Harrington v. Hall , 2 Aik. 175 ( 1827 )

The opinion of the Court was pronounced by

Skinner, Ch. J.

The facts in this case, upon which the judgment of the county court was rendered, and of which the plaintiff in error complains as erroneous, are found in the report of the auditor. From this it appears, the defendant below presented no account or claim against the plaintiff, Hall. The ac - count of Hall shows, among other things, a charge of 65 dollars paid Henry Hodges, and also a credit of 65 dollars by James Harrington ; and Hall testified that he had delivered to Joshua Harrington, the defendant below, two potash kettles, and by direction of Hodges charged the same, at 65 dollars, to the latter: that afterwards James Harrington, by agreement, accounted to the plaintiff for the sum of 65 dollars, which was in payment for the charge of said kettles, and that he accordingly, (as appeared from his original books,) charged the sum of 65 dollars to the plaintiff, as paid Hodges, and gave him credit 65 dollars paid by James Harrington, and at the same time credited the 65 dollars to Hodges. Hodges was called to testify to the defendant’s having consented to the charge and credit as appeared in the account. He was objected to on the ground of interest, and the objection overruled by the auditor. The same was again urged before the court, on the return of the report by the auditor, but the report was approved and accepted, and judgment rendered thereon.

Rodney C. Royce and Chs. K. Williams, for the plaintiff in error. Silas Hodges, for the defendant in error.

Admitting the auditor erred in permitting Hodges to testify, this constitutes no sufficient reason for rejecting the report. Harrington, the defendant, presented no account against Hall; the auditing was confuted exclusively to the accounts of the latter.

If no charge or credit had been made of the 65 dollars, the balance of the account would have stood as it now stands. The credit and charge having been made by him at the same time, are to be taken together, and there is no principle upon which he can, by force of the account, be excluded from the benefit of the one, and made liable for the other.

If the credit is to avail the defendant, having been made in consideration of the debit, he ought to be subjected to the charge. Indeed, I can see no reason why the entries were made at all.

But, there is no rule of law by which Hodges ought to have been rejected as a witness; he is not incompetent by reason of interest, as that is balanced. If Joshua Harrington had paid to Hodges sixty-five dollars, in consideration that he would pay to Hall that sum on his account, he is liable to Harrington for his neglect or refusal. So, too, if Harrington had paid the amount to Hall for Hodges. If the sum is not paid by Harrington, Hodges is still liable to Hall.

The statement that Hodges and Harrington had settled all accounts, more than six years prior to the time of auditing this account, is unsupported by evidence, and merits no consideration.

Judgment of the county court affirmed.