18 Mo. 272 | Mo. | 1853
delivered the opinion of the court.
William Henry gave an order on the plaintiffs in error (defendants below) on the 27th June, 1852, whereby they were requested to make to the order of Jeffries, the defendant in error and plaintiff below, a buggy worth- at fair valuation, one hun
1. It is obvious that the instrument which is the foundation of this action, is no inland bill of exchange, being made payable in property. It, therefore, imports no consideration and no action can be maintained on it as on an inland bill of exchange. 1 Strange, 591. Nor is it like an order to deliver specific articles which are designated, the acceptance of which has been held to vest the property in the person in whose favor the order was drawn. Gillett v. Hill, 2 Carr. & Moo. 530. The property here could not vest, as it had not been made. By the common law, an acceptor undertakes to pay the debt of another, and he can only be charged in a special action on the case founded on the custom of merchants. 2 Wash. 229. Nor do we conceive that the instrument is a promissory note, within the contemplation of our statute concerning bonds and notes. That statute enacts, that all notes in writing, made and signed by any person or his agent, whereby he shall promise to pay any other person or his order, or unto bearer, any sum of money or property therein mentioned, shall import a consideration, and be due and payable as therein specified. There are
The other judges concurring, the judgment will be reversed and the cause remanded.