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4 Redf. 310

Downing v. Smith

New York Surrogate's Court

Decided April 15, 1880

New York Surrogate's Court · decided 1880-04-15

<p>Where the guardian, after the ward attained his majority, had a settlement with him, and assigned a mortgage to the ward for the amount found due, and the ward gave a receipt that he had received the assignment of the mortgage “ as equivalent ” to the amount found due, Held, that upon the accounting of the guardian, the Surrogate had no jurisdiction to try the question of the validity of the settlement, and that upon the question of the acceptance of the mortgage by the ward in satisfaction of the amount due him, the receipt was conclusive, and could not be contradicted by parol evidence.</p>

Decided 1880-04-15

¶1The Surrogate.—The authorities seem to hold that this court has no jurisdiction to set aside or try the validity of any settlement or agreement. (Bevan v. Cooper, 72 N. Y., 329 ; Sampson v. Wood, 10 Abb., N. S. 223, notes ; Decker v. Morton, 1 Bedf., 477, 484.)

¶2*312The Only question, therefore, is whether the mortgage for $18,000 was delivered to the ward and accepted by him in satisfaction of the sum of $17,143.'

¶3The evidence shows that the mortgage was delivered to the ward, and the receipt is conclusive evidence of the ‘fact that it was accepted by him as equivalent to that amount—that means in satisfaction of that amount. I say conclusive evidence, because it has been decided by the Court of Appeals that although a receipt can be. contradicted by parol evidence as to the consideration part of it, yet if it contains words showing that the sum was received in settlement or compromise of a cláim it cannot be contradicted by parol evidence as to that part of it (Coon v. Knap, 8 N. Y., 402), although it may be shown by parol evidence that the sum received in settlement is less than the whole amount actually due. (Ryan v. Ward, 48 N. Y., 204; Miller v. Coates, 66 N. Y., 609.) 1 If a receipt cannot be contradicted by parol evidence as to that part of it which expresses that the sum was’ received in settlement or compromise of a claim, on the same principle parol evidence cannot be offered to contradict that part of the receipt in this case which declares that the mortgage was received as the equivalent of the sum of $17,143.

¶4‘ The other objections are disallowed. •

¶5Ordered accordingly.

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