13 W. Va. 392 | W. Va. | 1878
delivered the opinion of the Court:
This is an action of trespass on the case in assumpsit, brought by the plaintiff against E. M. Bell, M. M. Fowler, Jonathan H. Lockwood, John Ferguson and George Edwards, in the municipal court oí Wheeling, on the 21st day of June, 1876. The writ, issued in the case, was made
The. declaration contains but one count, which is based upon a negotiable promissory note, which was dishonored and protested, and is as follows, viz :
“$425.00. Wheeling-, W. Va., February 4, 1876.
“ Four months after date, T promise to pay to the order of M. M. Fowler, four hundred and twenty-five dollars, value received, negotiable and payable at the Bank of the Ohio Valley.
“ E. M. Bell.”
The note was endorsed by the following persons in the order they are herein named, viz: “ M. M. Fowler,” “ J. H. Lockwood,” “ John Ferguson,” “ George Edwards.”
The declaration is in the usual form in such cases. It alleges the making of .the note by said E. M. Bell to M. M. Fowler, and the endorsement and delivery thereof by said Fowler to Jonathan H. Lockwood ; and the endorsement and delivery thereof by said Lockwood to John Ferguson; and the endorsement and delivery thereof by said Ferguson to George Edwards ; and the endorsement and delivery thereof by said Edwards to the plaintiff.
The declaration also alleges, that when said note became due and payable, according to its tenor and effect, to-wit: on the 7th day of June, 1876, at the Bank of the Ohio Valley, where the same was payable, and at said city, the said note was duly presented and shown for
At August rules, 1876, the cause was discontinued as to F. M. Bell, M. M. Fowler and John Ferguson, by reason of the said return of the officer made on the writ as to them, and as to the said defendants Lockwood and Edwards, a common order was taken against them, they being served. It further appears by the same, that at the same rules the defendants, Edwards and Lockwood, appeared in the clerk’s office, and “ offered to file their special plea in writing, and the plaintiff objected to the same being filed ; but the plea was filed by the clerk; and the plaintiff demurs to the same, in which the defendants, Edwards and Lockwood, joined;” and the said defendants, at the same time, “ pleaded, that they did not assume upon themselves, in manner and form as the plaintiff, in its declaration against them has alleged; and of this they put themselves upon the country, and the plaintiff doth the like, which special plea was in the words and figures following, to-wit:
“ Bank of the Ohio Valley v. J. H. Lookwood, George Edwards and others — In Assumpsit. Filed at August rules.
*400 “ George Edwards and J. H. Lockwood, two of the defendants, and who were served with process in this canse, say, that the plaintiff ought not further to have Qr majnta[n aforesaid action thereof against them, the said defendants, for this : Because, they say, that heretofore, to-wit, on or about the 28th day of May, 1875, E. M. Bell made and signed his certain negotiable promissory note, in the words and figures following, to-wit :
“ ‘ Bellaire, Ohio, May 28, 1875.
“ ‘Four months after date, I promise to pay to the order of M. M. Fowler four hundred and twenty-five dollars, value received, negotiable and payable at the banking house of Hogc, Sheets & Co., Bellaire, Ohio.
(Signed) ‘ E. M. Bell.’
“ That said defendant and others were applied to by said Bell, the maker of said note, to endorse the same, and did so, in the following order: first, John Ferguson; second, J. H. Lockwood; third, M. M. Fowler; fourth, George Edwards — and delivered the said note to the said Bell, the maker thereof, endorsed as aforesaid ; that said note, although payable to M. M. Fowler, one of the endorsers, was purely an accommodation note for the benefit of said E. M. Bell; that the endorsers thereon, all and singular, never had any interest in said note, nor the proceeds thereof; that after the endorsement and delivery of said note as aforesaid to said Bell, a material change was made in said note, in this: the words ‘Hoge, Sheets & Co., Bellaire, Ohio/ were erased, and the words ‘ National Bank of West Virginia, at Wheeling/ were inserted in the body of said note, and as a part thereof, without defendants’ knowledge, assent or consent to such alteration of said note; and said note, after its alteration as aforesaid, was discounted to and at plaintiff’s bank at the instance and by the procurement of said Bell, the maker thereof, who received the proceeds of the same; that afterwards, on the 1st day of*401 October, 1875, said E. M. Bell made and signed a new note, in the words and figures following, to-wit:
“ ‘Wheeling, October 1, 1875.
“‘Four months after date, T promise to pay to the order of M. M. Fowler four hundred and twenty-five dollars, negotiable and payable at the Bank of the Ohio Valley, at Wheeling.
(Signed) ‘ E. M. Bell.’
“That afterwards, upon the maturity of said last note, ou or about the 4th day of February, 1876, said Bell made and signed his certain other note, now in suit in this cause, payable to the order of M. M. Fowler, tor the sum of four hundred and twenty-five dollars, negotiable and payable at the ‘Bank of the Ohio Valley/ at Wheeling, and that Messrs. Ferguson, Fowler and these defendants were endorsers thereou on both of said notes ; but they aver the truth to be, that said two last notos of October 1, 1875, and February 4, 1876, were renewals-of the note of May 28, 1875, which was, when endorsed by these defendants, payable at the banking house of Hoge, Sheets & Co., in Bellaire, in the State of Ohio ; that defendants at the time of the endorsement of the two last notes, had no knowledge, of any kind, of the alteration of said note of May 28, 1875, nor had they any such knowledge, until after the commencement of. thig suit; that no new consideration ever was received by these defendants, or either of them, from plaintiff, or any other person, for said-two renewed notes; that by reason of the alteration as aforesaid of said original note of May 28, 187 5, there was a total failure of consideration for said two notes of October 1, 1875, and February 4, 1876, of $425.00 each, which were made in renewal of said original note of May 28, 1875, for the sum of $425.00, and negotiable and payable at the banking house of Hoge, Sheets & Co., at Bellaire, Ohio; and this they' are ready to verify. Whereupon they pray*402 judgment, if the plaintiff ought further to have or main-^ its said action thereon.
