Assumpsit, on the common money counts. Facts found by the court. The plaintiff was a surety for the defendants, who were the principals on a note given by them to a bank. After six years,' by reason of partial payments made on the note by the defendants, they remained liable; but the statute of limitations became a defence to the plaintiff. Fxeter Bank v. Sullivan, 6 N. FI. 124; Kelley v. Sanborn, 9 N. II. 46; Whipple v. Stevens, 22 N H. 219, 226.
Cited by 8 later decisions — most recently June 1894
7 state decisions
Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know
¶1
The plaintiff had a right to pay the note, and recover the amount of the defendants. He was not bound to set up the statute of limitations as a defence; and his making that defence would be useless to the defendants, because they remained liable to the payee. The defendants are the principals on the note, and ought to pay' it. When Farnum paid the money the defendants were liable to pay it, and if his payment was unauthorized and' voluntary, as they contend, the note remains unpaid so far as they are concerned, and they are still liable to pay it; and the circumstances of the payment and of the whole case are such that justice requires an amendment that will sustain a judgment against the defendants in this suit for what they are equitably bound to pay, and in some suit can legally be compelled to pay. The object of this suit is to obtain payment of their own debt from the defendants; and that object can be justly accomplished by an amendment making the bank plaintiff, and adding to the declaration a' count on the note upon such terms of costs and such conditions of an adjustment of the rights of all parties as equity requires.
