60 Wis. 248 | Wis. | 1884
The defendant made no attempt to prove a prescriptive right to catch fish in Stony brook, on plaintiff’s land, so that defense is out of the case. But the defendant also answered that the trespass complained of was committed.by him jointly with one Jordan; that about the time this suit was instituted the plaintiff commenced an action against Jordan to recover damages for the trespass; that while both actions were pending and undetermined the plaintiff accepted and received from Jordan the sum of fifty cents in full satisfaction of said alleged cause of action, together with $1.92 costs, and released Jordan from all further liability for the trespass. The defendant pleaded that release and satisfaction as a bar to any recovery in this action.
Now, whether the acts complained of constituted a joint trespass, may, upon the evidence, admit of some doubt. The testimony of the defendant upon this point is that he and Jordan went fishing upon the plaintiff’s land; that they agreed to divide, and did actually divide, the fish which they caught. This is all there is to show that the defendant and Jordan were acting in concert in the execution of a common purpose in the fishing enterprise, so as to make the act of
Where the trespass is joint, this court has held that the receipt of money from one with an agreement not to prosecute him, discharges the others only when such money is received as an accord and satisfaction for the whole injury, but where it is received only as part satisfaction it discharges the others only pro tanto. Ellis v. Esson, 50 Wis., 138. The question as to when a release of one joint tort-feasor will operate to bar an action against the others is fully discussed in that case by Mr. Justice Taylor, a,nd need not be further considered here. It is sufficient to say there was no proof
By the Court.— It is so ordered.