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38 Tenn. 103

Stone v. Duncan

Tennessee Supreme Court

Decided September 15, 1858

Tennessee Supreme Court · decided 1858-09-15

<p>1. CHANCERY. Evidence. Effect of order pro confesso. An order pro confesso against a defendant to a bill in chancery, has the effect of an answer admitting the allegations of the bill to be true.</p> <p>2. Set-off. Statute of limitations. Promissory note. A debt barred by the statute of limitations cannot be allowed as a set-off, unless the bar of the statute is waived. If the claim relied on as a set-off, is spoken of in the record as a “note,” it must be taken to have no seal; and, if barred by the statute of limitations, cannot be allowed.</p>

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently June 1964

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1858-09-15

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Wright, J.,

¶1delivered the opinion of the Court.

¶2The Chancellor’s decree, in this cause, was right and should be affirmed.

¶3The money loaned to the defendant Duncan, upon the state of pleadings in this case, must be taken to have been the money of Thompson Gardenhire, the intestate of complainant.

¶4*104The bill, as to Martha Meadow and Litton, is taken for confessed. This, as between them and complainant, establishes the title to the money to be in complainant. Irby v. McKissack, 8 Yer., 42; Koen v. White’s Heirs, Meigs’ Rep., 358. The case is to be treated as though they had answered and admitted the complainant’s rights, as set up in the bill. This being so, the defendant, Duncan, cannot controvert the complainant’s right to recover. He admits he owes the debt to some one; and complainant having established his right to it, is entitled to a decree. Meigs’ Rep., 358.

¶5The set-off claimed by the defendant was properly rejected by the Chancellor. He does not appear to have acquired any title to it, in what took place between him and Hargis. And, besides, it is spoken of as a “note,” and must be taken to have no seal. Walker et al. v. McConico et al., 10 Yer., 228. And he is barred by the statute of limitations. It was executed as early as 1845 or 1846, and cannot, as it appears in this record, be allowed against Gardenhire’s estate.

¶6Affirm the decree.

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