18 Barb. 320 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1854
In Goodsell v. Myers, (3 Wend. 479,) it was held that a negotiable promissory note, made by an infant, was voidable only, and not void; and might be affirmed after he came of age. In Everson v. Carpenter, (17 Wend. 419,) the same doctrine was held, except that it did not appear in that case that the note was in its terms negotiable. Delano v.
I The defendants’ counsel contends that the new promise is not binding as a ratification, for the reason that there is nothing to I show that, at the time it was made, the defendant knew that he | was not liable, by reason of his infancy, to pay the note, and that he made such promise for the purpose of waiving his priv- * ilege of infancy. It is sufficient to say that there is no evidence | to show he was ignorant of his rights. He is presumed to know Í the law, and I think the presumption is that he knew the facts | necessary to establish Ms exemption from legal liability, before | making the new promise. It seems he found them out when he | was sued, and it does not appear that any additional information I was communicated to Mm in the mean time.
It is also contended, on the part of the defendant, that the new promise was not an unconditional absolute promise to pay the note, but a promise to turn out the note of a third person for a part, and pay the balance; and that the complaint, instead of being in the ordinary form, upon the note, should have been
It was not claimed before the referee, that the reply was not sufficient to admit the proof, if admissible under any state of pleadings. No demand of the fifty dollar note, which the defendant agreed to turn out, was necessary. And this, I think, disposes of the next point of the defendant’s counsel, that the promise to turn out the note was void by the statute of frauds. (2 R. S. 136, § 3.) It was not a sale, or a contract for the sale of the note, but a means agreed upon by the parties for the pay-merit of the note in suit, which was recognized and treated as a valid and subsisting debt.
The judgment at special term should be affirmed.
Welles, Selden and Johnson, Justices.]