Hudspeth v. Hilburn , 1926 Tex. App. LEXIS 1065 ( 1926 )

Appellees, Hilburn and McCrea, brought this suit against the appellant to recover upon two notes of the latter in the sum of $11,500 each, less an admitted credit of $4,766.

The appellants pleaded the payment and acceptance of said amount of $4,766 in accord and satisfaction of the notes sued upon. The evidence does not disclose any controversy between the parties as to the amount due thereon, but does disclose that the appellant was heavily involved financially. The question presented is whether the payment of the sum mentioned operated as a satisfaction of the debt for the greater amount evidenced by the notes sued upon.

The trial court found that defendant agreed to pay and plaintiffs agreed to accept $5,000 in payment of the notes; that defendant paid the sum of $4,766, but failed to pay the balance of $234. Appellant challenges the correctness of this finding, but an examination of the evidence discloses that it supports the same. According to the testimony of appellant, the payment of $4,766 was made and accepted in full satisfaction. McCrea represented the plaintiffs in the negotiation. While McCrea's testimony upon the issue is somewhat confusing, yet, viewing the same most favorably to appellant, it appears that appellant informed him he was endeavoring to effect a settlement with all of his creditors; that if the other creditors accepted his offer he could only pay appellees $4,766, but, if they did not, he could and would pay $5,000. There is no claim that the other creditors accepted, so, according to McCrea's testimony, the obligation was to pay them $5,000. That the agreement was to pay $5,000 is strongly evidenced by a letter of appellant, accompanying the check for $4,766, in which he said:

"Enclosed ck for $4,766 — as promised. I could not get down to Stamford and sorry to disappoint you but this leaves me absolutely flat and I certainly appreciate you and will * * * make the other up to $5,000 as soon as I possibly can. * * *"

The stated finding of the trial court is sustained. This being the case, it follows that the judgment must be affirmed because an accord must be completely executed in order to operate as a bar to the original cause of action. Railway v. Gordon, 7 S.W. 695, 70 Tex. 80; 1 C.J. 530. Upon failure to completely perform, the original cause of action remains unimpaired, except that the party to be charged is entitled to credit for the amount paid. 1 C.J. 533.

Neither the pleadings nor the evidence present any issue of a new promise accepted in lieu of the old. In such case, if the new promise be not performed, the plaintiff's cause of action must be based thereon; he has no right to recur to the original demand. Railway v. Harriett,15 S.W. 556, 80 Tex. 73; Ferguson-McKinney D. G. Co. v. Garrett (Tex.Com.App.) 252 S.W. 738.

Under the findings of the trial court, the accord in this case was not fully executed, and the plaintiffs could properly sue upon the original demand and recover, less the payment made.

This ruling renders unnecessary a consideration of the numerous assignments and propositions presented by the appellant. The proper disposition of the appeal is ruled by the indicated finding of the trial court and well-settled rules of law applicable thereto.

Affirmed.