18 S.D. 454 | S.D. | 1904
That the bar of the statute of limitations has been removed by a subsequent written acknowledgment of the debt, evidenced by a promissory note upon which the action was instituted, is the only question presented by this appeal.
In addition to the defense of usury and the statute of limitations, the defendant alleges “that he has paid to E. P. Heizer, one of the makers of said note, a sum sufficient to pay the full amount lawfully due thereon, with express instruction to said E. P. Heizer that the same be used for the payment • of said note, and alleges, on information and belief, that said note has been fully paid.”- The undisputed evidence shows that no part of the note has ever been paid by either party, and that the foregoing allegation relates to a remittance of $100 inclosed
By the enactment of the following provision, our Legislature has specified what is necessary to the statutory bar: “No acknowledgment or promise is sufficient evidence of a new or continuing contract, whereby to take the case * * * out of the operation of this chapter, unless the same be contained - in some writing signed by the party to be chraged thereby. ” Section 79, Rev. Code Giv. Proc. 1903. If the new or continuing contract must contain an acknowledgment of the indebtedness or promise to pay the same, and be signed by the party to be charged thereby, it is evident that no such instrument appears in the record. No claim is made that the plaintiff ever authorized Heizer, the joint maker of the note, to accept from
The .judgment appéaled from is affirmed.