Keeler v. Bartine

12 Wend. 110 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1834

By the Court,

Nelson, J.

The effect of entering a nolle prosequi as to the first count, is not so extensive in its bearing upon the rights of the parties as is supposed by the counsel for the plaintiff in error. The only operation of it, is to strike from the record that count and all the issues joined upon it; the residue of the issues remaining to be tried, the same as if no other had been formed. It will not be doubted that the plaintiff was not originally bound to declare as he did in the first count upon the note, and hence the propriety of allowing him to abandon the count, on paying the costs to which his adversary may have been put by means of it. The case of Hughes v. Moore, 7 Cranch, 176, relied on by the counsel for the plaintiff in error, when particularly examined, is not in contradiction to this doctrine, but in confirmation of it. There is an expression used by Chief Justice Marshall, which, as a general proposition, cannot be supported; but is correct, taken in connexion with other parts of the opinion, and should be so regarded, i. e., “ after this discontinuance (which was a nolle prosequi, as to one count,) the parties are in precisely the same situation as if all the issues, both of law and fact, which were joined upon that count, had been decided in favor of the defendant below.” Suppose the count thus discontinued had been upon a note, or other contract, which was competent evidence to sustain the common counts, it is clear that the instrument might be used for that purpose, and a recovery.had Up0n it) notwithstanding the nolle prosequi, as it also might if the count remained; and yet it could not be thus used, if a ver-^cí ^een f°un^ on the count for the defendant. Agreeably to the above proposition, the verdict would be an extin-guishment of it.» The defendant here suffers in no way by the discontinuance; for all the evidence the plaintiff gave on the trial would have been just as competent and available under the count for money paid, if the first count had remained on the pleadings, and not more so. If the count had contained a distinct cause of action, and the issue upon it had been found for the defendant, he would have been entitled to the costs of such issue, though the plaintiff recovered upon the whole record. 2 R. S. 617, § 26. These costs, or all that had accrued, he did obtain, or might have obtained, on the discontinuance.

The defendant was the first endorser, and if liable at all to the plaintiff, who was the second and an accommodation endorser, the count for money paid was the appropriate one under which to charge him.

The testimony in the bill of exceptions is decisive against • the defence set up under the statute of limitations. Soon after the note of $950 reached maturity it was taken up by the last endorsers, Weed & Doremus, and suits were brought upon it, and judgments recovered against each of the prior endorsers, Bartine & Keeler. Bartine, to relieve himself from the judgment, gave two notes, bearing date 2d November, 1820, payable in 6 and 12 months, for $270,54, which notes were paid at maturity. Now there is no pretence for saying that either of the endorsers were at any time discharged from their liabilities growing ouf of their endorsements of the note by lapse of time. Weed & Doremus were obliged to take it up, and they recovered a judgment against Bartine, who could relieve himself from it only by giving his notes and paying them. When could he have avoided this liability by setting up the statute of limitations ? And it is the obligation to pay as endorser, and payment, which entitles him to call upon the defendant Keeler, who stood behind him on the note, and which obligation is collateral to and independent of the principal contract by the makers. There is no foundation for saying that he paid the money in his own wrong. He was obliged to pay it by virtue of his obligation as endorser.

The mutual arrangement between all the parties, by which each individual agreed to pay one fourth of the note, or rather judgment, against Bartine, without recourse, I am of opinion is void as to Bartine, for the want of a consideration to support it. That a consideration is necessary is not denied. The makers of the note, Seaman & Cooper, assumed the payment of one fourth; Keeler did the same, leaving a like sum to Bartine to pay. Now 1 admit, if either of these parties, Seaman & Cooper, or Keeler, were not bound to pay the judgment and indemnify Bartine, the new obligation assumed would constitute a good consideration for the promise of the latter not to call upon them, or either of them, to refund his share. If they were so bound, then the arrangement was but an agreement to pay a part of their own debt, and could afford no consideration for the agreement of Bartine.

