same words as he did on his direct examination. On his cross-examination he says, that the defendant, in answer to the remark of witness that he must settle the debt at Kingston, replied that he would, and intended to that fall or winter, or as soon as he could arrange his business so to do.” This acknowledgment, standing alone without other words, is doubtless conditional. It is a promise, by the defendant, to pay as soon as he could arrange his business so to do, or after his business had been arranged. And if there was no other promise or acknowledgment, before the plaintiffs could recover they would be obliged to show the performance of the condition; viz. that the defendant’s business had been so arranged as to enable him to pay the plaintiffs’ demand; or, in other words, to show the defendant’s ability to pay. But the whole evidence of the witness Smith, given both on his direct and cross-examination, was submitted to the referees. All his testimony as to the promise or acknowledgment of the defendant was received, under the pleadings. No objection was made, either to its admissibility under the declaration and replication, or as to its sufficiency to sustain the cause of action [172]*172•of the plaintiffs. If such objection had been made, the plaintiffs a might have met it by further proof. The defendant ought to have objected, on the hearing before the referees, to the admissibility of the evidence under the pleadings, and to its sufficiency to establish a cause of action. (Underhill v. Pomeroy, 2 Hill, 603.) But I think we must intend that the referees have found, by reporting in favor of the plaintiffs, that the promise or acknowledgment of the defendant was an absolute, and not a conditional promise. Whether the promise or acknowledgment was absolute or conditional, was a question for the decision of the referees. If they had come to the conclusion that it was conditional, they could not have found in favor of the plaintiffs. A report, therefore, in favor of the plaintiffs, is a finding that the promise was absolute. A report of referees is regarded like the verdict of a jury. In case of a conflict of evidence, as a general rule, the finding of both is conclusive. And where there is no decided preponderance in favor of the party against whom the report is made, it will not be set aside. (Esterly v. Cole, 1 Barb. Sup. Ct. Rep. 235. Eaton v. Benton, 2 Hill, 578. Keeler v. The Fireman’s Ins. Co. 3 Id. 256. Douglass v. Tousey, 3 Wend. 356.) This must be regarded as a case akin to that of a conflict of evidence. Two statements of the acknowledgment of the defendant, which do not agree, are given by the witness; and it was the peculiar province of the referees to determine which was correct.

Where a debt barred by the statute of limitations is sought to be revived by an acknowledgment-, the acknowledgment is to be submitted to a jury as evidence of a néw promise; and the jury are to find from the evidence, (if it be sufficient,) such promise. (Sands v. Gelston, 15 John. 520. Johnson v. Beardsley, Id. 4. Cocks v. Weeks, 7 Hill, 46. Bell v. Morrison, 1 Peters’ Rep. 362. Moore v. Bank of Columbia, 6 Id. 92. Dodson v. Mackey, 4 Nev. & Man. 327. Roosevelt v. Mack, 6 John. Ch. Rep. 290.) In Haylin v. Hastings, (Comb. 34,) cited in Tanner v. Smith, (6 Barn. & Cress. 603,) Holt, C. J. with the ten judges at Sergeant’s Inn, including the king’s bench judges, agreed that an acknowledgment of a debt, barred by the stat[173]*173ute, was good evidence of an assumpsit, upon non-assumpsit infra sex annos pleaded, for the jury to find a verdict for the plaintiffs; but that it was not a matter, upon which if found specially, the court could give judgment for the plaintiff; because the jury must draw the conclusion from evidence, not the court. It would seem, therefore, that an acknowledgment off a previous debt, is only evidence of a promise which is to be' submitted to the jury; and that the court Cannot, as a matter of law, imply a promise to pay, from such acknowledgment.

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Bluebook (online)
4 Barb. 168, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/watkins-v-stevens-nysupct-1848.