“ Holliday,
(t Dor Defendants.
“ State of "West Yirgibta,
a Marshall County, ss:
“ George Edwards and J. H. Lockwood, two of the defendants in the above cause, personally appeared before me, the undersigned, in said county, and on oath say that the allegations above set forth, in'so far as they are stated upon their own knowledge, are true, and in so far as stated upon information derived from others, they believe them to be true.
“ Given under my hand, this 12th day of August, 1875.
“ It. G. Holliday,
“ Notary Public.”
It further appears that afterwards, on the 25th day of August, 1876, at a session of said municipal court, by consent of parties, the cause was continued until the next term of said court. And on the 13th day of October, 1876, of said court, the cause was continued until the next term. It further appears, that on the 25th day of November, 1876, at a term of said court the plaintiff, and defendants, Edwards and Lockwood, appeared in court, by their attorneys, and “ the plaintiff moved the court to set aside the proceedings had at August rules, 1876, as to the special plea then filed, except the offer to file the same, and objection thereto, and to sustain its objection then made, and now insisted upon, to the filing by the two last named defendants of their said special plea in writing, which motion is overruled, and the plaintiff’s demurrer to said special plea was thereupon heal’d, and having been argued by counsel, and considered by the court, tlie said demurrer is sustained, and the case continued.”
Afterwards, at a session of said court held on the 2d
It further appears by the record, that at the trial of the cause the defendants, Edwards and Lockwood, filed three several bills of exceptions numbered respectively, No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, and asked, that the same be signed, sealed and made a part of the record in the case, which was accordingly done. The said defendant's bill of exceptions No. 1, is as follows, viz:
“ Be it remembered, that upon the trial of this case, the plaintiff, to maintain the issue on its behalf, offered the note, marked E, and certificate of protest thereof in evidence, and also evidence tending to prove, that by a clerical mistake of the notary, who signed and sealed said protest, that the words do solemnly protest against the drawer and endorser ’ were placed in said certificate instead of the words ‘ do solemnly protest against the drawer and endorsersthat said protest was made by said jiotary against the drawer and endorsers, June 7, 1876, and the endorsers were duly notified of the presentment, dishonor and protest of said note, as mentioned in said certificate, by notice — one notice mailed to each of them at the postoffice in the city of Wheeling, West "Virginia, June 7, 1876, addressed to said en*404 dorsers at Moundsville, West Virginia, postage prepaid; and that Moundsville, West Virginia, was the postoffice then of all of said endorsers; that said note was in the words and figures following :
“‘$425.00. Wheeling, W. Va., Feb. 4, 187G.
“‘Four months after date, I promise to pay to the order of M. M. Fowler four hundred and twenty-five dollars, value received, negotiable and payable at the Bank of the Ohio Valley.
‘E. M. Bell.
“Endorsed on the back of said note — M. M. Fowler, J. H. Lockwood, John Ferguson and Geo. Edwards.
“And said certificate was in the words and figures following :
“‘Uxited States of America, 1
“ ‘WheeiaNg, Ohio County, W. Va.
“ ‘Be it known, That on the date hereof, I, James P. Adams, notary public for the county of Ohio, in the State of West Virginia, residing in the city of Wheeling, by lawful authority duly commissioned and qualified, at the request of Bank of the Ohio Valley, the holder of the original note — a copy of which is written below' — did present the said original note at Bank of the Ohio Valley and demanded payment thereof, the time limited for payment having expired to which demand I was answered ‘no funds/ Whereupon I, the said notary, at the request aforesaid, have protested, and by these presents do solemnly protest against the drawer and endorser of the said original note, and all others, whom it doth or may concern, for all costs, exchange, re-exchange, charges,, damages and interest suffered and to be suffered for want of payment thereof, of which presentment, dishonor and protest I duly notified the endorsers. Thus done and protested at Wheeling aforesaid, this 7th day of June, 1876.
‘“In testimony whereof, Jhave hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal notarial the day and year aforesaid.
“ ‘James P. Adams,
“ [Notarial seal.] “‘Notary Public’
*405 “ 'Tax on seal, 50 cents; protesting, $1.00; notices, 40 cents; postage, 12 cents ; total, $2.02.
“ 'note.
“ '425.00. Wheeling, W. Va., Feb. 4, 1876.
“ ‘Four months after date, I promise to pay to the order of M. M. Fowler four hundred and twenty-five dollars, value received, negotiable and payable at the Bank of the Ohio Valiev.
“ 'E. M. Bell ’
“'Endorsed on back of protest — M. M. Fowler, J. H, Lockwood, John Ferguson and George Edwards/
'' And that James P. Adams -was then a notary public, duly qualified, for Ohio county, West Virginia, residing in said county. Whereupon, to the introduction of the said note and certificate, and each of them, the defendants objected, but the court overruled the objection and admitted the said note and certificate of protest in evidence, to which the defendant excepted, and prayed the court to sign this their bill of exceptions No. 1, which is done accordingly.
'' G. L. CranMEE, Judge, Ac. [seat..] ”
Defendants, Edwards and Lockwood’s bill of exceptions No. 2 is as follows, viz:
'' Be it ■remembered, That this case came on to be further heard on the 30th day of December, A. D. 1876, upon the issue joined, upon the plea of non assnmpsit filed therein at the August, rules, 1876, by George Edwards and Jonathan H. Lockwood, the two defendants, who were served with process in said case, and who appeared and made defense therein, and by consent of parties a jury was waived, and all questions, both of law and fact, arising upon said issue were, submitted to the judgment and determination of the judge of said court, in lieu of a jury, and judgment upon their verdict; and upon the trial of said issue, the following facts were proven, the same being all the facts proven on said trial;*406 ^hat fh° n°fe SUG^ up on, marked E, and its endor.se-monts, were and are in the words and figures following, to-wit:
„ <$425.00. • WHEELING, W. Va., Feb. 4, 1876.
“ 'Four months after date, I promise to pay to the order of M. M. Fowler four hundred and twenty-five dollars, value received, negotiable and payable at the Bank of the Ohio 'Valley.
