Beede v. Foster

The plaintiff contends that his oral agreements to see that the rent was paid to the claimant constituted “a special promise to answer for the debt... of another” which, in the absence of a memorandum in writing, is unenforceable under the second section of the statute of frauds. P. L., c. 327, s. 2. The parties are in agreement as to the test by which the soundness of this contention shall be judged, which is well settled by the former decisions of this court.

“Whenever the main purpose and object of the promisor is not to answer for another, but to subserve some pecuniary or business purpose…