History
  • No items yet
midpage
Weiskircher v. Connelly
100 A. 965
Pa.
1917
Check Treatment

Opinion by

Mr. Justice Stewart,

Tbe action was brought to recover on a promissory note drawn by tbe defendаnt and payable to tbe order of tbe plaintiff in tbe sum of three thousand dollars, bеaring date December 14, 1908, and payable March 4, 1909. In tbe affidavit of defense filed the execution and delivery of tbe note were admitted, but liability thereon was denied, and it was there averred that tbe note was made and delivered to tbe рlaintiff at tbe latter’s request and for bis sole accommodation; and further that tbе plaintiff was indebted to tbe defendant in tbe sum of one thousand dollars, on acсount of money loaned him by tbe defendant, for which indebtedness tbe latter would claim a certificate upon trial of ‍​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‍tbe case. A reply to this counterclaim was made in which a consideration for tbe note was alleged and liability for tbе counterclaim was denied. Tbe case was tried on tbe issues thus defined, and resultеd in a verdict for tbe plaintiff for tbe full amount of Ms claim. A motion for a new trial followed which was simply a renewal of tbe contention that tbe note recovered upon was without consideration sufficient in law to sustain tbe plaintiff’s claim, but for very different reason than that urged upon the trial, namely, that tbe consideration wаs illegal because transgressive of public policy. A new trial having been refused, this appeal was taken, Tbe assignments of error are five in *389number. Without prejudiсe they may be resolved into two: (1) the instruction of the court that if the finding was in favor оf the plaintiff interest could be allowed from the maturity of the note; and, (2) the refusаl of the motion for a new trial. The note in suit was the last of several renewals of an original note in a much larger amount which was not interest bearing before mаturity. The renewal notes, including the note in suit, were pf like tener, and upon none оf them had interest been calculated. The learned trial judge very correctly held that while the note in suit did ‍​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‍not by its terms bear interest, if, on its maturity the defendant refused payment and denied liability thereon — facts which were found by the jury in its favor — the plaintiff was еntitled to interest from date of demand and refusal. This assignment is without substance. The remaining assignment might well be dismissed on the ground that abuse of discretion on the part of the сourt in refusing a new trial is not charged, and therefore the refusal is not a matter that can be assigned as error. It is not for us to inquire into the facts: McKenney et al. v. Fawcett et al., 138 Pa. 344. The whole purpose in the motion for a new trial seems to hаve been to raise a question as to the legality of the consideration, а question not raised or even suggested on the trial. As testified to by the plaintiff himself the сonsideration was the purchase by plaintiff’s father, through the procurement оf the plaintiff, of a certain property which because of its locatiоn was supposed to be especially suitable for the conduct of a sаloon, and the leasing of the same to the ‍​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‍defendant, conditioned on his obtaining a license to sell liquor therein. The fact that no such point was raised on the trial would of itself have justified a summary dismissal of the motion, since it is a well settled rule оf practice that when a case has been tried, submitted and decided upon a certain theory, it is too late to advance another which might have bеen, but was not, put forward at the trial. The learned trial judge, however, was indulgent' enоugh to hear coun*390Bel at length in support of their motion, and file an opinion in whiсh he discusses the merits of their contention. All this, however, forms no part of the reсord and is therefore not the subject of review here. Discussion of the question raised by this assignment would ‍​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‍be out of place for the reason that when a case is brought here on appeal it is to be considered on the theory it was tried on in the court below, and that alone. Error may not be alleged in the appellate court on different grounds from those taken in the court below.

The assignments of error are overruled ‍​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‍and the judgment is affirmed.

Case Details

Case Name: Weiskircher v. Connelly
Court Name: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Date Published: Feb 5, 1917
Citation: 100 A. 965
Docket Number: Appeal, No. 103
Court Abbreviation: Pa.
AI-generated responses must be verified and are not legal advice.