“‘E. M. Bell/
"Endorsed on the back of said note — -M. M. Fowler, J. H. Lockwood, John Ferguson and George Edwards.
“ That said note was protested at plaintiff’s request, on the 7th day of June, 1876, by James P. Adams, a notary public in and for Ohio county, West Virginia, residing hr said county, against the drawers and endorsers of said note for non-payment thereof; that the post-office address of all the defendants was at that time Moundsvillo, West Virginia; and on said day last named the said notary mailed at the post-office at the city of Wheeling, West Virginia, due notice of the dishonor and protest, and of the presentment, as hereinafter stated, of said note, postage prepaid, and directed — one notice to each of the endorsers on the note — to Moundsville, West Virginia ; that on January 7, 1876, and from that time until and at the time of said trial, the Bank of the Ohio Valley was the owner and holder of the said note, and the plaintiff produced the same in evidence at the trial; that on June 7, 1816, at the request of the plaintiff, the said bank, the then holder of said note, the said notary did present said note at said bank’s banking house and place of business, which was in Wheeling aforesaid, and demanded payment thereof of M. A. Chandler, the cashier of the bank at that time, and was answered to said demand by the cashier, ' no funds.’ Whereupon the said notary protested the said note as aforesaid, and as set forth in the certificate of protest hereinafter inserted, and drew up and signed and sealed said certificate, in the words and figures following, to-wit:
*407 “‘Wheeling, Ohio County, W. Ya.
“ ‘Be it known, That on the date hereof, I, James P. Adams, notary public for the county of Ohio, in the State of West Virginia, residing in the city of Wheeling, by lawful authority duly commissioned and qualified, at the request of Bank of the Ohio Valley, the holder of the original note, a copy of which is written below, did present the said original note at Bank of the Ohio Valley, and demanded payment thereof, the time limited for payment having expired, to which demand I was answered “no funds.” Whereupon I, the said notary, at the request aforesaid,, have protested, and by these presents do solemnly protest against the drawer and endorser of the said original note, and all others whom it doth or may concern, for all costs, exchange, re-exchange, charges, damages and interest suffered and to be suffered for want of payment thereof, of which presentment, dishonor and ])rotest I duly notified the endorsers. Thus done and protested at Wheeling, aforesaid this 7th day of June, 1876.
“ ‘In testimony whereof, 1 have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal notarial the day and year aforesaid.
“‘James P. Adams.
“ ‘Notary Public.
“ ‘[Notarial seal.]
“ ‘Tax on seal, 50; protesting, $1.00; notices, 40; postage, 12; total, $2.02.
“(Endorsed.)
“ ‘$425.00. 1541.
“‘Wheeling, W. Va., February 4, 1876.
“ ‘Four months after date, I promise to pay to the order of M. M. Fowler four hundred and twenty-five dollars, value received, negotiable and payable at the Bank of the Ohio Valley.
“ ‘E. M. Bell/
*408 “‘Endorsed — M. M. Fowler, J. IT. Lockwood, John Ferguson, George Edwards.
“ ‘Noto of E. M. Bell, amonnl.S 425 00
Costs. 2 02
Total. $-127 02
“ ‘Endorsed — M. M. Fowler, J. IT. Lockwood, John Ferguson George Edwards.
“ Mames P. Adams,
“ ‘Notary Public.’
“That the legal costs of said protest were §2.02, and were paid by tire bank ; that by a clerical mistake the said certificate was drawn to read ‘do solemnly protest, against the drawer and endorser/ when the word ‘endorser’ should have been ‘endorsers; ’ that the note was protested against the endorsers; tlmtM. A. Chandler was cashier of the Bank of Ohio Valley during the month of June, 1875, and from that time till and'after June 7, 1876, and acted as such at said, bank’s place of business, in the city of Wheeling, during such time ; that on June 2, 1875, E. M. Bell, the maker of the note marked A. applied to said cashier, at said bank, to discount that note, that said note was in the words and figures following, to-wit:
“ ‘$425.00 BkdXjAIRE, Ohio, May 28, 1875.
“ Four months after date, T promise to pay to the order of M. M. Fowler four hundred and twenty-five dollars, value received, negotiable and payable at the banking-house of National Bank of West Virginia, at Wheel-ling.
“ ‘E. M. Bex,l.’
“Endorsed on the bade of said note — John Ferguson, J. II. Lockwood, M. M. Fowler and George Edwards.
“That said Bell -was then unknown personally or by reputation to said Chandler; that said Chandler enquired about said Bell, and finding him favorably and satisfactorily spoken of, discounted the note marked A, on*409 June 3, 1875, and gave said Bell for it the ebook marked B, which was in the words and figures following, to- . •
“ ‘WHEELING, AY. Va., June 3, 1875.
“ 'Bank of the Ohio A^alley pay lo E. M. Bell, or bearer, four hundred and thirteen dollars and fifty-five cents.
“ ‘$413.55. Cashier, &c.’ ■
"Said check was presented by said Bell and paid in money at the Bank, on June 3, 1875, and stamped by the paying teller of the bank with the stamp of the bank as follows: Bank of the Ohio Valley, paid June 3, 1875, Wheeling, W. Aa., E. M. Bell brought to the bank, and to its cashier there, the note marked C ; said note was in the words and figures following, to-wit:
“'$425.00. AYheeltng, October 1, 1875.
'Four months after date, I promise to pay to the order of M. M. Fowler four hundred and twenty-five dollars, negotiable and payable at the Bank of the Ohio Valley, at AYheeiing.
“ 'Eli M. Bell.’
“Endorsed on the back — M. M. Fowler, J. H. Lockwood, John Ferguson and George Edwards.
“E. AL Bell desired the cashier to renew the note marked A. by taking in renewal the note marked C; this the cashier refused to do. Said Bell went away and came to the bank with the president thereof, J. K. Botsford, to intercede for him ; the cashier refused to renew the old note marked A, but on the. president's solicitation, consented that the bank should discount the new note marked C, which he did by giving E. M. Bell therefor the cheek marked D. Said check -was in the words and figures following:
'"WueeliNg, AY. Va., October 2,1875.’'
