178 Mo. App. 664 | Mo. Ct. App. | 1913
This is an action by plaintiff bank -upon a promissory note executed by the defendants. .Plaintiff had judgment for the amount remaining unpaid on the note, with accrued interest thereon, and the •defendants have appealed.
The note in suit was originally for the sum of $2250, dated January 10,1906, due March 1, 1906, and payable to the order of plaintiff. It bore interest at 'the rate of eight per cent per annum, and contained the following provision: “Makers and endorsers of this ■note hereby severally waive presentment of payment
The petition declares upon the note, admits the payment of $700 thereon on November 30, 1908, and prays judgment for $1550, with interest at the rate of eight per cent per annum from March 1, 1909.
The amended answer admits the execution of the note by defendants; avers that, on November 30, 1908, not only $700 was paid upon the principal, but that all interest accrued to that date was paid thereon, leaving a balance due at said date of $1550. And it is averred that defendants Jas. M. Douglass and A. T. Douglass were but accommodation makers for defendant W. H. Douglass, and as between themselves and the latter were sureties, and that this was known to the plaintiff.
The amended answer then proceeds to set up in detail certain facts, by reason of which it is averred that these defendants were released from all liability on the note. In substance, these averments are, that the payment of the note was. first extended to July 1, 1909; that, on July 15,1909, defendant W. H. Douglass ■entered into a contract with one Gillespie and one Caneer, the latter being then the cashier of plaintiff bank, whereby said Gillespie and Caneer, for certain valuable consideration, assumed and agreed to pay th.e note at and when the same should become due and payable, in accordance with the extension made thereof; that, on the following day, to-wit, July 16, 1909, a contract was entered into between said Gillespie and Caneer on the one hand and one Gardner on the other, whereby, for like valuable consideration, the said Gardner in turn assumed and agreed to pay the .note; and that as an inducement to the said Gardner
The foregoing are the essential averments of the answer, as well as of a so-called supplemental answer filed, and it is averred that the facts pleaded constitued a novation, and gave rise to an equitable estoppel against plaintiff.
The reply controverted the facts pleaded in defense.
The evidence shows that A. A. Caneer had been the cashier of plaintiff bank, residing at Senath, Missouri, but that he became interested with the defendant W. EL Douglass, Gillespie, Gardner and others in promoting certain insurance companies having offices in the city of St. Louis; that early in June he came to the city of St. Louis on account of his connection with these insurance companies, and that for some months he spent the greater portion of his time at the latter place; that, upon his leaving Senath, one O. EL Story was called upon to perform the active duties of cashier in the bank, though the records of the meetings of the board of directors of the bank show that Story was not elected cashier until August 16, 1909, and no resignation of Caneer as cashier appears to have been tendered or acted upon in the meantime. During this period it seems that Caneer, while in the city.of St. Louis, represented and acted for the bank in many particulars, apparently having full power and authority so to do; and various letters of his were put in evidence showing
On behalf of defendants it was shown, by the testimony of defendant W. H. Douglass and that of Gillespie, that prior to June 15, 1909, the relations between the said Douglass and Gardner had become strained, Douglass claiming that Gardner was improperly applying funds of the insurance companies in question; that this matter was brought to a crisis by defendant W. H.' Douglass notifying a bank or banks not to pay out certain funds on checks signed by Gardner; that defendant W. H. Douglass was unwilling to continue his connection with the companies, under the circumstances prevailing, and that about this time Caneer and Gillespie undertook to arrange a settlement or adjustment of matters between W. H. Douglass and Gardner, whereby the former would deliver to Gardner certain stock, surrender certain contracts, and release his rights thereunder, and resign from a board of directors, and that, in consideration thereof, Gardner would assume the payment of the note here in suit and another upon which defendant Douglass was liable at the Union Station Bank of St. Louis. It appears, however, that Gardner finally refused to make the contract, upon the ground that he would not deal directly with defendant W. H. Douglass; that upon the matter taking this turn, Caneer and Gillespie, on June 15, 1909, entered into a similar contract themselves with W. II.’ Douglass, agreeing to assume and pay the two notes mentioned, for the consideration above referred to; this being done, it seems, with the understanding with Gardner that he in turn would relieve them of the obligations and lia
Gillespie testified that Caneer, purporting to represent plaintiff bank, and for and on behalf of tbe latter, did in fact agree to so extend tbe time of payment of tbe debt, as an inducement to Gardner to assume tbe payment thereof, neither defendant W. IP. Douglass, nor bis codefendants, being present or knowing thereof. Defendant "W. PL Douglass testified that Caneer shortly thereafter told him over tbe telephone that be (Caneer) bad so agreed to extend tbe same; and that such extension was without tbe witness’s knowledge or consent. Pie also testified as to tbe contents of a letter written by Gardner to plaintiff containing a promise of tbe writer to pay tbe note sued upon on or before September 1, 1909.
