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28 Jones & S. 425

Tallman v. Sprague

The Superior Court of New York City · decided 1892-03-14

<p> Judgment taken for want of answer—Motion to open the default—Terms. </p> <p>In this case the defendant asked the court to open this default and permit him to plead partial payment and usury, which the court denied unless the defendant gave a bond for the full amount of the note, with two sureties justifying in $5,000, which condition defendant claims to be onerous and deprives him of Ms defence, as he is unable to give such a bond. Held, that the affidavits in this case were too vague and uncertain to authorize the court to hold that usury was shown to have existed under the facts shown, especially when the form of the statements on this subject intimates that there are other facts not stated wMch would be relevant and should be considered before holding that there was a defence of usury.</p> <p>The' defendant also claimed that he had a defence of payment or partial payment by the giving of a note for about half of the amount of the note in action. If this note was given, it would not have been a payment. The defendant’s affidavit left it doubtful as to whether the note was ever given to plaintiff, while the affidavits of the plaintiff are to the effect that the note was not given. The court would have been justified in denying the motion absolutely.</p>

Decided 1892-03-14

Per Curiam.

¶1The defendant asked that the default be opened, that he might make the defence of usury. The affidavits were too vague and uncertain on this subject to permit it to be held that usury was shown. The mere fact of giving a note and then at its maturity another note for a greater amount, does not necessarily involve usury, especially when the form of the statement on the subject intimates that there are other facts not stated which would be relevant and should be considered before holding that there was usury.

¶2The defendant also maintained that he had a defence of payment or partial payment. As to the first, the affidavits did not support it. The second was said to be the giving of the defendant’s note for about the half of the amount of the note in action. If given, this would not have been a payment. The defendant’s affidavits left it doubtful as to whether it was ever given to plaintiff. The affidavits of the plaintiff are to the effect that it never was.

¶3The court would have been justified in denying the motion absolutely.

¶4Order affirmed, with $10 costs.

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