Canfield v. Gibson

1 Mart. (N.S.) 143 | La. | 1823

Porter, J.

delivered the opinion of the court. The petition states that the defendant made his note payable to one Samuel Thomas, for $800; who by endorsement, before the same was due, transferred it to the plaintiff—and that the payment of said note has secured by a mortgage on a house and lot, situated in the town of Covington.

The defendant pleaded that the debt sued for had been attached in his hands, as garnishee, in the suit of Layton vs. Thomas.

That the note on which the suit is brought was given in part payment of a house and lot in town of Covington, which was guaranteed free from all incumbrances and mortgages whatsoever, yet the same is subject to several liens.

And that the plaintiff received the note after it became due.

No parol evidence was introduced on the trial; the note was admitted to be negotiable, and endorsed in blank without any date affixed to it; no evidence was given by either party of the time when it was transferred.

The sale from Thomas to Gibson was produced, it is in the usual form with a clause of warranty, and states that the premises stand mortgaged until the payment of the note now sued on. On it, however, was endorsed the certificate of the parish judge, that the property sold, remained subject to a mortgage granted by the vendor, in favor of John Gustavus, for $400; and another granted by Gustavus, in favor of Packwood & Price, for $230.

The acts establishing the existence of these liens, and the record of the suit of Layton vs. Thomas, in which the present defendant was summoned as garnishee, were also introduced.

Nothing in the evidence enables us to say that the plaintiff knew the consideration of this note when he received it. It is in the usual form, and there is no circumstance proved which shows that he even had a reasonable suspicion that it was not given on a bona fide consideration, or that there existed any equity between the original parties—12 Martin, 237. The note was not marked ne varieter, and if it had, we have already decided, after mature deliberation, that it would not oblige the endorsee to go to the notary’s office, to examine into the original consideration. The very object which the parties have in view, in giving negotiable paper, is to prevent the necessity of doing this.

But the defendant insists the plaintiff took this note after it became due, and that consequently it is liable in his hands to every defence which could have been made against the payee. If the fact is established, the conclusion is correct, and our inquiry then is, what is the proof that has been given on this head?

The plaintiff presents a note endorsed in blank, in the usual form; and the presumption is, that the negotiability which results from the instrument, is in accordance with the real transaction, until the contrary is shown. The rule is, that when the maker of a note is sued and relies on payment before endorsement, or any other legal defence, the burthen of proof, of the time of the endorsement, rests on him. See Hendrick vs. Judal, 1 Johnson, 319; Webster vs. Lee, 5 Massachusetts Reports, 334.

Hoffman for the plaintiff, Preston for the defendant.

This view of the rights of the plaintiff under the endorsement, renders it unnecessary to go into the question whether the purchaser of immoveable property, affected by a lien, but not actually disturbed by suit, can withhold payment until security is furnished by the vendor.

It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the district court be annulled, avoided and reversed, and proceeding to give such judgment as in our opinion ought to have been given. It is ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the plaintiff do recover of the defendant the sum of eight hundred dollars, with interest from judicial demand, and costs of suit; and it is further decreed, that the mortgaged premises, mentioned in the plaintiff’s petition, be seized and sold, to satisfy the judgment now rendered.