Finney v. Shirley

• Citation: 7 Mo. 42
• Parties: J. & W. FINNEY v. SHIRLEY & HOFFMAN.
• Decision Date: 31 May 1841
• Court: United States State Supreme Court of Missouri

7 Mo. 42

J. & W. FINNEY

v.SHIRLEY & HOFFMAN.

Supreme Court of Missouri.

May Term, 1841.

APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

NAPTON, J.

This was an action brought before a justice of the peace, o St. Louis, upon the following instrument: “Due Shirley and Hoffman the sum of one hundred and forty-two dollars, -- cents, the amount of two meat bills, rendered. $142. Portland, Nov. 3, 1838. Thomas F. Coburn, Clk. for steamboat Bee and owners.” Judgment was given for the plaintiffs, and defendant appealed to the Circuit Court, and judgment having been again for plaintiffs, a motion for a new trial was made, and overruled, and the case brought here by appeal. The only question appears to be on the jurisdiction of the justice. If the obligation above cited be a note, the justice had jurisdiction: if not, the case was improperly entertained in the Circuit Court. An acknowledgment of indebtedness, in a specific sum, for a valuable consideration, raises a promise to pay. The instrument here sued on was therefore a note within the meaning of our act. The cases cited contain instruments precisely like the present, in which the courts have held them to be notes. 10 Wend. 677; 2 Cowen, 536. The judgment of the Circuit Court is, therefore, affirmed.