10 Kan. 370 | Kan. | 1872
The second defense set forth in the defendants’ answer states facts sufficient not only to constitute a defense to the plaintiffs’ cause of action, but also ^if stated in a petition) to constitute a cause of action against the plaintiffs, whether it alleges any fraud or not. If the ■plaintiffs through their agent sold and agreed to deliver to the defendants a certain quantity of good, sound, merchantable winter apples, and then did not do so, but delivered worthless and unmerchantable apples, we think the plaintiffs are liable; and this liability may be set up by the defendants in an action brought by themselves, or in an action brought by the plaintiffs, as in this case, the action being on a draft or bill of exchange drawn by their agent in favor of the plaintiffs ■on the defendants and accepted by the defendants for the price of the apples. The foregoing statement of facts is substantially what said second defense alleges. The question of the sufficiency of said second defense was raised by the plaintiffs by objecting to the introduction of any evidence under it. The plaintiffs do not in their brief seem to raise any other question in this court concerning the introduction of the evidence in the court below. Neither do they seem to raise any question concerning the charge of the court below to the jury. In fact, they could not well do so, for their exceptions to the charge were general exceptions to the whole charge, and not special exceptions to any particular portion thereof. The main question, therefore, brought to this court is, whether the court below erred in overruling the plaintiffs’ motion for a new trial. And the main ground stated in the motion for a new trial was, that the verdict was not sustained by sufficient evidence. We think it is true, as claimed by plaintiffs, that “the payee or holder of a bill of exchange, after its acceptance, and before due, is presumed to be the holder in good faith, and in laiv stands precisely the same as a bona fide purchaser of a note before due,” and that “such an instrument in the hands of a bona fide payee cannot be
The verdict of the jury was for the plaintiffs for the sum of one hundred dollars, and judgment was rendered accordingly. We think the verdict should be allowed to stand; and the judgment is affirmed.