It seems that there was a written contract prepared, between "W. H. Douglass and Gardner, which tbe latter did not sign. This, it appears, contained tbe terms of tbe agreements afterward made, but what, if anything, tbe parties signed does not appear. Tbe evidence shows that tbe paper just referred to, and tbe above mentioned letter, bad been attached to a deposition as an exhibit in.another case, which deposition and tbe exhibits attached thereto bad disappeared.
Touching the question of Caneer’s authority to bind the bank in the premises, the record ..contains much testimony and many exhibits offered to show the course of dealing between Caneer and the bank and the rela,tion which he sustained to the latter at or about the time in question; but it is unnecessary to review this evidence in detail.
No extension of time beyond June 1, 1909, appears upon the back of the note. A letter written by Caneer on June 16, 1909, to Gillespie, was put in evidence, whereby the writer stated: “I ’phoned W. H. Douglass that I was willing to hold the note until September, so do as you can or whatever you think best.” It appears that subsequent to June 16, 1909, the plaintiff bank at no time notified or made demand upon the defendants, or any of them, with respect to the note until the 9th of the following September.
Story testified that the bank hadi another note of Gardner’s, and that some correspondence was had with the latter, but that he did not remember “whether it was about this note or not.” On September 9, defendant W. H. Douglass was notified that the note was past due, the printed notice sent him having on it this notation: “Please have the parties fix.” The note not having been paid, on February 12, 1910, plaintiff bank notified Gillespie that the note had not been paid, say
The cause came on to trial before the court and a jury, and upon motion then made by plaintiff, the court ordered that part of the amended answer stricken out “which deals with the allegation of an agreement, to-wit: The assuming of this note and the release of the makers and sureties thereon.” Despite this action of the court, and which ruling, as made, purported to have the effect of' striking out practically all of the answer, the cause proceeded to trial before the court and a jury upon the issues raised by the amended answer relative to the assuming of the payment of the note, first by Caneer and Gillespie, and then by Gardner, and the alleged release of the defendants from liability thereon by the acts of plaintiff in the premises.
Upon the trial before the jury, the foregoing evidence was adduced by the parties, and the cause referred to the jury under certain instructions which we shall notice later, and resulted in a verdict for plaintiff. Thereafter, at the same term, by agreement of counsel for both plaintiff and defendants, the cause, upon the same evidence adduced before the jury, was submitted to the court sitting as a chancellor upon the so-called equitable plea of estoppel set up in defendants’ answer. The court, upon considering the same, found for plaintiff, and thereupon rendered judgment in its favor for the amount of the jury’s verdict.
1. There was much confusion with respect to the trial of the real issues involved. Both in the taking of the testimony and in the instructions, the court ap
No such issue as this was raised by the pleadings. "We may disregard the ruling of the trial court upon plaintiff’s motion to strike out parts of the amended answer, for the case was tried as though such ruling had not been made. It is true that the word novation is used in the answer, but the answer nowhere avers that plaintiff agreed to release the defendants from their liability on the note and discharge the indebtedness as to them. Such were not the facts pleaded in defense, nor was there any evidence whatsoever in support of such theory. In fact, the defendants at the trial, in open court, disclaimed that there was any such defense interposed; as they do in their brief before us.
