Scottish Court of Session Decisions

Subject_1 WRIT.
Subject_2 SECT. VI.

Other Requisites.

Earl of Kinghorn
v.
The Laird Pittarro

Date: 3 February 1670
Case No. No. 164.

Effect of a blank.

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The Earl of Kinghorn pursues a declarator of the nullity of a bond of 1000 merks granted by his father, and now standing in the name of Pittarro, as creditor on this ground, that he never borrowed the sum from Pittarro, nor delivered this bond to him; but having trusted umquhile Alexander Keith, as his ordinary agent and writer, with this bond, blank in the sum and date, to have borrowed money upon the same, took never effect, but remained so blank in the hands of Alexander Keith, for many years, till his death, and thereafter in his relict's hands till her death, and after her death the blank was filled up, by John Bane her brother, and the date made in anno 1647, whereas the bond mentions Alber as cautioner, who died before the year 1640; whereupon Pittarro's oath, and the oath of Alexander Keith, friend to the said umquhile Alexander, being taken, Pittarro acknowledged that the bond was blank, and filled up by the said John Bane, as the reason bears, and that he received the same by advice of this Alexander Keith, in satisfaction of 1000 merks, and £40 due to Pittarro, by Mr. Roger Mowat, and lifted from him by umquhile Alexander Keith, by Pittarro's warrant, for which he obtained decreet against Alexander Keith's executrix before the Commissaries, now produced in process, and proceeding upon a missive letter of umquhile Alexander Keith's, acknowledging the debt. It was answered for Pittarro, that by the bond produced, it was clear that his name was in the bond ab initio, as creditor, and was not filled up ex post facto, neither was there any wrong in filling up this sum, because he having already proved, that Alexander Keith had uplifted the like sum of his from Mr. Roger Mowat, and that my Lord Kinghorn being debtor to Keith in considerable sums of money, paid to his creditors, conform to discharges produced in process. Alexander Keith might lawfully have filled up the sum in the bond, for repayment of Pittarro, whose money he had uplifted, and any friend of his had done my Lord Kinghorn no wrong, seeing thereby he would be exonered of the like sum to Keith, and was content yet to count and reckon with Kinghorn, for Alexander Keith, and to restrict his sum to what shall be found due by the umquhile Earl of Kinghorn to Keith. Likeas, this Alexander Keith by his oath in process depones, that he heard that umquhile Alexander Keith, on his death-bed declare, that Kinghorn was debtor to him in 9,000 merks; and therefore he thought it no fault to fill up the blank in this bond. It was answered for Kinghorn, that albeit umquhile Alexander Keith was entrusted by the umquhile Earl of Kinghorn with this blank bond, that trust being merely personal to him, it was a most unwarrantable trinkating for any other after his death, to fill up the bond, especially seeing neither by testament, nor any other writ, umquhile Alexander Keith, who only was entrusted, and who lived many years after, and was no ways supprised with death, did signify that the money was borrowed from Pittarro, or taken from any of his creditors and applied to Kinghorn's use, and the hearsay of this Alexander Keith is of no moment; and if any thing be due by Kinghorn to Keith, the pursuer represents his father as heir, and shall answer Pittarro, or any executor or creditor of Keith's, whenever he shall be pursued; but cannot be insisted against, upon this bond, so unwarrantably filled up.

The Lords found the declarator relevant and proved, and therefore decerned the said bond null, reserving action against Kinghorn, upon any debt due by Kinghorn to Keith as accords.

Stair, v. 1. p. 667.