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4 E.D. Smith 510

Mead v. Keyes

New York Court of Common Pleas

Decided December 15, 1855

New York Court of Common Pleas · decided 1855-12-15

Ohe William E. Keyes, a brother of the defendant, and residing in California, was indebted to the plaintiffs in about the sum of $11,000, for goods sold. The plaintiffs held the notes of the debtor therefor, which were past due, and which they had transmitted to them agent in San Francisco, for collection. The defendant now came forward, and executed and delivered to the plaintiffs six promissory notes.

Decided 1855-12-15

¶1By the Court.

Ingraham, First J.

¶2It does not appear that any motion for a new trial has been made before the judge who tried the cause, where strictly the case should have been first heard, but as Judge Woodruff will not be able to hear that motion now, we will dispose of it on appeal.

¶3*512The objection to the plaintiffs’ recovery is, that the notes in suit were given for the debt of another, and, therefore, are void by the statute of'frauds.

¶4The evidence does not show that the notes were a promise to pay the debt of another. It is true they were given for other notes which the plaintiffs held, drawn by William E. Keyes, but the moment these notes were given, and the order of the plaintiffs to deliver the notes of William E. Keyes was given to the defendant, the plaintiffs ceased to have any claim against William, and the defendant became the creditor. It was a purchase, by the defendant, of the debt which the plaintiffs had against William E. Keyes, and the defendant’s notes were given in payment.

¶5There is no ground whatever upon which the statute of frauds can be made applicable to these notes under the evidence, and the judgment should be affirmed.

¶6•Judgment affirmed.

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