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111 Mass. 223

Nelson v. Weeks

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Decided November 15, 1872

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · decided 1872-11-15

Contract against Stephen Weeks and David H. Daniels. The declaration alleged that the defendants were the owners of a brig called The Thames; that the plaintiff shipped on her as a seaman, for a voyage from Boston to Africa, and back to a port of discharge in the United States, at $25 a month; that he served from November 25, 1867, to March 26, 1869, when he was wrongfully discharged at St. Thomas; that he was obliged to make his way home to Boston at great expense; that the…

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently July 1960

2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1872-11-15

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By the Court.

¶1The payment made in gold was legally a payment of the amount as cash, and must be estimated as such. Bush v. Baldrey, 11 Allen, 367.

¶2There was no discharge given by the plaintiff under seal, and a payment upon a liquidated claim of a less sum than the amount due would not discharge the debt, though a receipt was given, expressed to be in full. Brooks v. White, 2 Met. 283. Donahue v. Woodbury, 6 Cush. 148. And paroi evidence, being generally admissible to control receipts and acknowledgments of consideration, was properly held to be admissible here.

¶3The first instruction prayed for, so far as it was proper, was substantially covered by the words “ if he fairly settled and agreed to put an end to the contract” in the instructions given. The second instruction requested was rightly refused. The election to pay in gold having been made by the defendants, and not by the plaintiff, and no evidence being offered that the plaintiff ever expressly agreed to pay^the premium, mere acquiescence in the mode of payment would not amount to an accord and satisfaction.

¶4Exceptions overruled.

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