“ 'Bank of the Ohio A'alley pay to Eli M. Bell, or bearer, four hundred and thirteen dollars .and fifty-five cents.
‘"$413.55. Cashier, &c.
“E. M. Bell took the check and $11.45 in money and paid therewith the note marked A, and received it from the receiving teller. When the note marked C came due the same was duly presented at said bank for payment, dishonored and protested, and the endorsers were duly notified. E. M. Bell brought the note marked E to the banking house of said bank, and to its cashier, February 4, 1876, and desired him to take it in renewal of note marked D, which the cashier refused to do. Said Bell then went away and early on the morning of February 5, 1876, returned with the president. The cashier refused to renew the note marked C, but on the intercession of the president, consented that the bank ■should discount the note marked E, which was done by giving to Bell therefor the check marked F, which was in the .words and figures following, to-wit :
“WHEELING, W. Va., February 5, 1876.
“ ‘Bank of the Ohio Valley pay to E. M. Bell, four hundred and thirteen dollars and twenty-nine cents. $413.29. Cashier, &c.
“Bell took said check to the receiving teller in the bank, and with it and $11.71 in money, paid the note marked C, and received the same from said teller, stamped with the stamp of the bank on the face thereof, as follows: Bank of the Ohio Valley; paid February 4, 1879, Wheeling, W. Va. The said last mentioned check was stamped upon the back thereof with the stamp of the bank by the paying teller, as follows : ‘Bank of the Ohio Valley, paid February 5, 1876, Wheeling, W. Va.; ’ that the words stamped on the face of note marked C should have read February 5, 1876, but that the date in the stamp, by mistake had not been changed from February 4, 1876, to February 5, 1876, before stamping that note, although it was stamped on February 5, 1876;
Certificate of incorporation of the Bank of the Ohio Valley.
“‘I, Charles Hedrick, Secretary of the State of West Virginia, hereby certify that an agreement, duly acknowledged and accompanied by the proper affidavits, ■has been this day delivered to me, which agreement is in the words and figures following:
“ ‘For the purpose of forming the said corporation we have subscribed the sum of §30,000.00, the capital stock thereof, which is divided into three hundred shares, and have paid in on such subscriptions the sum of §3,000.00. The said bank is to be located in the city of Wheeling, in Ohio county, in the State of West Virginia. The capital subscribed is held as follows, that is to say: by George Adams, fifty shares; by John K. Botsford, fifty'shares; by Jacob S. Rhodes, fifty shares; 'by William B. Simpson, fifty shares ; by Henry M. Harper, fifty shares; and by William A. Turner, fifty shares. All the undersigned and above-mentioned share-holders are residents of the city of Wheeling, in the county of Ohio, and State of West Virginia. The maximum of additional shares which the undersigned may hereafter, from to time, desire to sell, is forty-seven hundred shares, of the par value of §100.00 each.
“‘We hereby declare that these articles are made to enable the undersigned to avail themselves of the ad van
‘ “Witness onr hands and seals, this 17th day of April A. D. 1875.
'“George Adams, [Seal.]
‘ “J. K. Botseord, [Seal.]
"'J. S. Rhodes, [Seal.]
' “W. B. StmpsoN, [Seal.]
' “H. M. Harper, [Seal.]
' “WlLI.IAM A. TURNER, [goal.]
'“Wherefore, the corporators named in the said agreement, and who have signed the same, and their successors and assigns, are hereby declared to be, from this date until 17th day of April, 1895, a corporation by the name and for the purpose set forth in said agreement.
' “Given under my hand and the seal of the State, at the city of Charleston, this 21st day of April, 1875.
' “C. Hedrick,
' “Secretary of the State.
“[Seal of said State.]”
' “West Virginia,
' “ Ohio County, set. :
'“The foregoing certificate of incorporation was filed for record the 21st day of June, 1875.
' “Teste:
"Robert B. Woods, Clerk.’
“ And the court took time to consider its judgment in the premises, and afterwards, on the 10th day of January, A. D. 1877, and at the same term of said court, the court rendered final judgment for the plaintiff for 1435.57, with interest till paid, from said date. To which judgment of said court in the .premises, the defendants, Jonathan H. Lockwood and George Edwards aforesaid, then and there excepted, and tendered this bill of exceptions No. 2 to said judgment, and prayed that the same may be signed and scaled and made a part of
“G. L. CeaNMER, Judge, &o., [seal.]”
Defendants Edwards and Lockwood’s bill of exceptions No. 3, which is in the words and figures following, to-wit:
“ Bill of Exceptions No. 3.
“ Bank op the Ohio Vaeley vs. “ Edwards and Lockwood.
“ Be it remembered, That after this cause had been submitted to the court, and after it had orally delivered its opinion, that judgment should be rendered for the plaintiff, but before any judgment order had been entered, the said two defendants having requested, that the entry of the judgment order might be delayed, until they could prepare their bills of exceptions, and the court having granted such delay, and while the defendants were preparing their exceptions, and after one day had elapsed, the defendants having made a motion for a new trial, and the court having orally announced its opinion, .that the same shall be overruled, but no judgment order or motion for a new trial or order overruling the same having been entered, the plaintiff offered in evidence the paper hereinafter inserted, and the court received the same, to be considered in evidence on the trial of this cause. The said paper is in the words and figures following, to-wit: (See certificate of incoi’poration.) Afterwards the defendants, by Geo. O. Davenport, one of their counsel, asked the court to grant a new trial, and to continue the cause, as new testimony had been received, but the court overruled the motion to grant a new trial and to continue the cause. To all of which proceedings, the admitting the testimony, its competency, and the refusal of the court to grant a new trial, and to continue the cause, the defendants excepted and asked the court to sign their bill of exceptions No. 3, and to make it apart of the record, which is accordingly done.
“ G. L. CranMER, Judge, &c. [seal.]”
