Lyndon Savings Bank v. International Co.

78 Vt. 169 | Vt. | 1905

Tyler, J.

The note in controversy is described in the opinion in this case, reported in 75 Vt. 224, 54 Atl. 191. At the first trial in the county court a verdict was directed for the defendants, which action this Court held was error, reversed the judgment and remanded the case for a new trial. We then held that:

“What relation Miller and Prouty assumed to’ the note by placing their names upon it was a question of fact, and not of law. If they became joint makers, no demand was necessary and this action was properly brought against them. If they were indorsers, it could not be held, as matter of law, that they waived demand and notice by placing their names under the name of Folsom, who, when the note was executed, signed it as indorser, waiving demand and notice; and if there was an agreement or understanding between the parties that the time of payment should, in consideration of their signing the note, be forborne, there being no time of forbearance specified, it would mean, in law, a reasonable time. What constituted a reasonable time, in the circumstances, was a question of fact for the jury, and as against Miller and Prouty, the Statute of Limitations would begin to run at the expiration of such reasonable time.” Quoting further from that opinion:

“And it has generally been held by this Court that one not before a party to the note, who signs his name upon the back of it, in blank, is prima facie a maker, and assumes the same obligations as if he wrote his name upon the face of the instrument. In Sylvester v. Downer, 20 Vt. 355, 49 Am. Dec. 786, the rule was extended and emphasized, for it is there declared that it makes no difference that the signing is long after the making of the note and while it is in circulation, for the reason, as stated by Judge Redfield, that if the signer consents to be thus bound,- and induces others .to take the note under that expectation, he will be estopped to deny that fact and will be treated the same as if he had signed the note at its inception. It was, however, held in that case, that the indorsement being in blank, the real obligation intended to be assumed — whether that of maker, guarantor or indorser— might be shown by parol evidence. In Bank v. Dorset Marble Co., 61 Vt. 106, 17 Atl. 42, this rule was recognized and reaffirmed.”

At the last trial the jury found by special verdicts submitted to them, that Miller and Prouty, by placing their names upon the note, became joint makers thereof; that an agreement was made December 19, 1893, between the plaintiff and the International Company for an extension of the time of payment,. but for no definite time, and that a reasonable time to delay its collection was: “Until the plaintiff was dissatisfied with the security.” Another special finding was: “Until payment was demanded o-r offered.” There were special findings that the International Company turned over to a committee all its assets to be divided pro rata among its creditors, that the committee paid over the dividends, and that the Company was not discharged from further liability.

The defendants, Miller and Prouty, objected and were allowed an exception to the submission to the jury of the question whether they signed the note as joint makers, and they claimed that there was no> evidence that they were joint makers; they also excepted to the submission to the jury to find whether there was an extension of the time of payment of the note, and claimed that there was no evidence to sustain that finding.

The defendants contend that this action was barred by the Statute of Limitations; that no new promise or acknowledgment was shown, and that the note had not matured when the action was commenced.

The case shows that no agreement was made at the time the money was loaned and the note was given that either Miller or Prouty should ever become parties to the note, and it appears that neither of them received any security or indemnity for placing their names upon the back of it. Down to that time thp note had remained as it was when made by the International Company, with Folsom as- indorser. The plaintiff seeks to hold Miller and Prouty liable by reason of their placing their names upon the note and claims that they thereby became makers. The defendants claim that they became indorsers or guarantors. The general rule of law is found in the opinion of Redfield, J., in Sylvester v. Downer, (supra) “that he who writes his name'upon the back of a note, if he were not before a party to- it, assumes the same obligation as if he wrote his name upon the face of the instrument; and that, although he does this long after the making of the note, it shall make no difference.” But the question of Miller and Prouty’s liability is not to be determined by this rule of law, but by the agreement made between themselves and L. B. Harris, who' went to see them and make an arrangement about the payment or an extension of the note.

It appeared that the note was overdue, that Folsom had been adjudged insolvent, that the plaintiff employed Harris to go to Newport and call upon Miller and Prouty “to do something about the note,” and that as a result of-the interview they wrote their names upon the instrument. The exceptions state that the evidence was very conflicting as to what was said between them, and it so appears by the record; but it is not the duty of this Court to reconcile the evidence. As there was evidence tending to show that Miller and Prouty signed the note as makers, the submission of that question to the jury was not error. The - weight that should be given to1 the testimony of the witnesses who testified upon this subject was a matter that rested with the jury. The testimony of Harris tended to show that after Folsom became insolvent the plaintiff sent him to' see Miller and Prouty about the note; that he saw them at Newport and informed them that he came as a messenger from the plaintiff to collect the note, if collection could be made, and if not, to ascertain their wishes or obtain instruction about proving this, and another note which the plaintiff held, against Folsom’s estate; that he told them’ that Folsom had said that they — the Proutys and Miller — were, practically, the Company; that if they would fix the note so it would be lawful, and safe in the judgment of the bank, it could run as long as they kept the interest paid and the bank considered the security good; that Miller and Prouty both said that the estate of Folsom should not be charged with the loan and that they would do anything that he, Harris, or the plaintiff required in respect to fixing the note so as to make it all right without Folsom’s name, that they would put their names upon the note, and that they did SO' after Harris had taken a little time to make inquiry as to their financial responsibility and expressed his willingness to accept their names. This evidence brings the case within the rulé in Sylvester v. Downer. Miller, Prouty and Folsom disputed the testimony of Harris, but it was for the jury to decide as to> the weight of evidence, and this Court cannot disturb' the verdict.