It is said that the makers of the note and Keeler were discharged by the release to Seaman & Cooper, executed by the plaintiff, with others, bearing date 14th October, 1820. If it operated to discharge the makers, no doubt it would the en-doi’ser unless his implied assent to such dischai-ge from having signed it himself continued his obligation, for which there are some authorities. I put this case, however, upon the ground, that both upon principle and authority, the makers were not discharged by the release. At the time of the release the note was not due ; it was in the hands of the bank, or other holders who did not execute 'the release. They, therefore, who ever they wei’e, when the note became due, could call upon any of the parties to it. If they called upon the makers and compelled payment, thei’e is no pretence for saying they could have recourse to their own accommodation endorsers, which proves the existence of their liability upon it. If Ihe holders collected the amount from the endorsei's, there would seem to be no hardship in allowing them to have recourse to the makers. Aside from this, it is clear, upon adjudged cases, that the release did not operate to discharge the future contingent liability of the makers to the endorsers; and it must have been upon this ground that Weed & Doremus recovered judgment against Bartine & Keeler; for if such had been its effect, the recovery could not have been had, as Weed & Doremus also signed the deed of release. This objection would have been equally as strong against them as it now is against Bartine. The maker’s liability to the plaintiff, and his right of action, accrued subsequent to the deed of release, and was not a debt or demand, or other obligation, existing at the time within the intent or meaning of that instrument; all the terms of it are fully satisfied, by construing it to operate upon existing liabilities; and without such construction, it is not perceived how a party could come in under the assignment for a dividend, which it expressly contemplates in case of every releasor. To give such an instrument any other construction, without terms more clear and explicit, would frequently be a surprise upon creditors upon whom heavy responsibilities might fall subsequent to the release not within its scope, according to their understanding. The case of Seymour v. Minturn, 17 Johns. R. 169, is very clear and decisive upon this part of the case. See also Margetson v. Aitkins, 3 Carr. & Payn, 338. 17 Johns. R. 58. 2 id. 186. If the makers were not discharged, the defendant of course was not; and the agreement by the makers and Keeler to pay, or the actual payment of a part of the judgment, was but the payment of their own debt, which they cannot set up as a consideration to give validity to the promise of the plaintiff not to have recourse to them for the money he was'obliged to advance.

But it is said Keeler paid a small portion of the costs of the judgment against Bartine, for which he was not legally holden as prior endorser, and that this afforded a sufficient consideration for his promise. The position of the counsel for the plaintiff in error, that his client was not responsible for any part of these costs, I think correct The makers were responsible, because Bartine, as to them, was an accommodation endorser. 4 Taunt. 464. 1 Gow. N. P. 113. 1 Chitty on Bills, Phil, ed. 147, 196, 415. 1 Phillip’s Ev. 47. But as regarded the rights and habilites of the endorsers in relation to one another, there is no difference between this note and one made and put into circulation in the usual course of business. 7 Johns. R. 362. 15 East, 216, 222, (a.) 9 Johns. R. 131. Simpson v. Griffen, 16 id. 154. All of them endorsed for the accommodation of the makers, and stand in that respect upon the same footing, and without any reason for a distinction: and as between a subsequent and prior party on the note, the relation of principal and surety exists in no greater degree than in those cases where it has been determined costs are not payable. But I cannot say from the evidence in the bill of exceptions, that any costs were paid by the defendant below, nor was this ground taken on the trial. It is true he paid one fourth of the judgment, and there is reason for the inference of payment of costs; but a fact so material should not have been left to inference, especially when this position was not taken on the trial. When the plaintiff rested, the counsel for the defendant moved for a nonsuit, on the grounds, 1. That all claim against him was barred by the statute of limitations; 2. The want of demand upon the makers, and notice of non-pay meat; and 3. That the payment of the one fourth of the debt by Bartine was not in law a payment for the use of the defendant. The last exception I admit gives to the party the right to rely here upon the agreement of non recourse ; but he is bound to show clearly and affirmatively, facts sufficient to constitute a valid and binding agreement. So far as reliance is placed upon the payment of the item of costs as a consideration, I am unable to say that fact appears. The sum paid ($270,54) did not amount to the one fourth of the principal and interest due upon the note at the time of the settlement; and there is no evidence of any prior payments, which is enough to repel the inference to be derived from the expression used by the witness of paying one quarter of the judgment.

