Wolf v. Estate of Troxell

Hooker, C. J.

The claimant was owner of four promissory notes executed by decedent. Appealing from *575 their disallowance by commissioners, he met with defeat in the circuit court, and brings the case here on bill of exceptions. The defense made below was that the notes were given to prevent a prosecution of decedent’s son for embezzlement.

The will of the decedent was introduced in evidence on behalf of the defendant, against objection. The only apparent object of the introduction was to get before the jury'the fact that decedent gave his son no share of his estate. This will was executed several years before the transaction in controversy, and might lead to the inference that the son was wayward, and troublesome to his parent. It should not have been admitted.

Plaintiff’s sixth request was as follows:

“A note given to settle an embezzlement or a shortage of an agent is valid and good, if it was given to settle the indebtedness or shortage, and if there is no agreement to stifle the prosecution for the embezzlement.”

"Under the facts of this case, no question of deceit being involved, this was a proper request, and should have been given.

In the charge undue prominence seems to have been given to the alleged threats to prosecute if decedent did not give these notes. Such threats were properly admitted as tending to show the giving of the notes upon a promise not to prosecute. But although the court instructed the jury that, “ from all the evidence, you must determine whether the notes were given to settle a criminal prosecution threatened against the son, or whether they were given in settlement of a just claim owing by the son,” etc., the further instruction was given that, “in order to defeat the notes, you must find that they were procured from the defendant by threats or intimidations that, if not given, his son would be prosecuted upon a criminal charge.” And again:

*576 “If lie gave tbe notes voluntarily, or relying upon such an arrangement • [i. e. that tbe son should, pay them], it would be immaterial whether threats of prosecution were or were not in fact made. To make the threats material, you must believe that the notes were given because of them.”

And again:

“ If you believe that the notes were obtained by such threats of criminal prosecution, then the burden of proof would be shifted to the plaintiff, and it would lie with him to show, by a fair preponderance of evidence, that he was a bona fide purchaser of the notes.”

It is plain that a note given upon a promise to com" pound a felony is void, whether it is made upon the solicitation of the maker of the note, or by reason of the threats of the payee or his agent. On the other hand, the note may be valid if no such promise to forego prosecution is involved, although threats to prosecute are made, and induce the making of the note, to settle a just debt, unless the circumstances show duress or fraud.

Duress implies a constraint which overcomes the will of the person constrained, and this constraint may be the¡ result of imprisonment, or threats of immediate imprisonment. Ha ckley v. Headley, 45 Mich. 569 ; Lester v. Manufacturing Co., 1 Hun, 288 ; S. C., 3 Thomp. & C. 657; Plant v. Gunn, 2 Woods, 372 ; Landa v. Obert, 45 Tex. 539 ; Baldwin v. Murphy, 82 Ill. 425 .

The weight of authority is to the effect that imprisonment of one cannot be treated as duress or constraint of another. The case of husband and wife is exceptional, they being treated as one in law. Eadie v. Slimmon, 26 N. Y. 9 ; Green v. Scranage, 19 Iowa, 461 ; Brooks v. Berryhill, 20 Ind. 97 . And in one case it was held that a father may avoid his deed given by the duress of imprisonment of a son. Bayly v. Clare, 2 Brownl. 276. But see, contra, Fulton v. Hood, 34 Penn. St. 365; Martin v. *577 Broadus, 1 Freem. Ch. (Miss.) 35 ; Steinbaker v. Wilson, 1 Leg. Gaz. R. 76; Simms v. Barefoot’s Ex’rs, 2 Hayw. (N. C.) 402; Smith v. Rowley, 66 Barb. 502 ; State v. Davis, 79 N. C. 603 .

We think that a jury would be likely to infer from the charge that, if the father was induced to give his notes, by a threat to prosecute the son, the notes were necessarily void, unless the plaintiff should establish a bona fide holding, whereas the crucial question in the case was the illegality of the consideration, as based upon the alleged promise not to prosecute, which the threats only tended to prove.

The judgment must be reversed, with costs, and a new trial ordered.

The other Justices concurred.