Cox v. Knight's Administrator

49 Ala. 173 | Ala. | 1873

B. F. SAFFOLD, J.

— The appellee’s intestate was tbe surety of one Reid on a promissory note made by them, payable to tbe appellant, and due in January, 1862. In the summer or fall of 1865, Reid proposed to the appellant to pay tbe note with cotton, at seventy cents a pound, tbe price then being about thirty-five or forty cents. The cotton then in his possession was to be delivered at his gin-house, when ginned and packed, of which the appellant was to have notice. To this proposition the latter agreed, and afterwards he received some cotton, which he sold and appropriated to the payment of the note. But on account of deficiency in the quality and quantity, a balance remained which has not been paid. In May, 1866, the appellant, in reply to an inquiry about the payment of the note, made by the surety through his son, stated that he had agreed with Reid to receive payment in cotton, and he need give himself no uneasiness about it. The suit being on tbe note, against the administrator of the surety alone, the court charged the jury, by proper request of the defendant, to find for him.

It is a matter of no little difficulty, in a case of this sort, to discriminate between the province of the jury and that of the court. Wben a contract is written, the parties choose the language expressive of its terms, and the interpretation must be by the court. But when it is verbal, and detailed by witnesses, it seems that its terms and the intention of the parties ought to be found by the jury, notwithstanding there is no other conflict in the testimony than the uncertainty of the intention arising from the narration. The testimony may be all true, as far as it goes, and it may tend to prove facts consistent with opposite intentions. Here, the surety seeks a discharge because the creditor made a subsequent agreement with the principal debtor, materially affecting the original contract. An agreement or understanding, touching the payment of the debt, was made ; but whether it materially affected the other is extremely uncertain. It may or may not have done so, or have been intended to do so. Either conclusion may be reasonably deduced from the testimony. There was no agreement to prolong the time of payment otherwise than as inseparably contained in a consent to take the cotton, which was not prepared for delivery. The creditor may have merely expressed a willingness to receive cotton in payment, if it should be tendered to him. This is the more probable, as the price fixed was double the market value. A question of intent is for the jury, except in the construction of writings. The jury must find what agreement, if any, was made. Ewing v. Peck, 26 Ala. 413 : Wolfe v. Parham, 18 Ala. 441; Johnson & Wife v. Collins, 20 Ala. 435. The court erred in the charge given.

The judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded.