46 A.D. 77 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1899
This action was brought to recover the sum of $1,650, the amount •of a promissory note made by one Walter B. Starbird, and alleged to have been indorsed by the defendant. The note read as follows:
“$1650.00/100. New York, JaEy 5th, L898.
“ On or before April 5th, 1898, after date, I promise to pay to the order of R. S. Howard, Sixteen Hundred and Fifty Dollars, at office Starbird Manf’g Co., No. 1133 Broadway, N. Y., Value received, with interest at 6$ from date.
“ No. 3. Due Apr. 5th, ’98.
“ W. B. STARBIRD.”
The complaint alleged that Starbird delivered the note to Van Gieson, who, for the purpose of giving the maker credit with the plaintiff, and inducing him to loan and advance to Starbird the sum of money therein mentioned, indorsed and delivered the same before maturity to the plaintiff.
The answer denied that the defendant indorsed the note as the surety for the maker, or for the purpose of giving him credit, and alleged that the defendant’s signature was procured by fraud and misrepresentation and that the defendant never agreed to become
Upon the trial the testimony of the plaintiff was to the effect that at the time the note was delivered to him the indorsement of the defendant was upon it ; that before he would consent to accept the note he required from the maker such indorsement; that.he never had any conversation with the defendant either prior to or at the time of thé delivery of the note. The testimony of the defendant on this branch of the case was to the effect that lie had a conversation.with the plaintiff and the maker of the note as to-his indorsement and liability thereunder, and that the plaintiff agreed that if the defendant would indorse the note he should not be liable to him by reason thereof. This being the condition of the testimony at the close of the trial the defendant’s- motion for a dismissal of the complaint should have been granted. The rule is well settled that where one indorses a promissory note, payable to another or order, prior to its delivery to the payee (as in this case), in the absence of proof that he indorsed with intent to become surety for the maker to the payee, the legal presumption is that he stands in the position of subsequent indorser, and the payee can neither maintain 'an action upon the indorsement, nor can he transfer a right of action thereon to a purchaser with notice, except upon assuming the responsibility of first indorser. (Phelps v. Vischer, 50 N. Y. 69.) The legal presumption is that one who has indorsed a promissory note in blank, before delivery to the payee, intends' to become liable simply as second indorser, and on the note-itself, without explanation, he is to be regarded as second indorser and not liable to the payee. (Coulter v. Richmond, 59 N. Y. 478.) Here the plaintiff himself testified that prior to the receipt of the note from the maker he had never ‘seen or talked with the defendant, and the defendant testified that it was distinctly understood he should not become liable upon the note. Therefore, under the decisions cited, the complaint should have been dismissed.
• Tlie complaint should also have been dismissed under the testimony offered, on the ground that notice of protest was never given to defendant. The evidence of the plaintiff upon this subject was to the effect that at or about the time the note was delivered to him he left it with the Bank of Metropolis for collection, and at the same
Upon both grounds, therefore, we think the order must be affirmed, with costs.
Van Brunt, P. J., Patterson, O’Brien and Ingraham, JJ., concurred.
Order affirmed, with costs.
