Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

31 Me. 562

Greenleaf v. Hill

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Decided July 1, 1850

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine · decided 1850-07-01

This was an action against Mark Hill upon a contract of which the following is a copy. “ Whereas I hold a note signed Reuben Wing and Nathan Carver, for $300,00 and interest, (dated January 18, 1837,) annually in four years from date ; also a note against the same persons for $245,00 and interest, annually, in two years of same date, now, for value received, I promise to pay Jane Greenleaf Hill, one-eighth of said sums when collected. «February 23, 1837.

Decided 1850-07-01

Howard, J., orally.

¶1The court is to draw inferences as a jury might. The $245 note was paid to defendant’s intestate. His acceptance of the new notes was, in legal contemplation, a payment of the $300 note.

¶2The contract now in suit was given to a married woman, who has since deceased. The question is, whether her surviving husband can maintain a suit upon it, it being contended by defendant that it should have been brought only by her administrator or heir, she having left a child which is still living.

¶3By the common law, the contract, in its origin, belonged to the husband. In legal construction, it was made to him. The right of action upon it was his. The statutes cited do not apply. They only operated prospectively. The contract in suit was made prior to their enactment. The defence is not maintained.

¶4Interest having been received annually by defendant’s intestate, upon the two notes, till the principals were paid, annual *565interest is now to be computed from the date of the notes, till the principals were paid thereon respectively.

¶5On the amounts thus acertained, simple interest only is to be cast, and the plaintiff is to have judgment for one-eighth of the aggregate.

¶6Defendant defaulted.

/31/me/562 · .json · Public domain