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1 Cow. 598

Wright v. Wright

New York Supreme Court

Decided October 15, 1823

New York Supreme Court · decided 1823-10-15

Assumpsit, by payee against executors of the maker, on a promissory note for 500 dollars, dated Sept. 15th, 1821. Plea, the general issue. This cause was tried at the last Franklin Circuit, Aug. 21, 1823, before the Hon. R. * ° _ H. Walworth, Circuit Judge. The defendants attempted io shew a want of consideration for the note, but wholly failed in their proof, and a verdict was found for the plaintiff, tipon proving the hand writing of the testator.

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1823-10-15

How this case has been cited

Cited by 8 later decisions — most recently March 1911

8 state decisions

301823183018401850186018701880189019001910decided

Later decisions citing this case, by decade. The current decade is in progress, and our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so the latest bars are undercounted — not a real decline.

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Curia.

¶1It is clearly inferable, from the facts, as presented, that the note was a donatio causa mortis ; and the case , is, in this respect, distinguishable from the one cited. The testator made his will in his last sickness, and gave the note to his brother, without consideration, to be sure, but in expectation of dissolution. The only question which can arise is, whether a promissory note is the subject of a donatio causa mortis ; for there is always a tacit condition annexed to these gifts, that the donor die. To constitute a valid donatio causa mortis, there must be a delivery of *600chattels. How is it as to choses in action? There are some conflicting authorities upon the question, whether a mere equitable interest can be transferred in this manner, as where the donor delivers a bond payable to himself; and the doubt arises from its being actionable in the name of the donor only. But the interest in a promissory note passes by mere tradition. There is no pretence in this case that the note was not delivered. It takes effect independent of consideration.

¶2Foot, mentioned to the Court, that- he thought this a question of probable cause, merely ; and submitted, whether they would not grant a rule to stay proceedings, with a view to have the questions, involved in the case, more fully examined than they could be upon this motion.

Woodworth, J.

¶3We think the case, as made, is against-you.

Savage, Ch. J.

¶4We entertain no doubt, that the note-was a donatio causa mortis.

¶5Motion denied.'

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