The defense which was in fact attempted to be set up by the answer, and which was supported by the evidence adduced on behalf of defendants, was that Oaneer and Gillespie, for a valuable consideration, contracted and agreed with the defendant W. H. Douglass to assume and pay the note; that thereafter Gardner, for like valuable consideration, contracted and agreed with Oaneer and Gillespie to assume and pay the same; and that as a part and parcel of this subsequent agreement, and as an inducement to Gardner to agree to assume the payment of the note, Oaneer, acting for and on behalf of plaintiff, and clothed with power and authority to bind it in the premises, and without the knowledge and consent'of the defendants, agreed to extend and did extend the time of payment thereof from July 1, 1909, to September 1, 1909; and further
Appellants nowhere contend that the mere agreement on the part of Caneer and Gillespie to assume and pay the note in anywise released them from liability thereon, but say that it did not. The theory of the defense interposed by appellants is that when Caneer and Gillespie assumed payment of the note, the defendants, as between themselves, Caneer and Gillespie, became sureties for the payment of the debt; that when, thereafter, the subsequent agreement was sought to be made with Gardner, with not only Caneer and Gillespie as parties, but the bank also, the latter acting through its alleged cashier and representative, then plaintiff bank, by assuming to thus deal with Gardner, became bound to recognize and regard defendants as being sureties merely; and that the acceptance of Gardner as the primary obligor, and the extension of time alleged to have been granted by plaintiff, without the knowledge and consent of the defendants, operated in law to release the latter, as such sureties, from all liability upon the obligation in question.
This we say was the real defense sought to be interposed, and it remains to be seen whether such defense is available to these defendants under the circumstances appearing in evidence.
II. That the facts pleaded and appearing in evidence did not constitute a novation we think is clear. It is said that to establish a novation it is essential that four things be shown: (1) A previous valid obligation; (2) the agreement of all the parties to the new contract; (3) the extinguishment of the old contract; (4) the validity of the new one. [29 Cyc. 1130; see, also, Babbitt v. Railroad, 149 Mo. App. 439, 130 S. W. 364; Elliott v. Qualls, 149 Mo. App. 482, 130 S. W. 474.] The creditor must have consented to the discharge of the original debtor, accepting in his stead the new debtor. [29 Cyc. 1132; Leckie v. Bennett, 160
In the instant case, the defendants were not parties to the agreement with Gardner; neither did they plead, nor did the evidence show, any agreement on the part ¡of plaintiff to release the defendants and altogether substitute some one else in their stead. The contract on the part of Gardner was supported by a valuable consideration, but essential elements of a complete novation are lacking; and, as we have said, such does not appear to be the theory of the defense.
III. There can be no doubt that the agreement between defendant W. H. Douglass and Caneer and Gillespie operated to create the relation of principal and surety as between the parties themselves; that is to say, as between themselves and the defendants, Caneer and Gillespie having for a valuable consideration agreed to assume and pay the debt, became the principals with respect to the obligation in question, and the defendants were relegated to the position of sureties with respect to the payment thereof. It is not claimed that plaintiff bank was in any way a party to this agreement. It is not contended that, with respect to this first agreement, Caneer acted for the bank, or contracted otherwise than in his personal capacity.
It is unnecessary for us to decide what, at this stage of the matter, would have been plaintiff’s position, had it been merely notified of the agreement made with Caneer and Gillespie and that as between them and the defendants the latter had become sureties for the debt. Whether the plaintiff, upon merely being notified of such agreement, would, under these circumstances, have been bound to recognize and respect the relation thus created between defendants and the parties assuming the debt, is a matter not here directly involved. Certain it is that the plaintiff, upon becoming aware of the contract made by Caneer and Gil
However, the liability of Caneer, Gillespie and Gardner in the premises is not here directly involved. The question is whether, by virtue of assuming to become a party to the subsequent contract with Gardner, in the manner and under the circumstances aforesaid, the plaintiff placed itself in a position where it became bound to respect the suretyship, so far as concerns these defendants; and, if so, whether the alleged extension of time on the note operated to release the defendants.
