Taylor, Thomas & Co. v. Wightman

51 Iowa 411 | Iowa | 1879

Adams, J.

1. guaranty: evidence. ' — The guaranty purported to be executed in consideration of one dollar in hand paid, but no sum was in fact paid. This was shown by the testimony of Wight-man, which was not disputed. After he rested, -the plaintiffs offered in evidence a deposition of one of the members of their firm, for the purpose of showing that the guaranty was executed in consideration of the extension of time upon the account. The defendant objected to the dep•ositioh as irrelevant and incompetent. The court overruled the objection, to which ruling the defendant excepted, and he now assigns the same as error.

The guaranty was dated May 1, 1877, and purported to obligate the defendant for the payment of the account by the first day of August following, if not paid sooner by the principal debtor. It was executed in acceptance of a proposition made by the plaintiffs by letter, wherein, at the defendant’s request, they agree in substance, in consideration of the execution of the guaranty, to wait. The time is not specified, but construing the letter in connection with the instrument ■of guaranty inclosed with it, to be executed by the defendant, the meaning doubtless is that the plaintiffs, in consideration of the execution of the guaranty, would wait until the first day of August, the time when the guaranty was to become enforceable. This promise would constitute a sufficient consideration for the guaranty, if it was proper to be shown. The defendant insists that it was not proper. In the first place, he insists that -there was no foundation laid in the petition for the introduction of the evidence, and in the second place, that it is not competent to show by parol a consideration different from that expressed in the writing.

The petition contains no averment as to what the consideration was, except so far as it is done by setting out the instrument of guaranty, which purports to be for the consideration of one dollar. The defendant answers that he never received one dollar or any other consideration. He deemed it proper to do more than deny the receipt of the consideration expressed,-and we think it was necessary for him to do so. The instrument, by reason of the mere fact of its being in writing, imported a consideration. If it was necessary for the defendant, in addition to denying that he received the consideration expressed, to aver that he received no other consideration, it was necessary for him to prove it. He did introduce evidence'to that effect, and having done so, it was. competent for the plaintiffs to introduce evidence in rebuttal.

We come then to the second question, as to whether they should have been allowed to show a different consideration by parol. The defendant insists that they should not, because in so doing they were contradicting a written instrument. But, we think, the rule of evidence relied upon is not applicable in such a case. It not being necessary that any consideration should be expressed, the words by which it was expressed may be considered as superfluous so far as the question before us is concerned.

It will be observed that the action is not brought to enforce the payment of an additional consideration. If it were brought for such purpose a different question would arise. The question before us is as to whether the instrument is void. It is not to be so held unless the party executing it has shown an absence of all consideration. This he attempted to do, but in so attempting he claimed the right to contradict the instrument, if the showing in regard to the consideration can be regarded as a contradiction. The true idea is that, the recital of what passed as the consideration of the execution of the instrument is not an essential part. The defendant, therefore, was properly allowed to show that no consideration was received, although in contravention of the recital. If the defendant could not be precluded from contradicting the recital, the plaintiffs are not limited by it. We see no error in admitting the evidence.

Affirmed.