84 Ill. 611 | Ill. | 1877
delivered the opinion of the Court:
The note upon which the action was brought was given in consideration of the assignment, by plaintiffs to defendant, of a draft drawn by William A. Becket upon Leckie, Sellars & Co., and accepted by that firm, payable to the order of plaintiffs, with the distinct agreement, in the event defendant could not “ collect or realize ” on the draft, he was to be released from the payment of the note. It is not pretended there was any consideration for the note, other than the draft, and the transaction was itself a mere experiment, with but little, if any, confidence that any success would attend it. Both drawer and drawees were insolvent at the time of making the note and agreement, and this fact was well known to the parties. It is not claimed defendant ever collected anything on the draft; but it is insisted, because he had a deal with the drawer, by which defendant became indebted to him in a sum in excess of the amount of this draft, he has in some way “ realized ” on the draft. This is a misapprehension of the facts. That claim has not yet been settled. 2STo action was ever brought upon it, so that defendant has had, as yet, no opportunity to use it as a set-off if he desired to do so. Evidence offered shows defendant has another claim against Becket, on a draft to near the amount of his indebtedness, that he could as well have used as a set-off, in case he was sued, as the draft of plaintiffs.
Defendant made an effort to get Becket to take the draft on his indebtedness, but he declined to do it. In no event was defendant to pay the note unless he “ collected or realized ” on the draft. This he has not done. He was not obligated to use any legal measures to enforce collection of the draft. It was never contemplated he would do more than use it as a set- • off in Case he was sued by Bechet. Whether he could have used the draft, or any part of it, as a set-off, had he been sued by Bechet, is a question we need not now consider. It is sufficient for the present defense he has not done it.
Under the evidence in the record, the court ought to have found the issues for defendant; but as he has assigned no cross-errors, as was his privilege under the statute, we must understand he is satisfied with the judgment, and it will be affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
