Hunter v. Moul

98 Pa. 13 | Pa. | 1881

Mr. Justice Mercur

delivered the opinion of the Court,

Tliis judgment was entered on tlie report of a referee. The important facts found by him are substantially these: Hunter was indebted, on book account, to Moul, in the sum of some $1,100 or $1,200. On being asked for payment he replied he had no money, but had the promise of a note of $900 from Camp & Randall, payable in four months, and that he would give that to Moul to get discounted and use the money. The latter answered that he did not want the note, but that Hunter should get it discounted and give hi in the money. To this Hunter replied he was a stranger and could not get it discounted; but that Moul should take the note and get it discounted, and he (Hunter) would stand for it and see it was paid. Moul assented to this. The note was made payable to him and sent to him. It was not indorsed by Hunter. Moul had it discounted at bank and received the proceeds. When it matured it was protested for non-payment and taken up by the defendant in error. In lieu thereof and soon thereafter, he took from Camp & Randall their two drafts of $150 each, payable at twenty and thirty days respectively, and wrote Hunter informing him of the fact, but received no answer. The draft first falling due was paid at maturity; the other was protested for non-payment, and Moul wrote Hunter informing him thereof. This draft remained in the hands of the defendant in error. Treating it as no payment he seeks to recover of the plaintiff in error, on the original account, a sum equal to the amount of the draft.

The contention is whether the circumstances under which the defendant in error took the note, or his subsequent action in relation thereto, compelled him to apply it as a payment on the account against the plaintiff in error. T here was no express agreement to accept the note as payment,.nor to give time for the payment of the account.

The referee found the note was not taken by the defendant in error as absolute payment of so much of the indebtedness of the plaintiff in error, and technically not as collateral security therefor; but inasmuch as paper so held has-been called collateral by the courts, he treats it as such. He further found the defendant was guilty of no negligence in failing to collect the note, and that he did not so convert it to his own use as to bar his right to recover of the plaintiff in error.

■ The mere acceptance, from a debtor, of his own note or the note of a third person, in case of an antecedent indebtedness, is not a payment of the indebtedness. In the absence of a special agreement it must be considered as a conditional payment or as collateral security. The debtor continues liable for his own debt in the event of a failure of payment of the note thus given or transferred: Leas v. James, 10 S. & R. 307; McGinn v. Holmes, 2 Watts 121; Weakly v. Bell, 9 Id. 273; McIntyre v. Kennedy, 5 Casey 448; Brown v. Scott, 1 P. F. Smith 357; League v. Waring & Co., 4 Norris 244.

When the transfer of a note is a conditional payment, it is necessary to inquire what the true condition was, and if not fulfilled by the person accepting it, what injury, if any, has resulted from the breach.

The cases are not in harmony as to the effect of a failure to present the note of the third person and give notice of its dishonor, when no injury therefrom has resulted to the debtor. We shall not attempt to review them, but refer to some which we think correctly rule this case. Great regard must be had to the character of the transaction. If the debtor indorse the note a more stringent rule prevails as to notice than if he transfer it by delivery only. When the guaranty is absolute that a specific act shall be done by another, it was said, in Vinal v. Richardson, 13 Allen 521, demand and notice need not be averred, although the want of them may be a defense on the ground of negligence to the extent of the resulting injury. One who has merely guaranteed it, but whose name is not on the bill or note, is not in general entitled to notice of non-payment: Chitty on Bills 498. So, on page 441, it is further said, “In general, if the bill or note be given as collateral security, and the party delivering it were no party to it, either by indorsing or transferring it by delivery when payable to bearer, but merely caused it to be drawn or indorsed or delivered over by a third person as a security, or has merely guaranteed the payment, it has been considered that he is not, within the custom of merchants, an indorser or party to it, so as to be absolutely entitled to strict regular notice, nor discharged from his liability by the neglect of the holder to give him such notice, 'unless he can show by express evidence, or by inference, that he has actually sustained loss or damage by the omission.” The reason is, when a person delivers over a bill to another without indorsing it, he does not subject himself to the obligation of the law merchant, and cannot be sued on the bill; as he does not subject himself to the obligation he is not entitled to the advantages. If he can prove he has sustained damages, then lie is discharged only to the extent of 'such actual damages: Id. The guarantor of a note does not stand in the same situation as parties to it; his obligation ’s in the nature of an insurance of the debt, and there is no need of the same proof to charge him as if he were an indorser. The necessity of demand in order to charge the indorser of a bill is solely founded on the custom of merchants, and applies only to actions against the indorser on the bill itself; it does not apply when the guarantor is not an indorser: Gibbs v. Gannon, 9 S. & R. 201; Overton v. Tracey, 14 Id. 311; McLughn v. Bovard, 4 Watts 308. The law is clearly stated in 2 Parsons on Bills 184, wliere it said if paper be transferred by delivery only as security for a pre-existing debt, and it is dishonored while in the hands of the transferee, it affects in no way the debt it was intended to secure. The original liability remains what it was, and upon dishonor of the paper it is not even necessary to give him notice thereof as an indorser; but the debtor may show in defense any injury he has sustained by the actual laches of the creditor. Nor docs the fact that the collaterals were exchanged for other securities which were ultimately found worthless, change the liability, unless it is further shown that a loss resulted to the owner of the collaterals by reason of such exchange: Girard Fire and Marine Ins. Co. v. Marr, 10 Weight 504.

The name of the plaintiff in error was neither in nor on the note; it was not payable to bearer; he was in no sense a party to it. With a view that the proceeds, when paid, should dis charge an amount of his indebtedness equal thereto, lie caused it to be made payable to his creditor and put it into his hands, through no fault of that creditor it was not paid. It is not shown that it could at any time have been collected of the makers. The acceptance from the makers of their two drafts was no payment, but did result in the payment of one-half the amount. Having sustained no loss or damage by any act of his creditor, the plaintiff in error has no just cause of complaint at being still held liable for his indebtedness. The creditor was not obliged to give up the unpaid draft beforfe bringing this suit. It is not shown to be of any value; but if valuable, he has a right to retain all the securities in his hands until he obtains satisfaction of the debt due him.

Judgment affirmed.