¶1Fickle snecl the appellant Sharp and the appellee Hazlett upon two promissory notes executed by them. Each of the defendants, by proper pleadings, claimed to be the surety of the other, and prayed that execution be first levied upon the property of the other. Sharp pleaded in bar that he was surety, as already stated; that he had - served written notice on the plaintiff* to sue, which was not done within a reasonable time, showing a good defense under the statute. A jury was waived, and the court found that both defendants were principals, assessed the damages, and over a motion by the appellant for a new trial, rendered judgment upon the verdict.
¶2We are required to consider whether we shall reverse the judgment upon, the ground that the evidence does not sustain the finding that the appellant executed the notes as a principal. He testifies that he executed the notes, intending thereby to be bound "only as Ilazlett’s surety. Hazlett and Fickle both testify that 'they did not so understand it. The previous negotiations tend strongly to show that they cdhld not well have so supposed, and if Sharp’s intention was to be bound only as surety, *457that intention was not made known. In such a state of the evidence, this court cannot interfere.
¶3It is suggested that the appellant’s allegation of surety-ship was confessed by Ilazlett, inasmuch as he did not deny it. But this is too refined.; and besides, it comes too late. Hazlett’s averment that he was Sharp’s surety was a good denial, argumentatively, that Sharp was his surety, and vice versa. The parties went into their evidence in the court below as if they regarded the issue made, as it was, though awkwardly, and it will not do now for either of them to question the sufficiency of the issue, and claim that his case wTas confessed by failing to deny it.
¶4The judgment is affirmed, with costs.