Wilson v. Cox , 170 Pa. 331 ( 1895 )

Opinion by

Mr. Chief Justice Sterrett,

It may be conceded that the note on which the judgment was entered was executed and delivered by defendant on or about April 4, 1887 ; but there appears to be little if any doubt that, at the time it was given, the payee was indebted to the maker, on an unsettled account, in a sum equal to or greater than the face of the note. Mr. Smith the subscribing witness to the note, and the only person who appears to have been present when it was signed and delivered, testified in substance that the defendant objected to signing it, and said to the plaintiff: “It is not right for me to sign the note. You know we have not had a settlement and you owe me; ” to which plaintiff assented, and gave as his reason for requesting the note, that he wanted “ to show it to some one, .... so they could see where the money went,” etc. Defendant then said: “I will sign it, but it is not right; .... if you die I will lose this money.” In reply to this, the witness said: “No, not if I am living you won’t, but it is a queer way of doing business.” Defendant thereupon signed the note. The same apparently disinterested witness further testified that plaintiff admitted he was then indebted to defendant on an unsettled account; that subsequently, in conversations with him in relation to the transaction, he said it was all right, that he and the defendant did business that way between themselves.

As tending to corroborate the testimony to which reference has been made, it was also shown by a witness, familiar with defendant’s books, that they show an indebtedness of about $1005, by plaintiff to defendant at the time the note was given. An additional circumstance that may have some weight, in connection with other evidence, is the fact that, although plaintiff became insolvent shortly after the note was given and continued so until his decease, he never entered up the note or demanded either principal or interest thereof.

Without further reference to the evidence in support of the rule, we think it tends to show that whatever object the parties may have had in view when the note was signed and delivered, it was not their intention that it should be regarded as evidence of the maker’s then indebtedness to the plaintiff, payee therein named, or be enforced as such. While the case is involved in considerable doubt, we are of opinion that it presents questions of fact which the defendant should have an opportunity of submitting to a jury for their consideration.

Decree reversed, with costs to be paid by the appellee, and it is now adjudged and decreed that the rule to show cause be made absolute and an issue in proper form awarded.