The first error, assigned by said defendants in their petition for a supersedeas to said judgment of said municipal court is, that the court erred in sustaining the plaintiff’s demurrer to the special plea.
Mr. Parsons, in the second volume of his valuable work on “ Notes and Bills,” at page 565 says : “ A material alteration in a note, or bill, made by the consent of all parties, is valid and binding. If a part assent thereto, those assenting arc bound and the others discharged. This rule is most obviously just In principle, for volenti non fit injuria; but there is some difficulty in its application, on questions of evidence.
In the case of Wade v. John A. Wathington, 1st Allen, (Mass.) at page 562, Judge Bigelow says: “On the contrary the well settled doctrine is, that a material alteration ini a bill or note, after its execution and delivery to the payee, or after its endorsement, vitiates the instrument, except as against parties consenting to the alteration;” and he cites Master v. Miller, 4 T. R. 320, S. C., 2 H. Black 140; Chit, on Bills (8th ed) 204; Davids v. Jenney, 1 Met. 221; Fay v. Smith, 1 Allen (Mass) 477.
Judge Bigelow further adds : “ This doeti-ine rests on the principle, that parties can be held liable only on their contracts, as originally 'made and entered into by them. The identity of the instrument with that, which was executed by the defendant, is an essential element in every action upon a written contract, from which his assent to its terms may be fairly presumed. If this is changed hy a material alteration, without the privity of the party liable upon it, it ceases to be his contract. It is a mistake to suppose, that any different rule in this particular is applicable to promissory notes and bills of exchange, from that which governs deeds and other contracts ; the law, in giving peculiar sanction to negotiable paper, in order to secure its free circulation and to protect bonafide holders for value, who íeceived it before its maturity, does not go to the extent of holding a party liable to. a contract, into which he never entered, and to which he has not given his assent. The case of Young
The syllabus of the case, from 'which the foregoing extract is, taken, is that “the fraudulent alteration of a promissory note, by the insertion of words, which make it appear to be for a greater sum than that, for which it was originally given, avoids the note in the hands of a bona fide endorsee for a valuable consideration, although the alteration could not be detected on a careful scrutiny.”
In the case of Fay et al. v. Webster Smith, 1st Allen (Mass.) it was held, that “ the alteration of a promissory note by the addition of the words ‘ with interest* avoids the note, as to such promisors as do not consent thereto, although the alteration is made without fraudulent intent.” This was a case of contract upon a promissory note, signed upon its face by H. M. Reed, bearing upon its back the name of the defendant, payable ten months from date, to the order of Joshua Ilobart, and endorsed by Ilobart to the. plaintiffs. Hoar, J. in delivering the opinion of the court says: “The defendant, not being named as a party to the note in suit, placed his name on the back of it, before it was delivered by the proniissor, Reed, to the payee, and thereby, according to the settled law of Massachusetts, made himself jointly liable as an original promisor. The note, when he thus placed his name upon it, was not payable with interest; but the other promisor had agreed with the payee to give him a note bearing interest, and the words ‘ with interest* were added by the procurement of the payee, and with the consent of Reed, but Avithout the knowledge or authority of the defendant; and with this alteration the note was taken by the payee and endorsed to the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs contended at the trial, that, the alteration having been made Avithout fraudulent intent, they should be alloAvpd to recover upon the note, as it stood when the defendant signed it; and the presiding judge so ruled. But Ave are of opinion, that this ruling cannot be supported, and that the verdict must be set aside, and a neiv trial granted/* &c.
In the case of Waterman v. Vose et al. 43, Me. 504, it Avasheld that “ the alteration of a note of hand by the maker, after it is endorsed by adding the Avords “ ivith interest/* is material, and if made Avithout the consent of- the endorser, he is not liable as such, although the alteration be made before delivery.
The same judge at page 512 says : “ Where a person puts his name to paper, which is full in form, for a certain sum, payable at a certain time and place, for the accommodation of another, who is to become a party to the same, when it shall be negotiated, his liability is limited by the precise terms of that paper. An alteration afterwards, which is 'material, without his consent will make it a contract, which he never executed, 'and which it is manifest he never intended to execute; and it is a new contract, to which he can in no sense be treated as a party ; and he cannot be bound by it. It has no analogy to the case, where one signs or endorses blank notes or bills, to be filled by the party to be accommodated, according to his discretion and supposed necessities.” The Judge on same page refers to 2 Stark. Ev. 295 note (g), and says: “ This note, in the abstract, would seem to support the instructions, which we are now considering. But the authority cited by Mr. Starlde will show, that the alteration was by the consent of the party attempted to be charged; and the defense, that the contract was void, was upon the ground, that every bill shall have a stamp, which was not upon the one in question after the alteration. But the court held, that the bill not having become effectual before the alteration, it was not thereby a new contract.” The views of Judge Ten-ney, above expressed, seem to be substantially a correct statement of the law on the subject, to which it relates.
In the case of Woodworth v. The Bank of America 19 Johns. 391, it was held, that, “every alteration of a note by the maker, in respect to the place of jiaymcnt, or any alteration of the contract of the endorser, in a part which may, in any event, become material, without his approbation, discharges his liability.”
In Wood v. Steele, 6th Wall. 80, it was held, that “the alteration of the date of any commercial paper, — though the alteration delay the time of payment, is a material alteration, and if made without the consent of the party sought to be charged, extinguishes his liability. The fact, that it was made by one of the parties signing the paper, before it had passed from his hand, does not alter the case as respects another party (a surety), who had signed previously.”
In the case of Masters et al. v. Miller, 4 T. R. 320, it was held, that “ an alteration of the date of a bill of exchange, after acceptance, whereby the payment would be accelerated, avoids the instrument; and no action can be afterwards brought upon it, even by an innocent holder for valuable consideration.
