No acknowledgment or promise shall be sufficient evidence of a new or continuing contract whereby to take the case out of the operation of this chapter, unless it is contained in some writing signed by the party to be charged thereby; but this section shall not alter the effect of any payment of principal or interest.
[Code 1881 § 44; 1877 p 10 § 45; 1854 p 365 § 18; RRS § 176.]