Jones v. Hawkins

| Ind. | Feb 5, 1861

Perkins, J.

Hawkins filed a complaint against Jones in three paragraphs. The first alleged that on December 11, 1857, the defendant, William O. Jones, executed a written promise to pay Ilenry Simpson, annually, the interest on one thousand dollars ; and that Simpson assigned the promise to the plaintiff, Hawkins. This paragraph did not make the writing, or a copy of it, a part thereof by words in the formal part of the paragraph; but, at the dose of the complaint, a copy of a writing, such as described in the paragraph, was given, preceded by an explanatory remark, referring back to the paragraph as being founded on the writing copied. .

The second paragraph was for interest on a note in writing, of like tenor with that described in the first paragraph, and was accompanied by a copy of the note. Both of the notes above mentioned were for a period of years, but expressed on their face, “ with interest, payable annually.” The third paragraph was for interest due on promissory, notes, as per bill of particular's filed therewith, but the bill of particulars neither gave copies nor definite descriptions of any notes. .This paragraph was bad lor want of copies, and for uncertainty.. No one of the notes described was payable at a bank. The complaint was not subject to any demurrer on account of any of the objections which were raised to it, as to the first and second paragraphs; and as no evidence was given on the third, the defendant was not injured by it. The defendant answered in three paragraphs.

1. General denial.

2. That the plaintiff held the notes as collateral security, only, and for a liability which had not matured; and that he received them for the security of himself and one Stout.

This answer was bad, because the holder of a claim as collateral security may sue on it and hold the money, when collected, in place of the note or other evidence of the debt. The debtor is not harmed. His payment of it, when due, to the then lawful holder, discharges him from the debt.

The answer was bad as to the interest of Stout, because it did not aver that his interest existed at the time of the suit; tine prima facie case was with the plaintiff on the complaint, ánd copies of notes filed. The Court, however, held the answers good, and the plaintiff took issue of fact upon them.

3. The defendant Jones answered by way of set-off, that he, before he had any notice of the assignment of the notes by Simpson, the payee, to IlawJdns, the plaintiff, became the owner, by assignment from tíre Bank of Gonnersmlle, of a promissory note for $2,000, made by said Ilenry Simpson; and he averred that said note was assigned to him by the bank, by an indorsement on the back thereof by the cashier of the bank.

An issue of fact was formed on this paragraph. The cause was tried by a jury, and the plaintiff recovered.

The point is made in this Court, that the third paragraph of the answer above set forth is bad, because it does not aver that the indorsement on the note was signed by the president and cashier of the bank.

The bank named is one created under the free banking law of Indiana. That law declares (§ 23) that “contracts made by such association, (bank,) and all bills and notes by them issued and put in circulation as money, shall be signed by the president or vice president, and cashier thereof.”

It is said that the indorsement of a note is a contract, and therefore must be signed by the president or vice president, and cashier.

We are satisfied that this is not a correct interpretation of the clause of the section of the act quoted. The word contract is there used in a limited, not in its broad sense. This is manifest from the fact, that in its broad sense it includes bills and notes to be circulated as money; hence the naming of those contracts in the act was tautology, if the Legislature understood that they had used the word contract in its broadest sense.

Again; the act says, bills and notes to be circulated as money shall be signed by the president and cashier; plainly implying that bills and notes not to be thus circulated may be executed in a different mode. The act thus construed, will regulate the business of free banks according to the usages and customs of banks generally. With them, notes issued to circulate as money are signed by the president and cashier; others by the cashier alone; but we will not elaborate this point, as it will be fully illustrated in Allison v. Hubbell, post, p. 559.

On the question of the ownership of the notes sued on by the plaintiff, the defendant had the advantage, on the trial, of a bad answer, over which, nevertheless, the jury found against him; and, upon the evidence, we should be slow in disturbing the judgment below, on this point.

The remaining questions arise upon the note answered as a set-off, and upon instructions, &c. The facts touching the question of the set-off, are these:

On December 11, 1857, William, G. Jones executed to Henry Simpson two notes, not governed by the law merchant, for $2,000. On February 26, 1858, Henry Simpson delivered those two notes to Amos R. Edwards, as collateral security for $1,604.23. On March 12, 1858, Edwards notified Jones that he held said two notes as collateral security for the above named sum.

Now what were the interests of these parties in the notes? Wliy Jones the maker, owed on them, $1,604 to Edwards, and $396 to Simpson, and had a right, under our statute allowing equitable set-offs, to thus apply claims against those individuals, severally, to those respective amounts.

On and after March 12, 1858, then, Jones had a right to procure and apply a set-off against Simpson on said notes to the amount of $396, with the chance of applying a set-off to the full amount of the notes if they were redeemed by Simpson.

On March 20,1858, Jones did obtain a set-off, being the note set up in the answer as against Simpson, to the amount of $2,000. On May 18, 1858, Simpson redeemed the notes in question, from Edwards, and they were redelivered to him.

Here, then, if no other interest intervened, Jones’ entire set-off would remain as against the notes he had given to Simpson ; but, under any circumstances, his set-off to the amount of $396 might hold good.

On March 10, 1858, Ilawleins bought the notes on Jones of Simpson, and while they were yet in the hands of Edwards; but they were not delivered to him till after Simpson had redeemed them on May 18, 1858, and it, is not clear, from the evidence, that the property in them passed till then, and Jones was not notified of Hawkins’’ purchase till December 30, 1858.

J. G. McIntosh and B. F. Claypool, for the. appellant. N. Trusler, G. Trusler and J. W. Wilson, for the appellee.

Under any aspect, this case presents, then, Jones was entitled to a set-off to the amount claimed by the plaintiff in this suit, it being less than $396. What we have thus said upon the tacts, will meet all the questions upon instructions, &c., necessary to be noticed.

Per Guriam- — The judgment is reversed, with costs. Cause remanded, &c.