In the case of Holmes v. Trumper, 22 Mich. 427, it was held, that'. “ the alteration by the payee or subsequent holder of the promissory note, which consists of a printed blank with the time and place of payment and amount filled in with writing, by adding thereto after the printed words “with interest at,” at the end of the instrument, the written words and figures “10 per cent,”’ if made without the knowledge or consent of the maker, constitutes a valid defense in- favor of the maker, even against a bona fide purchaser of the note, and renders the note void. In an action, brought upon such altered note,-the maker cannot be held liable to pay the amount of the note as originally drawn.” See also Booth, survivor, etc. v. Daniel W. Powers, et al. Ex’rs, &c., 56, New York 22. As connected with the subject under consideration, see Merrick v. Boury & Son, 4 Ohio St. 60; Vogle, et al. v. Ripper 34, Ill. 100; Spelter, Adm’r v. James et al., 32 Ind. 202; Bruce, &c. v. Westcott, 3 Barb. 374.
In the case of Morehead v. Parkersburg National Bank, 5 W. Va. 74, it was held that “a material alteration of a promissory note, without the knowledge or consent, either express or implied, of the promisors, vitiates it, although it may be in the hands of an innocent holder.” Judge Maxwell, who delivered the ojfinion of the court in that case, at page 77, says : “A material alteration, without the assent of the party to be affected by it, renders the instrument void as to him,” and he cites Burham v. Ayer, 35 N. H. 351; 2 Parsons on Notes and Bills, 544, and other authorities. See Brown v. Reed, 79 Penn.
The alteration I apprehend must be material ordinarily, especially if not made with a fraudulent intent, and even when made with a fraudulent intent, if the alteration be immaterial, there is a conflict of authority as to the effect of such alteration. 2 Parsons on Notes and Bills, 572 and note (1). En 1st vol. Smith’s Leading cases by Hare & Wallace., top page 714 it is said : “As to Notes: It seems generally agreed, that an alteration, to avoid them, must be material.” Tt seems from the second book, page 715, that “ although a material alteration, made without the privity of the party claiming upon it, and after his title upon it lias become vested and complete, will not discharge the liability of the maker of the note, yet care must he taken as to the mode of dealing, &o.
Nil'. Parsons, in the second volume of his work on Notes and Bills, p. 444, says: “An alteration, to be material, must be of an essential stipulation of the note and not of a mere memorandum only endorsed thei’oon for convenience, as an ear mark. Thus a memorandum of a collateral agreement between maker and endorser, endorsed on a bill, is not a material alteration. The same is true of added words, which are senseless and inoperative, either for the injury or benefit of anybody, especially when the note or bill is complete in itself.” Granite Railway Co. v. Bacon, 15 Pick. (Mass.) 239.
In the case of McGrath v. Clark, 56 New York 34, defendant endorsed a promissory note, with the time and place of payment in blank, and delivered the same to the maker, who filled the blanks and added the words, “ with interest.” Held: That while the delivery of the note to the maker gave him an implied authority to fill
In White v. Hass, 82 Ala. 430, it was held, that “the alteration of a note after its delivery to the payee by the erasure'of the place, at which it'Avas made payable, is presumed to lnum been made by the payee; and unless the assent of the maker is proved, renders the note void.”
“The defendants, Edwards and Lockwood, in the case before us, in their said special plea aver, that said note, after its alteration as aforesaid, was discounted to and at plaintiff's bank, at the instance and by the procurement ot said Bell, the maker thereof, Avho received the proceeds of the same. This allegation admits and declares in substance and effect, that said alteration of the note was made by said Bell, the maker, or with his knowledge and consent, and that before delivery thereof to the plaintiff and before the same Avas discounted by the plaintiff, and that said Bell, the maker, delivered said note to the plaintiff, as it then appeared and as altered, as a genuine note, and rc«eiAed from the plaintiff, the proceeds of said note, so discounted by plaintiff. Taking the allegation of the plea as true in this respect, under the authorities I have cited, and on principle, Bell, the maker, Avas liable to be sued upon said altered note by the plaintiff'after its maturity; and, upon the state of facts alleged in the plea, the plaintiff' Avould under the law have been entitled to recoA’er the amount of said altered note from said Bell. Of this it appears to me there can be no question.
This suit, as Ave have seen, is founded upon the note of February 4, 1876, and the defendants, Edwards and Lockwood, aver in their said special plea, that the said last named note, and the note of October 1, 1875, were reneAvals of the said note of May 28, 1875, Avhich Avas
¿[efen(jant may, in general, make the defense of a want of consideration against a remote party, if he could have made it against a nearer party, and the nearest party took the paper from the nearer party with a knowledge, that it was open to this defense. But a very important exception to this rule prevails in the case of accommodation paper. The plain reason of this is, that the accommodation maker, acceptor, or endorser, intends to lend his credit, and does it as- a favor to some party, who pays him nothing. This party therefore can never sue him ; or if 'he does, the want of consideration will be a perfect defense. But if this accommodated party uses the credit, he has borrowed, by selling the note or getting it discounted, the holder may say: “ I bought the note, or discounted it, for the very reason that I knew you had lent your credit on it; and I took it on the faith of your credit.” W e must therefore understand the legal definition of an accommodation party to negotiable paper to be, one who puts his name there without any consideration, with the intention of .lending his credit to the accommodated party.” Parsons on Bills and Notes, vol. pp. 183, 184; Story on Promissory Notes, 5th ed., 1. 217, 218; Daniel on Negotiable Instruments, 148, 149, 150.
We have seen however, that when said altered note matured, the plaintiff had a right of action against the maker of the note at bar; and the two notes given in renewal .thereof, as alleged in said plea, each operated at least a suspension of the debt evidenced by the original, and of the right to sue the maker thereof therefor, until the maturity and dishonor of such renewal note. Daniel on Negotiable Instruments, vol. 2, pp. 259, 260, 264 and authorities there cited.
