Webber v. Cochrane , 4 Tex. 16 ( 1849 )

LiPSCOMB, J.,

being wiinin the prohibited degrees of relationship to one of the parties, did not sit. ■

Hemphill, Ch. J.

The question presented for consideration is whether tiie acknowledgment of the plaintiff in error (who was defendant below) is sufficient to take the case out of the operation of the statute of limitations.

The acknowledgment is expressed in the following terms: “ The within obligation and interest is just, due, and unpaid, after deducting the above credits “of $203,123. Dec. 21sü, 1S44.

(Signed) JOHN F. WEBBER.”

As the defendant in error contends for the sufficiency of the acknowledgment under the 12th section of tlie statute, I will recite it fully,, viz : “That when an “action may appear to be barred by a law of limitations, no acknowledgment “of the justice of the claim made subsequent to tlie time it became due shall “be admitted in evidence to take the case out of the operation of the law, un“less sncli acknowledgment be in writing and signed by tlie part}' to be charged “thereby.”

The plaintiff in error contends that the acknowledgment does not remove tlie bar of tlie statute; for although it admits the existence of the debt, yet tlie other ingredient, (he expression of a willingness to pay, is wanting; and cites Coles v. Kelsey, (2 Tex. R., 541,) in support of tlie position.

The rules laid down iii that case ns to tlie legal construction of acknowledgments and promises, anil their sufficiency to take a case out of the statute, are substantially in accordance with those established by the later authorities, overrnlingeariier decisions in which (lie slightest circumstances were held to repel the bar of tlie statute and deprive parties of the benefit of its protection. Any statement which admitted that a debt liad over existed, though accompanied with a denial of the party’s preseht liability, or his asseveration that lie had made payment, or that the debt was barred by tlie statute, ivas regarded as sufficient acknowledgment to revive tlie obligation and take tlie debt out of tlie statute.

In fact, perfect silence as to the claim seemed tlie only refuge left to the defendant, as his expressions, of whatever character they might be, not denying the original existence of the debt, were tortured by legal presumptions‘into implied promises to pay tin*, demand.

Tlie language of'Lord Erskine was scarcely too strong, viz : “That tlie diffi- “ culties which encompassed defendants, under tlie efforts of judicial acuteness, “ were such that tlie only safe course a defendant could take, when liis adver- “ sary sent a fishing witness, was to knock him down ; for though lie might be “proceeded against for the assault, lie retained tlie benefit of the statute as “ regarded tlie debt.” (Lord Brougham's Law Reform.)

Tlie current of decisions has, however, for a considerable period, taken a contrary and more natural direction. Defenses under tlie statute are no longer treated as odious and discreditable, liable to bo thwarted by “ strained, cbn- “ strnetive acknowledgments ” or nice refinements of interpretation, designed to evade the provisions of (.lie statute.

Tlie bar interposed by the statute, it is held now, can be repelled only by an express promise, which must lie proved in a clear and explicit manner, and be, in its terms, unequivocal and determinate. And if there be no express promise, but one is to be raised by implication of law from the acknowledgment of the. party, sncli acknowledgment should contain an unqualified and direct admission of a previous subsisting debt which (lie party is liable and willing to pay, or tlie acknowledgment, must be coupled with sncli circnmstane.es as irresistibly imply a promise to pay, and unaccompanied by any “ expression de- “ clarativo or qualification indicative of a coutraiy intention.” (1 Pet. R., 362; 2 Bailey R., 280; 1 Hard. R., 300.)

'These rules of construction were generally recognized before the enactment in England, Texas, New York, and perhaps other States of a further security against the defeat of the statute by requiring authentic written evidence of tlie alleged promise or acknowledgment.

'Tlie English statute has been hold, however, not to make any alteration in the legal construction to be put upon acknowledgments or promises made by defendants, but merely to require a different mo'de of proof, substiuiling tlie certain evidence of a writing signed by the party chargeable, instead of tlie insecure and precarious testimony of witnesses. (7 Bing. R., 166; Byles on Bills of Ex., 95.)

This, we apprehend, is the fair construction of the statute, and is as applicable to our own as to that of England. Títere is no substantial difference between the phraseology of the provisions in the two laws. The latter uses the terms “acknowledgment or promise;” in ours the words are “acknowledgment “ of the justice of the claim.”

Note 7. — The acknowledgment of a debt, if accompanied with a promise to pay conditionally’ is of no avail unless the condition be complied with or the event happen upon which the promise depends. (Mitchell v. Clay, 8 T., 443; Salinas v. Wright, 11 T., 572; McDonald v. Grey, 29 T., 80; Rowlett v. Lane, 43 T., 274.) An agreement which contains neither an express promise to pay any sum whatever nor an acknowledgment upon which such promise can be raised by implication of law is nob sufficient to take the case out of the operation of the statute. (Smith v. Fly, 24 T., 315.)

The rules of construction by which the sufficiency of an acknowledgment is to he determined are unaltered: the instrument of evidence alone is charged.

It is true that in our statute the term “justice of the claim” is superadded to the word acknowledgment, and it is supposed that this may operate a change in theingredients of the admission required to take the ease out of the statute. Tins, we are of opinion, is an untenable position.

The “justice of the claim” is not a very definite expression; but it cannot, consistently with the whole scope, end, and object of the statute, have any other meaning than that the claim is just, in a legal sense, at the time of the acknowledgment, without reference to its inception or other period antecedent to the admission; or, in other words, the phrase “acknowledgement of the justice of the claim,” as used in the statute, imports an admission at the time that the claim is a subsisting debt; and if unaccompanied by any circumstances repelling the presumptiou of the party’s willingness or intention to pay, his liability and consequent promise are necessary legal inferences from the facts of the case.

The acknowledgment in this case is amply sufficient, under the rules of construction to which we have referred, or under any rules which would admit a promise raised by implication of law, to be sufficient to remove the bar of the statute.

The terms of the acknowledgment are clear and unequivocal; the amount ascertained and determined. There are no circumstances indicative of an unwillingness to pay, and we are of opinion that the acknowledgment was sufficient to maintain the action.

Judgment affirmed.