Powell v. . Jennings

The plaintiff declared for money had and received to her use. The proof was, that the plaintiff was the widow of an old soldier of the was of the revolution, and as such, had been put upon the pension-list under the laws of Congress; that there was due her from four to five hundred dollars of back-pay at the time her right was first allowed. One Mastin, together with the defendant, had assisted her in establishing her claim, and it was agreed between the parties that Mastin was to receive for his services one hundred dollars, to be deducted from the first payment, and the defendant all the balance of the back-pay for what he was to do in collecting evidence, and the plaintiff was to pay no part of the expense in case of failing to establish her claim. The parties proceeded under this contract. The defendant collected the evidence, and Mastin succeeded in having her name placed on the pension roll, and received all the back-pay. He took one hundred dollars, and, after deducting some expenses in Washington and Fayetteville, paid over all the remainder, (about $400,) to the defendant, in pursuance of the original agreement. After the money was received, and before that event, the plaintiff declared to several persons, that she had given it to the defendant. It also appeared that some time before the subject of the pension was agitated, the plaintiff went to live with the defendant, under an agreement that he was to support her for life, and she was to contribute what money she might make by practicing as a mid-wife, and whatever monies she might receive from other sources, as a compensation. The question was, whether upon this evidence, the plaintiff could recover.

His Honor was of opinion, and instructed the jury, that the agreement touching the pension was void under the act of Congress, and that the plaintiff was entitled to recover. The defendant excepted to this charge.

Verdict and judgment for the plaintiff. Appeal by the defendant. This case is governed by the act of Congress passed in 1848, ch. 120, entitled an act for the relief of certain surviving widows of officers and soldiers of the revolutionary army. The first section grants a pension to all such widows. The second section is as follows: "That any pledge, mortgage, sale, assignment or transfer of any right, claim or interest, inany way granted by this act, shall be utterly void and of no effect." The object of the act cannot be mistaken; it was to secure to the widows of those, by whose sufferings and valor, the liberties we are now enjoying were secured, a provision for the few years they could remain here. So anxious were they to effectuate this purpose, that, in the same section, they exempt the pension from any liability to the debts of the pensioner, either in law and equity.

The case sets forth that the plaintiff, a widow of a soldier of the revolution, and entitled to be placed on the pension-list, was entitled to $500 as back-pay. It was agreed between her and one Mastin and the defendant, that Mastin should receive the money, and retain, as pay for his trouble, one hundred dollars, and that, in pursuance of said agreement, he should pay all the balance, $400, to the defendant, for his trouble in procuring the testimony necessary to have her name enrolled on the pension-list. Both the parties and the witnesses lived in Wilkes county. Mastin received the $500, and paid to the defendant $400 of it. The action is brought to recover that money.

It is urged that this case does not come within the act of Congress; that the act did not intend to prevent the pensioner from disposing of her pension-money, after she had received it, as she might think proper. Unfortunately for the argument, the case sufficiently shows that the agreement was entered into before the pension-money was received, and that the payment of the $400 to the defendant, was made to him in pursuance of said agreement. No part of the money ever came to her hands; but it was drawn by Mastin, by her assignment or transfer of her right to receive it, and a portion paid by him in compliance with the previous agreement. If the act is to receive the construction contended for by defendant, it is a dead letter, so far as securing the pension-money to the widow is concerned, and might as well be at once repealed. The act, being for the protection of those, who, in ninety-nine cases in a hundred, are poor, needy and ignorant, should receive such a construction as will carry out the benevolent intention of the donors of the bounty. Like the statute of frauds, it should receive a liberal construction; such a construction as is consistent with the words, and as will suppress the mischief — the mischief of preying upon the necessities of the poor and ignorant.

It is again said, if the act is to receive the construction contended for by the plaintiff, the bounty of the country will, in many cases, prove illusory. This may be so, and probably will be; but it is an evil, courts of justice cannot remedy. To Congress belongs the power. The intention of the act is to provide for the widow, and not for the speculator.

Considering the money paid to the defendant Jennings as received by him, by virtue of the agreement made originally by the parties, which was null and void by virtue of the act of Congress, it was received by him in law to the use of the plaintiff.

We concur with his Honor who tried the case below, in his judgment, which is affirmed.

PER CURIAM. Judgment affirmed.