Massie v. Belford

Citations

• 68 Ill. 290

Syllabus

<p>1. Contracts—rule of construction. In the construction of written contracts, the intention of the parties to the contract is to be determined from the whole instrument, and, when- the intention can be so ascertained, it is the duty of courts to carry it into effect.</p> <p>2. If a contract contains ambiguous words or words of doubtful construction, they will be construed most strongly against the party who executed the same, as the other party is not presumed to have chosen the expression of doubtful meaning.</p> <p>3. Promissory note—construed as to time of payment. Where a promissory note read as payable “on or by the first of March, eighteen and sixty-eightHeld, that it was the manifest intention of the parties to make the same payable on the first day of March, 1868, and that the court should so enforce it.</p>