19 N.J. Eq. 407 | New York Court of Chancery | 1869
The application is on the part of Mary Frehche, to compel the sheriff of Sussex county to deliver to he? a deed for lands sold to her by virtue of the fieri facias in the above suit. She claims the right to have the deed delivered, without paying the amount of her bid. The lands in question were included in the mortgage held by Anna Watts, the complainant, and also in a mortgage given by Frenche and wife to Cooper &
Thompson gave Mrs. Frenche a receipt for the sum last paid him, as in full of the mortgage debt. He had no authority from Peck to accept it as payment, and told .Mrs. Frenche at the time, that Peck insisted that he was entitled to the whole, on account of their failure in payment, and that he doubted whether Peck would accept it; that if he accepted it, all would be right. Peck refused to accept it, and de
The petitioner, Mary Frenche, supposes that by virtue of the receipt in full from Thompson, she has a right to the deed without payment. This receipt, under the circumstances, is of no validity to pay §336, with the interest, if that was then due. Both parties admit that the money was not paid. Thompson did not pretend authority from Peck to compromise his claim by giving away part of it; he did not agree for Peck, or on his own behalf, that Peck should abandon and give away part of his debt. The receipt does not amount to an agreement, or to a release of the claim. It was given under the hope that Peck might again relent, and consent to this abatement of his claim.
The previous agreements of Peck were both made upon terms that were not complied with, and had they been binding, ho would have been released from them. They were not binding, either at law or in equity, as made without consideration. An agreement by a creditor, to accept part of a debt as payment of the whole, is nudum pactum and void. Were it otherwise, a promise by a creditor that he will accept a less sum at an early day, to avoid delay and litigation, would not be enforced, unless upon payment as stipulated. This is in no sense a forfeiture; the only consideration for the abatement, is punctual payment. It is no more a forfeiture than to withhold the wages of a laborer who does not come to his work. Wages are only due in consideration of work, and here the abatement was only due in consideration of prompt payment at the time agreed.
The order must be refused.