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64 N.Y. 521

Scholey v. . Mumford

New York Court of Appeals

Decided April 4, 1876

New York Court of Appeals · decided 1876-04-04

(Reported on a former appeal, 60 U. Y., 498.) The complaint in this action alleged, in substance, that plaintiff and George H. Mumford were the executors of the will of Elizabeth G. Scholey, deceased; that said Mumford-died, having in his possession a large amount of United States bonds belonging to the estate, which came into the hands of defendants as his personal representatives; that plaintiff demanded the same, but they refused to deliver them up until certain…

Cited by 1 later decisions (1 by the Supreme Court) — most recently April 1884

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1876-04-04

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Rapallo, J.

¶1 After having given due consideration to the argument of the learned counsel for the appellant as to the *523 construction of the answer, we remain of the opinion that it admits that the payment of the amount stated in the account rendered for commissions and advances, was required as a condition for the delivery of the bonds to the plaintiff. The offer to prove that the defendants never imposed as a condition for the surrender of the bonds the payment of any money by the plaintiff, was therefore properly rejected.

¶2 But the answer contains the further allegation that the account of the commissions and advances claimed by the defendants, was delivered to and examined by the plaintiff and admitted to be correct. This allegation the defendants offered to prove, and the offer was rejected. The complaint averred that among the commissions claimed was the sum of $474.77, being one-half per cent on the value of the bonds; that the claim was unjust and was disputed by the plaintiff. This was a necessary averment to show that the payment was involuntary, and it was expressly denied by the answer. On the first trial as well as upon the last, evidence was adduced by the plaintiff in support of the allegation that he always disputed the claim for these commissions. This was one of the issues in the ease, and we think the court erred in refusing’ to permit the defendants to introduce evidence bearing upon it.

¶3 We have examined the other exceptions taken and find no error in the rulings of the court, save in the respect before mentioned. But if the appellant desires a new trial upon the issue whether the claim for these commissions was disputed or admitted by the plaintiff, she is entitled to it.

¶4 The judgment should be reversed and new a trial ordered, costs to abide the event.

¶5 All concur.

¶6 Judgment reversed.

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