32 Pa. Super. 541 | Pa. Super. Ct. | 1907
Opinion by
The plaintiff, Samuel Bobst, held a public sale of horses, wagons, etc., and pursuant to a previous arrangement sold a horse belonging to Wallace Gring, the defendant, to one Leo Schoetzle. In payment of his purchase Schoetzle gave a promissorynote, dated February 15,1902, for $161, due eight months afterwards “ to the order of Samuel Bobst,” and signed by himself and F. B. Banman. Bobst indorsed the note and delivered it to Gring, who soon thereafter deposited it in a local bank for collection. At its maturity, on October 15th, it was regularly protested for nonpayment. From the testimony of the plaintiff it appears that within a few days he called at the bank and talked with the cashier in regard to the Schoetzle note, as follows: “ Q. What did he say? A. Well, I asked him how it was about these notes; I told him I didn’t owe
The plaintiff’s right to recover hinges on a narrow proposition, and can be disposed of upon his own testimony. If the payment was a voluntary one he cannot recover from Gring. The meager conversation with the cashier could not have deceived him. The most that could be said of it is, that it might have inspired an inquiry into the full facts, and this he did not make. While that officer suggested that he pay the bank and then sue Gring, it was no more than a suggestion, and it was at the same time coupled with the direction that he, Bobst, should see his attorney in regard to it before'he did anything. To be advised fully in regard to his rights and liabilities he then consulted with his attorney before he made the payment. Whether he made full disclosure of all the facts is not material, as it is manifest that his conduct was not controlled by what the cashier told him, and he made no further inquiry at the bank or investigation from any source. The general rule is well settled that one who voluntarily pays money with full knowledge or means of knowledge of all the facts, without any fraud having been practiced upon him, cannot recover it back by reason of the payment having been made in ignorance of law: Natcher v. Natcher, 47 Pa. 496; Real Estate Saving Institution v. Linder, 74 Pa. 371; Finnel v. Brew, 81 Pa. 362; Gould v. McFall, 118 Pa. 455 ; Schoenfeld v. Bradford, 16 Pa. Superior Ct. 165.
The parties dispute about several minor phases of the case,
The judgment is reversed.