4 Ala. 88 | Ala. | 1842
The demurrer was properly sustained to the second plea. The interpretation put on it by the counsel for the plaintiff in error, that if the bill had been presented to any one of the partners, as they all knew the state of accounts between the parties, it would have been accepted, may have been the view of the pleader, but at least the plea admits of the construction that the bill would have been accepted if presented to one of the partners, who knew the state of the accounts. The established rule is to construe the plea most strongly against the pleader, and under the influence of this principle the demurrer was properly sustained.
The case of Jones v. Falls, [4 Mass. 252,] where it was held that an instrument payable in “ foreign bills,” was not a bill of exchange, does not affect the question here. The Court considered that the import of the words foreign bills was not cash, but something differing in value from it. In this case we understand New York current funds to be cash, or at least something precisely equivalent to gold or silver.
This bill was drawn on the 12th February, 1S40, at eight months. There was not therefore any obligation to present it for acceptance at all, though it might be presented fór that purpose as late as the day before it fell due. It appears from the protest that it was presented on the 23d June, 1S40. It is objected that it does not appear that it was so presented, or on what day it was presented. The notary states that he received it on the 23d June, 1S40; he afterwards proceeds to state that he presented it for acceptance, which was refused, and
The remaining objections are all well taken; they are, that the presentment was to “ an agent,” without stating to whom, and without proof of the agency, and that it was not proved that notice of the protest was sent to the proper post office.
The first objection is fully sustained by the cases cited from 1 Porter’s Rep. 263, and 1 Ala. Rep. 327; and the last by the case of the Decatur Bank v. Pierce, 3 Ala. Rep. 321; and Foard v. Johnson, 2 Ala. Rep. 565.
For these errors the judgment must be reversed and the cause remanded.