Miller v. McCallen

69 Iowa 681 | Iowa | 1886

Adams, On. J.

1. surety cSargeoi by" timlllsl011 oi The defendant Wagner averred that he signed the note as surety for the defendant McCallen, and plaintiffs extended the time of payment of the note without his consent, and by reason thereof he became released. The court instructed the jury that there was no evidence showing an extension. The facts appear to be that the plaintiffs are proprietors of the Lyon County Bank; that McCallen borrowed money at the bank, and gave the note in question, with Wagner as surety; that some time after the note fell due he went into the bank and paid the accrued interest on the note, and also signed another note, which it was expected Wagner would sign, as a renewal note, and at the same time he paid a certain amount as discount on the renewal note, but the old note was not surrendered, and was not to be surrendered unless Wagner signed the renewal note, which he never did. The plaintiff Miller testified that there was no agreement or conversation in regard to the extension of the note in suit, and we have to say that we see nothing whatever tending to contradict his testimony upon this point. What was done, indeed, was inconsistent with the idea of the extension of the note. What was done was for the purpose of a renewal, which would have been entirely unnecessary if there had been an agreement for an extension of the original note.

The defendant contends that the payment of discount on the renewal note shows an extension of the original note, but it appears to us that he wholly misconceives the situation. Renewal did not take place, and for the reason that the renewal note was not fully executed. If renewal had taken place, the old note, of course, would have been discharged, and Wagner would have had no occasion to plead a release of himself by extension. The payment of discount oil the renewal note was in anticipation that it would be fully executed and accepted in renewal. But it was not fully executed nor accepted, and the discount, as the evidence shows, was applied upon the note in suit.

2. evidence: stonis'not.11" The defendant contends that his own testimony is to be taken as some evidence that there was an extension of thg note in suit. ITis testimony is in' these words: “When this note became due, MeCallen extended it.” But it was not for MeCallen to extend the note. That was something for the plaintiffs to do if it were to be done at all. But, conceding that he meant that MeCallen procured an extension, we cannot regard the statement as anything more than the expression of his opinion, based, probably, upon what we have set out above as done by MeCallen. The testimony of Miller that there was no agreement or conversation in regard to extending this note stands unrebutted. If Wagner had knowledge to the contrary, it was clearly incumbent upon him to rebut Miller by testifying to something as said which would amount to an agreement for an extension.

We think that the court correctly directed a verdict for the plaintiffs.

Affirmed.