This is not a case where a grantee of premises accepts a, conveyance thereof from his grantor, covenanting to assume and pay the grantor’s note secured by a mortgage or deed of trust upon such premises. In such cases it is well established that not only, as between such grantor and grantee, does the latter become the principal debtor and the former a surety for the payment of the mortgage debt, but our courts hold further that, although the owner of the mortgage note may enforce the liability against both such grantor and grantee, nevertheless, after receiving notice of such assumption of the debt, he is bound to recognize the suretyship and to respect the rights of the surety in his subsequent dealings with the parties; and any
In the case before us, the obligation assumed was not a mortgage note secured by the property which was transferred from defendants to Caneer and Gillespie and by the latter to Gardner, but, if the facts are as defendants contend, there are strong reasons why the same rule should obtain, so far as concerns the duty of plaintiff to respect the relation of principal and surety; there being no equities with respect to mortgaged property to be dealt with. We are not embarrased by the question as to what the bank’s rights and duties might have been, in dealing thereafter with these parties, had the bank not been itself a party to the final agreement and had been merely notified that these respective agreements had been entered into. Defendants’ theory, which there is evidence tending strongly to support, is that plaintiff bank was, in fact, through its cashier, a party to the agreement with Gardner; that is to say, that Caneer acted in that transaction not only for himself personally, as one of the parties who had theretofore assumed the payment of the note, but as the plaintiff’s representative, and that, as an inducement to secure Gardner’s agreement, made a binding contract on the part of plaintiff to extend the
Even aside from the fact that plaintiff, as appellants contend, was a party to the very contract itself with which we are now dealing, there is ample authority for the proposition that, if a creditor accepts a ■promise of a third party made to his debtor, he becomes bound to respect the relationship of principal and surety existing between such third person and the promisee.
In Malanaphy v. Mfg. Co., 125 Iowa 719, 106 Am. St. Rep. 332, the court in treating of this question said:
“Necessarily the rights of a party for whose benefit a promise is made must be measured by the terms of the agreement between the principal parties, and the right to recover from the promisor is not absolute in all cases. Among other limitations, the party to be benefited takes subject to all inherent equities arising out of the contract, as affecting the principal parties one with the other. This follows naturally from the relation of privity which the law implies. [Dunning v. Leavitt, 85 N. Y. 30 (39 Am. Rep. 617); Ellis v. Harrison, 104 Mo. 270, 16 S. W. Rep. 198; Brandon v. Hughes, 22 La. Ann. 360; Trimball v. Strother, 25 Ohio St. 378; 7 Am. & Eng. Enc. Law (2 Ed.), 109.]
“Turning our attention to the principal parties to the contract, it is quite clear that as between them the promisor became primarily liable for the debt. It assumed the relation of a principal, and, as to it, the obligation of the promisee became that of a surety only. . . . Now as a creditor for whose benefit a promise is made takes subject to the equities existing between the principal parties, it follows conclusively that, if he accepts of such promise, he becomes bound to observe the relationship of principal and surety existing between the principal parties, and must act in recognition thereof.”
That the right of action hy a party for whose benefit and advantage a contract is made between two other persons is dependent upon and subordinate to the terms of the contract as made is fully recognized by our courts. [See Ellis v. Harrison, supra; Davis v. Dunn, 121 Mo. App. 490, 97 S. W. 226; Beattie Mfg. Co. v. Clark, 208 Mo. 89, 106 S. W. 29.] Certain it is that the right of the creditor to proceed against the third party so assuming the debt is measured by the contract of assumption. And, as said in Malanaphy v. Mfg. Co., supra, it would seem to follow that when he does elect to adopt the promise of such third party he must take it cum onere, and must respect the relation existing between the promisor and the promisee.
