46 Ind. 116 | Ind. | 1874
This was an action by the appellee against: the appellant, •on a promissory note executed by her to him,, payable one year after date, and to foreclose a mortgage-to secure the payment thereof. The defendant pleaded two-paragraphs of answer, to each of which a demurrer was sustained by the court. The defendant was then defaulted, and-after an inquiry as to the amount of damages, there was final judgment for the plaintiff.
The only questions presented and relied upon by the appellant are the rulings of the court on the demurrers to the paragraphs of the answer.
The first paragraph of the answer is as follows: “ The-defendant, for answer herein, avers that at the time of the execution of the mortgage sued on, the plaintiff represented that it was payable in five years from the date thereof, and that the defendant, relying upon the word of the plaintiff, did not read or ask to have read the mortgage, nor was it.
This is not a good answer. It makes no mention of the note, but speaks of the mortgage only. It does not show fraud. Tire defendant should have read, or requested to have the papers read to her. The circumstances do not .amount to fraud. Seeright v. Fletcher, 6 Blackf. 380; Rogers v. Place, 29 Ind. 577; May v. Johnson, 3 Ind. 449; Craig v. Hobbs, 44 Ind. 363.
There is no allegation of mistake, or prayer for the reformation of the instruments.
The second paragraph is as follows : “And the defendant for further answer herein avers, that the consideration •of the execution of the note and mortgage sued on was the ■purchase of certain goods and fixtures then in the city of Lafayette, in this county and State; that the defendant at that time entrusted the care and management of invoicing the said goods, and fixtures to one John H. Bacon, for the ■purpose of ascertaining; a copy of which invoice is herewith filed, marked ‘A;’ that owing to the negligence of the •said John H. Bacon, and owing to his want of skill, which •at that time was unknown to this defendant, the goods and fixtures were placed at a much higher estimate than their true value; all of which the said Markley well knew at the time; and the defendant avers that numerous articles mentioned in said invoice were not in the possession of said Markley at the time the said invoice was made, and have never been delivered to this defendant; wherefore the •defendant says that as to a large amount, to wit, fifteen hundred dollars, there was no consideration for the execution of said mortgage, and prays judgment accordingly.”
How it can be supposed that the negligence and want of «kill of the defendant’s own agent, appointed by her to
The judgment is affirmed, with costs and two per cent, damages.