As soon as the note, or bill given in renewal is dishonored, the original debt revives; and the creditor may
The said special plea substantially shows, that the plaintiff gave a consideration, deemed valuable in law, for the note given in renewal ot the original altered note. By accepting the note, given in renewal, it gave extension of time at least to the maker of the original note, which time was until the maturity add dishonor of the note given in renewal. Or, in other words, the plaintiff by receiving said renewal note for a valuable consideration agreed to forbear to sue the maker of the original note, as well as any of the endorsers, as to whom the original altered note was valid and binding; and the plea fails to allege, that the alteration alleged was made without the knowledge or consent of the maker or of any of the endorsers, except Edwards and Lockwood.
An agreement to forbear for a time proceedings at law, or in equity) to enforce a well founded claim is a valid consideration for a promise- But this consideration fails, if it be shown, that the claim is wholly and certainly unsustainable at law or equity. “It is not material, that the party, who makes the promise in consideration of such forbearance, should have a direct interest in the suit to be forborne, or be directly benefited by thfe delay. It is enough, that he requests such forbearance; for the benefit of the defendant will be supposed go extend to him; and it would also be enough to make the consideration valid, that the creditor is injured by the delay. But there must have been some party, who could have been sued. And in cases, in which the person to be forborne is not mentioned, but the forbearance may be understood to be forbearance of who
Any damage to another, or suspension or forbearance of his right, is a foundation for an undertaking and will make it binding, though no actual benefit accrue to the party undertaking. 3 Burr 1673, and the opinion of Lord Ellenborough and the other judges in the case of Jones v. Ashbarnham, 4 East. 455, 463, 464, 465, 466: “ Forbearance is not a good consideration for a promise, where there is no debt in existence ; but if one be liable for a debt, general promises by several, in consideration of forbearance, are good and will, bind all. When there has been a contract with the principal for delay, upon which the surety .might claim his discharge, if the principal and surety subsequently agree upon a general contract to forbear the collection of the debt for a certain period, such contract, in the absence of fraud, is upon good consideration, the principal being liable, and will bind the surety as well as the principal.” New Hampshire Savings Bank v. Coleved, 15 N. H. 119. “When a party is in possession of a negotiable instrument, the presumption is, that he holds it for value ; and the burden of proof is upon him, who disputes it; an exception being, when the defect appears on the face of the instrument.” Goodman v. Simonds. 20 How. (U. S.) 343.
In the last named case, at pp. 370 and 371, Justice Clifford _ says : “When the settlement was made, the new notes were given in payment of the prior indebtedness, and the collaterals previously held were surren-
Taking the allegations of said special plea to be true, as therein pleaded, it seems to me, that the. plaintiff under the allegations of said plea must be considered and held to be a bona jid-e holder, for valuable consideration, of the promissory note sued upon ; and that the matters of defense, pleaded in bar of the plaintiff’s right to recover, as pleaded, are not sufficient in law, if true, to bar the plaintiff’s right of i-ecovery upon the promissory note, sued upon and in the declaration mentioned.
The municipal court of Wheeling therefore did not err in sustaining the plaintiff’s demurrer to said special plea.
In 1 Parsons on Notes and Bills at pages 201, 202, he says: “ A note given by a party in satisfaction of a lia
The case of Bell v. Gardner was an action by the payee against the maker of a promissory note ; and in that case it was held, as stated in the syllabus, that "A negotiable security, given by a party in satisfaction of a liability, from which he was discharged in law, — in ignorance of the facts which constituted such discharge, cannot be enforced against him, though he may have had the means of knowing these facts. Therefore, when a bill of exchange, endorsed by A. for the accommodation, of the drawer, was afterwards altered in .a material point, with the consent of the drawer, and when the bill was at maturity, B., the then holder, made a demand upon A., who ignorant of the alteration, though he had ample means of knowing it, gave B. a promissory note for the amount of the bill and expenses, held that it was a good de-fence to- the action of the note by B., that at the time A. gave it, he was not in fact aware of the alteration of the bill.
The case of Mercer v. Clark, 3 Bibb, was also an action by the payee against the maker of the note. The case cited in 13 Ala. 1 cannot now see, as the book is not before me, and is not in the State library; but my recollection, though not distinct, is, that the case therein cited is also an action by the payee against the maker of the note.
It seems to be “ a general principle of the law merchant, that, as between the immediate parties to a negotiable instrument — parties between whom there is a privity — the consideration may be enquired into;-and that, as to them, the only superiority of a bill, or note, over other unsealed evidence of debt is, that it prima jade imports a consideration.” 1st vol. Daniel on Ne
It is said by Mr. Daniel in the 1st volume of his said work at page 163: “If the consideration of the original bill or note be illegal, a renewal of it will be open to the same objection and. defense; and if the original instrument was obtained by fraud, a renewal of it by the original parties, without knowledge of the fraud, would stand upon the same footing; and he cites Sawyer v. Wisnell, 9 Allen 39; Holden v. Cosgrove, 12 Gray 216; Scudder v. Thomas, 35 Ga. 364.
As to the bill of exceptions No. 1. No error is shown or suggested, in argument before us in the rulings and opinion of the court, mentioned in the bill of exceptions. As to,the formality of making protest and preparing the certificate thereof it seems, it generally comprises three distinct steps: 1. Making the presentment and demand of payment. 2. Noting the dishonor; and 3 extending the protest. According to Daniel on Negotiable Instruments vol. 2, pp. 10,11. “As soon as the presentment and demand have been made, or at some seasonable hour during the same day, the notary makes a minute on the bill, or in his book of registry, consisting of his initials, the month, the day, the year, che refusal of acceptance or payment, and his charges of protest. This is the preliminary step towards the protest, which may be afterwards written out in full, extended, as the elaboration of the minutes is termed, and it is called ‘noting.’ ” Noting, it was said in an early case, “is unknown to the Jaw, as distinguished from the protest, and has grown into practice within these few years.” .But it is now quite well established in England, Scotland and the United States, that noting is a kind of
Parsons on Notes and Bills, 1st vol. pp. 644, 645, 646, says: “Noting the protest means simply marking (usually and properly on the paper itself) the fact and time of the demand, the charges of minuting, and sometimes the place and the name of the parties, of whom the demand is made, and it is signed by the initials of the notary. This is sometimes said to be not known to the law. But the notary fills out his protest afterwards (and it is only a fuller statement of all these facts), or may testify in court as to the facts by using the noting to revive his recollection. The notary, by usage, makes the demand, and gives notice of non-payment to all prior parties, * * nor will any mere verbal mistake or error in the notarial certificate vitiate it, if the protest and noting were properly made. See also note (16) to said page 644 and authorities there cited and note (u) at said page 646.