But the instant case presents a further reason for holding that plaintiff became bound to observe and respect the relation of defendants as sureties. For, indeed, if plaintiff not only accepted the promise of Gardner, but actively took part in inducing the latter to assume the debt, and assumed to treat and deal with him as a principal, without consulting the defendants, then we think it cannot be doubted that the.plaintiff should be held to have elected to accept Gardner as the primary debtor, and should be permitted to look to the defendants merely as sureties. In this connection, we may say that, after the contract was entered into, whereby Caneer and Gillespie assumed the note, the latter became obligated to pay the same when it matured, July 1, 1909, and had they failed to do so, the defendants would have been entitled to pay the debt and at once proceed to protect themselves in the premises. Defendants were not parties to the subsequent agreement, had nothing to do with it in fact, and their rights may have been seriously prejudiced by a valid extension of time, if there was one. And if the plaintiff was a party to the contract with Gardner, and
IV. That Caneer was cashier of plaintiff bank, with authority to act for it in the premises, at the time the contract with Gardner was made, we think cannot be doubted. Indeed, it fully appears that he had been appointed cashier by the board of directors, who alone may lawfully appoint or remove a cashier (Pev. Stat. 1909, sec. 1112), and had performed the duties of this office for some considerable period of time; that, upon coming to St. Louis, he did not resign as cashier or sever his connection with the bank, but that he represented the bank in many transactions, and kept in constant communication with the latter, supervising and directing its more important affairs. It is true that the evidence shows that Story was engaged to and did perform such of the active duties pertaining to this office as were required to be performed at the bank; though the evidence is quite convincing that he reported to Caneer and looked to the latter for advice and direction during this period. The bank’s records show that he was not elected cashier until August 16, 1909, two months after the making of the contract with Gardner. It is quite clear therefore that Caneer was lawfully authorized to represent the bank as cashier during this period. And there is abundant evidence that he did exercise such authority.
V. As to the authority of a cashier to bind a bank by a contract, such as it is contended was made with Gardner, there can be no serious doubt. The cashier is the executive officer of the bank through whom the bank’s business of this nature is ordinarily conducted; and he is held out to the public as having authority to act in accordance with the general custom, practice and course of business of such institutions. Consequently, an act, such as is claimed was done by him
In this connection, it may be well to notice that the evidence adduced by defendants went to show that, in making the contract with Gardner, Canee;r acted both for himself and the bank; that the agreement in fact was one between himself, Gillespie and the bank on the one hand and Gardner on the other. This it was competent for him to do; and if he was clothed with authority to act for the bank, the latter is bound by the agreement, and his knowledge in the premises is imputed to the bank. [See Stonecutter Co. v. Myers, 64 Mo. App. 527; Withers v. Bank, 67 Mo. App. 115; Latimer v. Loan & Inv. Assn., 78 Mo. App. 463.]
VI. But conceding such contract to have been made with Gardner as defendant charges, and the authority of Caneer to bind the plaintiff in the premises, it remains to be seen whether defendants should be released by reason of the alleged extension of time on the note, under the circumstances appearing.
At the threshhold of this question, the provisions of the note itself should be considered. As we have said above, the note provided that the “makers and endorsers” thereof made certain waivers, and consented that the time of payment might be extended without notice. In the face of this provision in the
VII. And in this same connection should be considered the effect of the Negotiable Instruments Law of 1905 upon the matter in hand. Upon the question of the discharge of a surety by the granting of an extension of time to the principal debtor, sections 10161, 10089 and 10090, Revised Statutes have an important bearing. Section 10161, supra, provides: “The person primarily liable on the instrument is the person who by the terms of the instrument is absolutely required to pay the same. All other parties are secondarily liable.” Section 10089, makes provision as to what will discharge a negotiable instrument. Section 10090 sets out those things which will discharge a person secondarily liable on the instrument, among* these being ‘ ‘ an agreement binding upon the holder to extend the time of payment,” etc.
In the case before us, one feature of the defense pleaded was that W. H. Douglass was in fact the party primarily liable, and that his codefendants, who signed the note as comakers, were accommodation makers, which was known to plaintiff, and that they were therefore sureties from the beginning. The note, however, was executed January 10, 1906, after the above mentioned statute had become effective, and hence all of the signers of the note were originally “parties primarily liable,” and none of them sureties.
