Chase v. Hathorn

61 Me. 505 | Me. | 1873

Peteus, J.

The deposition of John E. Simons, one of the defendants, taken before action entered, was objected to because no lice of the taking was not given to Going Hathorn, the other defendant, who claimed there was fraud and collusion between the deponent and the plaintiff. No facts are suggested to show what the alleged fraud and collusion was. By R. S., c. 107, § 8, it is provided that where there are several plaintiffs or defendants in an action a notice to one or more of them shall be sufficient. If the defendant Hatliorn suspected a sinister purpose in tbe manner of notice given for taking snob deposition, and was dissatisfied with its contents, his remedy would be in taking the testimony anew, and, if necessary, obtaining a continuance for such purpose, but his objection to the admissibility of the deposition cannot be sustained.

The defendant Hatliorn claimed to prove a conspiracy, between John E. Simons and the plaintiff, “ to throw this debt upon him,” and offered written statements of both of them to show it. It does not appear that there was any offer to prove admission of Simons as contradictory to his testimony as a deponent. The evidence offered was properly excluded.

Objection is taken to the admission of the statement of John E. Simons made when he sold the note in suit to the plaintiff'. If not admissible as a part of the res gestee, tbe testimony is utterly immaterial, and its admission not injurious to tbe defendant.

It is contended by the defendant Hatliorn, that he cannot be held upon the note because two signatures on it preceding his, upon the strength of which he was induced to sign as surety, prove to be forgeries. But the question involved in these facts, however viewed elsewhere, has been settled, in this State, adversely to the defendant, in the case of York Co. M. F. Ins. Co. v. Brooks, 51 Maine, 508. But it is insisted by the counsel for the defendant that this case should be overruled as not in accordance with an array of authorities contended by him to be inconsistent therewith. There are many questions of a mercantile nature, a decision of which, either way, will result in some degree of hardship as well as of benefit to different parties concerned. Upon such questions different courts are often found to have arrived at different conclusions. But when the principles involved in this description of cases have been once decided by a deliberate adjudication, such decision, unless for reasons of a very controlling character, should be regarded as a finality in the jurisdiction where made, so that all persons interested, knowing the rule of law, can protect themselves accordingly. We are not convinced that the principle established, •in the case referred to, is an unjust or erroneous one, but on the contrary, are satisfied that a departure from it would be productive of much more harm than good.

Whether the surety, Hathorn, can be held upon the note, if sold, without his previous consent or subsequent ratification by the principal, John E. Simons, to any person other than the payees, is a point which has been confidently argued on both sides. The reasons upon either side are so forcible it is not strange that different courts hold opposite opinions upon the question. But the precise principle involved here has already been established, as we regard it, in the adjudged cases in this State. The question is touched in Skowhegan Bank v. Baker, 36 Maine, 154; decided in Manufacturers Bank v. Cole, 39 Maine, 188; and conclusively settled in Granite Bank v. Ellis, 43 Maine, 367, that the surety cannot be held. Not upon the ground that there has been a change of contract prejudicial to him, but that there has been no completed contract at all; that there was no delivery to the only party to whom the note by its very terms was to be delivered, and therefore that the contract which was merely undertaken to be made never took effect.

This leads us to determine, whether, as a question of fact, the surety either expressly or by implication consented to, or ratified the act of the principal in getting the note discounted outside of the Newport Savings Bank. The evidence bearing on this issue extensively conflicts. Still, we think there is a preponderance upon the proposition favorable to the plaintiff. If the testimony of the plaintiff himself is to be regarded as true, no doubt is left about it.

