The opinion of the Court was drawn up by
This case comes before the Court by a bill of exceptions, taken to the instructions given to the jury, on trial of the action in the Court of Common Pleas.
The first direction of the Court excepted to is, “ that if the jury should believe and find the fact as testified to by the witness, it would render the note usurious.”
It is contended for the plaintiff, that the first note was not usurious, the contract being pure in its original inception; and the usury, if any, was in the transfer of the note. The law in relation to con
The second instruction, which is the subject of complaint is, in substance, that the plaintiff was not entitled by the act of the eighth of March, 1834, to recover; this note not being subject to the operation of that act. The plaintiff’s counsel insists, that the act operates upon then existing, as well as upon future contracts; and cites the language of the latter clause of the second section in support of this position. And it is true, that the language of that clause is general; being, “ and if upon any bond, contract, mortgage and assurance, made for the payment of any money lent”; there being no reference to contracts future in it. But the first clause of the second section reads, “ that if any person or persons, upon any contract hereafter made, shall take directly or indirectly, for loan of any moneys, wares, or merchandise, or any other commodities, above the value of six dollars for the forbearance of one hundred dollars for a year, and so after that rate for a louger or shorter time” ; and then follows the language of the second clause quoted. If the words “ upon any contract hereafter made” do not operate upon the whole section, as well upon the last, as upon the first part of it, they have no practical operation whatever. And the practical effect of the whole section would be the same, as if those words were not in it. No more extended argument can be required to satisfy the mind, that such could not have been the intention of the legislature ; and the instruction on this point was also correct.
The case of Johnson v. Johnson, 11 Mass. R. 359, decided, that, where a debt was due from the defendant to the plaintiff free from usurious taint, and a note given for that debt together with usurious interest upon it, was decided to be void, the plaintiff might recover the original debt upon the money counts. There was no corrupt or illegal contract out of which the original debt arose. In this case, the money was originally loaned, upon the corrupt bargain to receive more than lawful interest, and it cannot therefore be recovered back. Nor was there any after contract or debt free from the contamination of usury. The exceptions are overruled, and there must be judgment on the verdict.
