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4 Yeates 105

O'Brian v. Coskrey

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Decided September 15, 1804

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania · decided 1804-09-15

Indebitatus assumpsit for money had and received, and money paid, laid out and expended, to the use of the defendant. Pleas, non asstimfsit and payment. It appeared that one Francis Coskrey had become security for the defendant in three bonds to William Richardson, wherein they were jointly and severally bound.

Decided 1804-09-15

By the CouRT.

¶1We see no reason to doubt the justice of the plaintiff’s demand.

¶2If the case of Ord v. Fenwick furnished a legal objection to the plaintiff’s recovery in the present form of action, it would seem, that he is without remedy; and the error or oversight of the attorney of Richardson would effect the loss of the debt. Should he bring his action as executor, the variance between this form of suit and the recovery in Baltimore, would be urged against him ; and if he sued as administrator, he might be defeated by the production of the letters testamentary, which would shew that he was executor, and not administrator. But circumstanced as this case is, we think the suit may be supported : if the defendant’s counsel should think otherwise, we will at any time seal a bill of exceptions.

¶3The jury gave a verdict for the principal sum and interest, without leaving the court.

¶4A motion for a new trial was afterwards made, and overruled by the court. A bill of exceptions was afterwards sealed, at the instance of the defendants’ counsel.

¶5The argument of this case, afterwards, on the 31st March [808, came on before the Supreme Court in Philadelphia, when after fully hearing Mr. J. Read of counsel, with the defendants below, Tilghman C. J. and Brackenridge J. affirmed the judgment of the Circuit Couft, without hearing Mr. Meredith on the other side.

¶6The chief justice observed, that even supposing the record of the judgment in Baltimore county not to be good evidence, which was denied, still it appears in evidence, that O’Brian was the executor of Francis Coskrey, and as such liable to pay the bond, in which his testator'was surety for Michael Coskrey; and being so liable, he had paid it. This certainly shewed a good cause of action against the defendant below, who was the principal in the bond; and the plaintiff might name himself executor, or not, in the suit at his election.

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