No error in the ruling of the court, mentioned in said bill of exceptions No. 1, being pointed out to us, and we seeing none, of which the said defendants can complain here, the defendants' fourth assignment of error which is: "The court should not have permitted the protest to have been offered in evidence," is overruled.
■ I consider these two assignments of error together, because they are alleged errors arising upon the defendants’ said bill of exceptions No. 3.
In the case of McDowell’s ex’r v. Crawford, Judge Moncure, in his opinion, says: . “ Although the practice of our courts has been liberal in allowing parties, after their evidence is closed, to recall witnesses for the purpose of supplying facts omitted from inadvertance; and although I think such permission should be given, whenever there is no ground to suspect improper practice, the object being to elicit the truth, and secure the attainment of justice; yet I am aware, that the judge, before whom a case is tried, must necessarily have large room for discretion on this subject, and I think an appellate court should seldom interfere with its exercise.” These views of Judge Moncure are reasonable and correct, as I think. See also Howell v. The Commonwealth, 5 Gratt. 664. See also the case of Hunter v. Snyder’s ex’r, 11 W. Va. 198.
In the last named caseJudge Haymond, who delivered the opinion of the court, and in which opinion Judges Moore and Johnson concurred, Judge Green not sitting in the case, said : “When the plaintiff gives evidence to the jury and says he rests his case, and the defendant tenders a demurrer to the evidence then given to the jury, the court may, in the exercise of a sound discretion, permit the plaintiff, to give additional relevant evidence to the jury, unless it is satisfied, that the failure to introduce it was not owing to mere inadvertance of counsel. or other sufficient cause, and refuse to compel the plaintiff to join in the demurrer to the evidence given to the jury, before the additional evidence -was admitted. In the casé at bar the plaintiff had omitted to prove the ex-
In Huffman v. Alderson’s adm’r, 9 W. Va. 616, it was held by this court, that “ After a case had been submitted to the jury, the court may permit written evidence, attached to the pleadings, which was inadvertantly omitted to be read to the jury, to be read in the argument, and such reading of it is no grouud for discharging the jury and continuing the case, unless it operated to as a surprise to the opposite party.” In this case Judge Green, in delivering the opinion of the court, at page 632, says : “The record fails to show, that he was taken by surprise, or that he had any evidence to rebut this affidavit. This affidavit had been filed more than, three months with the papers of the suit; and if the defendant wished to rebut it, his witnesses should have been summoned for that purpose; but the record does not show, that he had summoned any witnesses for that purpose, or if any had been summoned, that they were not then present. I cannot see, that the court erred in refusing to continue the case.”
In the case of Browning, adm’v, v. Huff, 2 Bailey 174, it was held, that “ when the plaintiff omits to produce evidence of a fact, necessary to enable him to maintain his action, either through accident, or an impression that formal evidence of that fact was not essential, it is in the discretion of the court to permit him to introduce it, after he has closed his case, and even after non-snit moved for, argued and- determined against him.” In this case Judge O’Neal at page 179, says: “In cases like the present, it has been a long and well settled practice to allow a plaintiff, when .evidence essential to support the issue had been omitted accidentally, or from supposing that before the court sufficient, to adduce it, even
The case at bar involves to a very great extent the principles decided in the said case of Browning v. Huff and announced by Judge O’Neal. It does not appear from the bill of exceptions, that the defendants claimed before the court below, that they were taken by surprise by the introduction of said certificate of incorporation as evidence, or that its introduction would work injustice to them, unless time was given them to introduce other evidence to rebut or invalidate said certificate of incorporation — no affidavit was filed, or offered, befoi’e the court showing any of these things.
Under this state of facts, and the authorities above cited bearing upon the subject, I do not feel authorized to determine, that the court' below erred in its rulings and judgment in said third bill of exceptions. The defendants’ said second and fifth assignments of error
In considering said special plea I have held, that the matters set up in it would not constitute a bar, if properly and well pleaded under the authorities and principles referred to and stated; and this conclusion determines of course, that there was and is no error in the judgment of the court upon the facts proven in the cause before the court. It is true, that it is stated as a fact proved, that defendant, Lockwood, never received notice of the protest of the note, on which this suit is founded, but under the facts proved by the plaintiff as to notice to said Lockwood it is not material, whether he actually received the notice or not. Parsons on Notes and Bills, vol. 1, pages 477, 478, and notes.
It is argued by the counsel for the plaintiff below, that neither of the two notes, last delivered to the bank, were renewals of the first altered note; but that each of said two last notes were'discounted by the bank, and the proceeds applied by the maker, who received them, to the payment and satisfaction of the note then due, or overdue, and the note so paid and satisfied was delivered up by the bank, endorsed by the bank paid, &o.; and the case of Fisher, President of the Farmers’ Bank of Lansinburg, v. Daniel Marvin et al., 47 Barb. 159, is cited in support of this position.
The syllabus and opinion of a majority of the court (the court being composed of three persons) seem to support and sustain that position. The syllabus of the case is: “ The discounting of a new note, and the application of the proceeds realized from it to the payment of a former-note, extinguishes the old debt, and creates a new one. Such a transaction is not a mere change of securities, the taking of a new note in the place of an old one; but a discount, and a payment of money, upon the strength of the new security, by means of which the old obligation is discharged, given up and surrendered, so as to render it ineffective for any purpose.”
For the foregoing reasons I am of opinion, that there is no error in the judgment of the municipal court, of Wheeling, rendered in this'cause on the 10th day of January, 1877; and that the said judgment must be affirmed, with costs and damages according to law to the defendant in error against the plaintiffs in error.
Judgment Affirmed.