Upon the testimony of Harris the jury were warranted in finding that an agreement was made between the plaintiff and said Company for an extension of the time of payment, which was a sufficient consideration for Miller’s and Prouty’s acts in view of their interest in the Company. It is- held that, “Consideration does not necessarily depend upon whether the thing promised results in a benefit to the-promisee, or a detriment to the promisor. It is enough that something is promised, or the exercise of a present right is forborne.” Ballard v. Burton, 64 Vt. 387, 24 Atl. 769, and cases cited in the opinion.

The defendants contend that, upon the testimony of Harris, the alleged agreement made by him with Miller and Prouty was not operative until accepted by the plaintiff and approved by the Inspector of Finance. It may be presumed that Harris returned the note to the bank and that the bank officers were satisfied with the names upon it that Harris had obtained, for they continued to hold it for years thereafter without objection by them and apparently with the approval of the state .official. They also received the interest upon it semi-annually down to July, 1898. Miller and Prouty might well have understood that the note had been accepted; that Miller did so understand it is shown by his note to the plaintiff written nearly five years later in which he said, “you have good backers on your note,” which words must have referred to Mr. Prouty and himself.

The defendants also contend that the. case shows no authority in Miller conferred upon him by the International Company to make the agreement through Harris with the plaintiff. It is true that no vote of the Company was produced by the plaintiff showing that such authority was given Miller, but it appeared from defendant Miller’s testimony that he was the general manager of the Company at the time he signed his name to the note; that he held that position from 1886 until the fall of 1898, when all the assets of the Company were placed in the hands of a committee, converted into money and the proceeds distributed pro rata among the cmditors, the plaintiff reserving the right to proceed against the indorsers upon its note.

It is unnecessary to- hold as an abstract legal proposition that, as general manager of the corporation, Miller had power to borrow money to- meet corporate debts in due course of business. He testified that he had charge of the funds of the Company as general manager, and that it was his duty to pay a note when it came due, “or to look out for it.” He evidently understood that he and Prouty fiad authority to sign this note, and the record shows no dissent by the other directors to his agreement for an extension; neither is there any evidence in the case that tends to contradict his testimony.

But assuming that Miller and Prouty had no authority to make the agreement, they and the Company received the benefit of the forbearance, and the Company ratified it by paying the interest upon the note for five years after the agreement was made. That the defendants were estopped from denying Miller and Prouty’s authority was held in the former decision. Grand Isle v. Kinney, 70 Vt. 381, 41 Atl. 130; is an authority upon this point.

It was said in the former opinion that it could not be held as a matter of law that the vote taken by the plaintiff, and its receipts of dividends from the committee of the International Company, discharged the Company. The proposition of the Company to' its creditors was that they should accept, pro rata, such amounts as should be received from the Company’s assets in .settlement of their respective claims. The plaintiff, by its resolution, assented to the proposition that the property be sold and the proceeds be divided among the creditors, with a reservation of the right to collect its debt from the indorsers of the note, and the Company, through its committee, acted upon this acceptance and subsequently paid dividends to the plaintiff with the other creditors. That the plaintiff should receive its dividends, reserving the right to collect the remainder of its debt from Miller and Prouty, whom the jury have found were joint makers of the note, was a matter 'of contract between the International Company, through its committee, and the plaintiff. Miller and Prouty were evidently regarded by the plaintiff as responsible, and it is not presumable that it would have released them upon receiving what could be got from the Company’s assets, which Miller had said in hjs notice to the creditors were insufficient to pay the debts in full. It is noticeable that the plaintiff’s resolution omitted the Word “settlement” which the committee’s offer contained. There was no- error in the refusal of the court to set aside the ninth special finding.

It is competent for the makers of a promissory note to stipulate therein that they will waive the Statute of Limitations. Trust Co. v. Sheldon et al., 68 Vt. 259, 35 Atl. 177. The plaintiff contends that, as the jury have found that Miller and Prouty signed this note as joint makers, they became subject to the clause, “and agree to- waive all right or claim to the Statute of Limitations.” But it is unnecessary to decide this question, for the jury found that an agreement was made for an extension of the time of payment of the note; that no definite time was agreed upon, but that a reasonable time for such delay was, until the plaintiff was dissatisfied with the security — until payment was demanded or offered.

It cannot be maintained that these findings made this instrument a demand note in the ordinary legal meaning of the term, “payable on demand.” The jury in effect found that a right of action did not accrue upon the note until the plaintiff was dissatisfied with the security and made an actual demand of payment, and this was the agreement according to Harris’ testimony. Stanton v. Stanton, 37 Vt. 411; Thrall v. Mead, 40 Vt. 540; Smith v. Franklin, 61 Vt. 385; Ins. Co. v. Batchelder & Son, 62 Vt. 148, 19 Atl. 982. The case shows that demand of payment was made of defendants Miller and Prouty on February 5 and February 19, 1901, and that the suit was brought March 7, 1901. The failure of the International Company in 1898 and the non-payment of interest after that were sufficient causes for the plaintiff’s dissatisfaction with the security.

The finding of the jury, that an extension of time of payment was agreed upon by the parties, is inconsistent with the defendants’ contention that the other finding should be construed to mean that the note was payable immediately after the agreement was made. According to the testimony of Harris the note was to run along indefinitely, if the interest was kept paid, the only limitation being the time when the plaintiff should become dissatisfied with the security and call for payment. When demand was made the plaintiff’s cause of action accrued against Miller and Prouty. This answers the defendants’ suggestion in the brief of counsel that the agreement was in violation of V. S. 4099, which provides that a savings bank shall not make a contract or agreement to loan or to extend the time of payment of a loan, on personal security, for a longer time than one year.

Upon the special findings judgment should have been rendered against both Miller and Prouty; therefore the judgment for defendant Prouty is reversed; the judgment against the International Company and Miller is reversed, pro forma, and judgment is rendered for the plaintiff against the three defendants, with costs.