Amort v. Christofferson

57 Minn. 234 | Minn. | 1894

Coulins, J.

While we are obliged to concede that, on the evidence, this was a very close case, we are of the opinion that the verdict cannot be disturbed. Defendant held a mortgage upon a crop yet to be grown, in the season of 1891, by one Kieley, and from the testimony it seems that he, as well as the plaintiff, who knew of the mortgage, supposed it would be a first lien, and would have priority over a seed-grain note given, under the statute, for the seed* from which the crop was to be raised. Kieley applied to plaintiff for seed,.but the latter refused to give him credit, and thereupon, according to the testimony, defendant told plaintiff to let Kieley have the seed, and “I will see you paid for it.” This assurance, construed with reference to the connection in which the words were used, and the facts surrounding their utterance, cannot be distinguished from that considered in Grant v. Wolf, 34 Minn. 32, (24 N. W. 289;) and the words are fairly susceptible of the construction that the responsibility assumed by defendant was original, and not collateral to the agreement of another; hence not within the statute of frauds.

The words, “I will see you paid” for the seed grain, amounted, under the circumstances, to an agreement by defendant to pay for it himself.

It was shown that, when the plaintiff delivered the grain to Kieley, he took a seed-grain note from him for the amount of the purchase price, and from this it might be argued that defendant’s promise was unquestionably collateral. But the plaintiff testified (and the jury had the right to believe him) that defendant told him, when becoming responsible for the grain, that he must take a seed-grain note from Kieley, and, further, that he (defendant) would also sign it. The note was taken, and afterwards presented to defendant for his signature, which was refused. The explanation offered by plaintiff as to the taking of the note is such that it cannot be said to have been conclusively shown that any credit was given to Kieley. See Cole v. Hutchinson, 34 Minn. 410, (26 N. W. 319.)

We do not attach the imjiortance to the complaint in a former action between these same parties, which was introduced in evidence by defendant, that is given to it by counsel for the latter. Plaintiff testified, without contradiction, that he did not know what it contained, and from its allegations it is evident that he was then endeavoring to collect his money from defendant, as he is in the present action.

It is true that the verdict was for a slightly greater amount than was claimed in the complaint, but evidently this grew out of an error in the computation of interest. The court below would have' corrected the error, no doubt, had attention been called to it, but we do not see that it was. It is now too late for this to be done.

Order affirmed.

Buck, J., absent, sick, took no part.

(Opinion published 59 N. W. 304)