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52 Mass. 299

Tillotson v. Rose

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Decided September 15, 1846

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · decided 1846-09-15

Assumpsit for money paid for the defendants. The action was commenced on the 24th of January 1845. At the trial in the court of common pleas, before Colby, J. the plaintiff gave in evidence the following note, signed by the plaintiff on the back thereof: “ Granville, March 28th 1838. One year from date, we, the subscribers, jointly or severally promise to pay William Chickley, or order, one hundred dollars with interest.

Decided 1846-09-15

Wilde, J.

¶1This was an action of assumpsit by the surety of the defendants, on an implied promise of indemnity, he having paid the debt; and as it was paid by the plaintiff before it was payable by the terms of the contract, the defendants contend that no action accrued by the payment. This is very true; for before the maturity of the note the defendants were not liable to be sued, either by the original promisee or by the plaintiff. But after the note became payable, and the defendants neglected to pay, an action did accrue ; especially as an action was brought on the note, in the name of the promisee, and that action was defeated by the defendants, by proof of payment by the present plaintiff, the surety. According to this view of the case, it is very clear that this action is not barred by the statute of limitations; for the action was commenced within six years after the note was payable, when the cause of action first accrued to the plaintiff.

¶2Exceptions overruled.

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