However, the above mentioned change in our law, effected by the adoption of the statute in question, is without influence here, so far as concerns the real matter under consideration; that is to say, though all of these defendants were originally parties primarily liable, and none of them then entitled to be treated as sureties, the making of a distinct new contract with a third person, as of an original undertaking, such as it is said was here done, has the effect of relegating the original makers of the note to the position of sureties with respect to the obligation of the new promisee to pay the debt. In this regard, the operation of the new agreement made with a third person is unaffected by the Negotiable Instruments Law, for the relationship thereby created between the parties arises independent of the original instrument.
"VTII. In order for an extension of time of payment to operate to release one who occupies the position
But the evidence adduced on behalf of defendant went to show the making of a binding agreement, based upon a valid consideration, to extend the time of payment of the debt for a period of two months, such as would perforce have stayed the hand of plaintiff during such period. Defendants’ evidence on this score, though quite persuasive, was not, however, conclusive; for Caneer testified that he did not extend, or undertake to extend, the time of payment. The question is therefore one for the consideration of the. jury upon proper instructions.
IX. We are unable' to see that the facts pleaded in ■defense were such as to raise an equitable estoppel, though, if true, they constituted a valid defense. “An •estoppel in pa,is is defined as a right arising from acts, ■admissions or conduct and which have induced a «change of position in accordance with the real or apparent intention of the parties against whom they are -alleged.” [Withers v. Railroad, 226 Mo. l. c. 399, 126 S. W. 432, and authorities cited.] But it does not here appear that the alleged acts and conduct of plaintiff •can well be said to have induced the defendants to ■change their position to their detriment. Defendant W. H. Douglass had parted with the consideration which passed from him. to Caneer and Gillespie prior to any act on the part of the bank in the premises, and it does not appear that thereafter the defendants in any way altered their position to their injury, in reliance upon the conduct of plaintiff. It is true that
Defendants claim that the facts pleaded by them raised an estoppel against plaintiff, and prayed that the note be cancelled and returned to them; and this matter was passed upon by the court sitting’ as a chancellor, after the jury trial was had. The case was one to be tried by the jury, however, under appropriate instructions. And though the original makers be relieved from liability upon the note it does not follow that they are entitled to have it cancelled; for the instrument evidences the obligation assumed by others.
X. Instruction No. 1, given for the plaintiff, authorized a verdict for plaintiff unless the jury found that the latter agreed to release the defendants and to accept Gardner as the payor of the note.
And instruction No. 2, given on behalf of plaintiff, told the jury that the defendants relied upon what is termed in law a novation, and that, to constitute the same, the jury must find that, for a valuable consideration, Gardner agreed with W. H. Douglass to pay the note, that the latter consented thereto, and that plaintiff agreed to accept Gardner as the payor thereof, and further agreed to release the defendants.
Prom what we have previously said, it follows that these instructions were based upon an altogether erroneous conception of the defense pleaded and sought to be proved, were highly prejudicial to the defendants* and should not have been given.
Instruction No. 5, given for plaintiff, told the jury that the cashier could not release the principal on the note and accept in lieu thereof another as payor without authority in writing from the board of directors; and that if a cashier undertook so to do, the bank would not be bound thereby, unless it afterwards adopted and ratified the transaction. This instruction
. It is unnecessary to notice the instructions given for defendants, or those which were offered by them and refused.
There are various assignments of error pertaining’ to the court’s rulings on the admission of evidence, but in view of what we have said above, we deem it unnecessary to consider these in detail. From the foregoing it will appear that the defense attempted to be interposed was a valid one; and the evidence adduced tended very strongly to support it. But it cannot be said that the evidence conclusively established such defense, particularly in view of Caneer’s testimony denying the granting of an extension of time for the payment of the debt. The judgment should therefore be reversed and the cause remanded, with leave to ■appellants to amend their answer if so advised. It is so ordered.