Some of the cases already referred to are in point to show that the defendant, though an accommodation endorser, (and if it even should be conceded that the makers were insolvent when the note was drawn) can be charged only by regular demand and notice according to mercantile usage. 7 Johns. R. 362. 15 East, 216, 222. (n). Chitty, Phil. ed. 201, 246. 3 Barn. & Ald. 619. 7 Wendell, 169. It has always appeared to me singular that the law should ever have been thought otherwise, as the two circumstances relied on to distinguish this from the ordinary case, to wit, the endorsement for accommodation and insolvency of the maker, would seem to add cogency to the considerations in favor of strict notice of the default. The argument against the necessity of it, can be founded only upon the idea that the endorsers signed under an expectation of paying the note; but the circumstances of the case and form of the obligation repel it. In this case there is no express notice, and the plaintiff puts the case (if required) upon evidence of implied demand and notice, or of a waiver of the same. Weed and Doremus, recovered judgment against the defendant below, after contestation, and as between these parties, or privies, it might be evidence of regular demand and notice, as without proof of demand and notice there could not have been a recovery. Though the plaintiff is not a privy, as the defendant is responsible to him upon a distinct and independent contract, yet the principle has some bearing upon the case, if it is not conclusive. It is clear that a demand and notice by Weed and Doremus will enure to the benefit of the plaintiff, and any evidence tending to establish such demand and notice, is competent and effectual in this case. Chitty, Phil. ed. 228. 18 Johns. R. 327. 5 Cowen, 309. In the eye of the law, the defendant had every opportunity to contest these facts in the suit of Weed and Doremus against him, which he has here ; and proof of them here (i. e. notice of non-payment given by Weed and Doremus) would be decisive against him. Without saying for the present that the recovery of Weed and Doremus against him is conclusive upon the point, it is, we think, at least some evidence of the facts proper for the consideration of a jury. The instrument of the date of 22d December, 1815, signed by Bartine and Keeler, was also some evidence that the latter was duly charged, as it admits his liability as endorser of the note. The agreement to pay one fourth of the demand to Weed and Doremus, is strong evidence of the facts according to all the authorities, and in England would probably be conclusive. Chitty, Phil. ed. 233, 40. 2 Str. 1246. 1 Taunt. 12. 1 Selw. 256. 7 East, 231. 1 Starkie, 217. This court is perhaps more strict in regard to the effect given to the evidence of a promise to pay the note, operating as a waiver of proof of due notice of dishonor, or laying the foundation for the presumption that notice has been given, than many of the cases upon this point in England would seem to require. The cases there are contradictory. Here there must not only be a promise to pay, but it must be with a knowledge of the laches of the holder, Trimble v. Thorn, 16 Johns. R. 152; and to allow part payment to have the effect, like knowledge should be required. The circumstances, however, under which the defendant in this case agreed to pay, and did pay part of the note, were such as to show conclusively that if there was no demand or notice, or any defect in the demand and notic.e, he must have known the fact after the litigation with Weed and Doremus.

Upon the whole after a careful examination of the facts, J cannot resist the conclusion that the judgment in the court below is correct; on the grounds 1. That the statute of limitations has no application to the case; 2, That the deed of release of 14th October, 1814, did not operate to discharge the future contingent liability of the makers of the note to the endorsers, and of course did not discharge the defendant; 3. That the arrangement between the parties of the judgment against Bartine, in which Bartine agreed not to have recourse upon the makers or defendant, was inoperative for want of a consideration: 4. That the evidence was sufficient of due notice to Keeler of the dishonor of the note, or at least sufficient to be submitted to the jury. Nor am I able to perceive any hardship in the case as it regards the defendant, for beyond all question he has his remedy against the makers, and on paying the judgment of the plaintiff, will be entitled to resort to them. Being an accomodation .endorser as to them, he is in every sense their surety; and they most clearly have no ground of complaint on the score of justice. It was their debt.

J udgment affirmed.