It would be difficult, however, to accord the result of the issue to the plaintiff, with the burden of proof upon him, upon his statements opposed by the denials of the other side. John E. Simons, the defaulted defendant, testifies that the talk between the surety and himself was to get the money of other parties if he could not get it at the bank. Hatiiorn denies this. Which statement should he relied on ? The effect of the testimony of the surety is to clear himself from liability while the liability of Simons is fixed, and he has no legal interest either way. But the defendant invokes against the credibility of Simons that the case shows that he is a confessed forger. It may be questionable, when a cause has been withdrawn from a jury and referred to the court, whether it is not to be regarded as submitted upon the character of the evidence given, rather than upon the character of the persons giving it. His testimony, however, so far as contradicted will not he relied on to help produce the result we arrive at. But Simons deposes to an important fact not contradicted. He says the money got upon the note “ was used to pay the interest on notes where Hatiiorn and I were holden.” This is not denied, and it nowhere appears that Ha-thorn did not know that the money was obtained from the plaintiff and was so used. As this note became substituted for the same amount of liability of the surely upon other notes of a like character, his liability was not in the aggregate increased. It does not appear why the surety should care from wliat source the money should be obtained. It is urged that it was material because the act of 1869 prohibited discounts by savings banks upon names alone, and, as the money could not be legally obtained but upon some security, that the surety would have been better off on that account. It would seem that the bank rejected the paper only “ because they then had no funds,” and not because unaccompanied with security. It does not appear that the parties were aware of the statutory provision, and, if they were, it would be a circumstance to prove that the note was to be thrown upon the market rather than discounted at the bank, for the business and situation of the parties show clearly enough that the very object of the surety’s name was because the principal had no security he could use.

The situation of the parties sheds light upon the transaction. When the surety signed the note he relied upon the two names which turn out to be forged ; supposed them genuine or he would not have signed; relied on Henry Simons to pay all paper he signed for John; and had intimate business and personal relations with them both. Evidently there was a large quantity of paper upon the market bearing these same names. From such an inspection of the situation of the parties and the course of their business transactions as is afforded us upon the evidence, we feel authorized, under the terms of the report, to find that there was an implied permission of the surety that this note might be discounted wherever the money could best be obtained. When the surety testifies that he never assented that the note might be discounted any where outside of the Newport Bank, his testimony can mean no more. than that he made, in words, no direction or declaration to that effect.

Objection is taken by the defendant against the legality of the . transfer of the note to the plaintiff from the bank. If the note is regarded as anote to the treasurer individually, no such question can be raised. Whether a note of this description is a promise to the corporation or its treasurer, usually depends much upon the source from which the consideration for it comes. That criterion cannot exist here, as neither of them purchased or paid for the note. Assuming that the bank, and not its treasurer, was the legal payee of the note the objections urged cannot be sustained. That the form of the indorsement was correct was settled in Farrar v. Gilman, 19 Maine, 440. That a corporation can use its name for a purpose like this is substantially decided in Lime Rock Bank v. Macomber, 29 Maine, 564, and B. O. M. R. R. Co. v. Smith, 47 Maine, 34, and kindred cases in this State, and precisely adjudged in Elliott v. Abbott, 12 N. H. 549. That this right or power can as well be exercised by a Savings Bank as any other kind of banking institution, follows from the similarity of the attributes and powers common to both ; and that the treasurer had the authority of the bank to make the indorsement, appears sufficiently from the evidence in the case.

This transaction being outside of the ordinary course of business of the bank, the treasurer would not be authorized to indorse the note for the bank without a power specially delegated to him to do so. The assent of the bank, for this purpose, may be inferred from the acts of its officers without any recorded vote or express direction of the board of trustees. Lime Rock Bank v. Macomber, supra; Brown v. Donnell, 49 Maine, 421; Sherman v. Fitch, 98 Mass. 59; Lester v. Webb, 1 Allen, 34. In these cases in Massachusetts it is stated that authority in the agent of a corporation may bo inferred from the conduct of its officers or from their knowledge and neglect to make objection, as well as in tho case of individuals; and considerable stress is placed upon the implied authority conferred upon a treasurer of a corporation, by allowing him to act as their general agent or manager.

A distinction is made between the authority of an agent to hind the corporation by a contract of indorsement, and simply to transfer the property in a note. The latter authority is more readily inferred. Brown v. Donnell, ubi supra.

Here, by an indorsement “ without recourse ” no liabilities were assumed ; the bank bad no more than a nominal interest to pass ; the treasurer was “ general agent in managing the affairs of the bank,” which evidently meant the possession from the trustees of more than the ordinary authority of a treasurer; the attorney who prosecutes this suit is one of the trustees of the bank, and its president is an active practitioner at the bar where this case came up. The action of the treasurer seems to have been unobjected to and acquiesced in long enough to amount to prima facie proof of authority for what he has done.

It is not necessary to consider the effect of an alteration of the contract, contended by counsel for the defendant to have been made by the signature of John E. Simons upon the note after its completion, without the consent of Hathorn, as the point does not appear to be presented by the facts of the case.

Defendants defaulted.

■ AppletoN, C. J.; CtjttiNG, WaltoN, DickeksoN, and BARROWS, JJ., concurred.