13 Ala. 390 | Ala. | 1848
Prima facie, the holder of a bill is presumed to have acquired, it for a valuable consideration, and is not bound to show that he has paid any thing for it, until the other party has established the want, or failure, or illegality of the consideration, or that the bill had been lost or stolen before it came to the possession of the holder. When this has been done, it may be incumbent upon him to show, that he has given value ; for under such circumstances, he ought not to be placed in a better situation than the antecedent parties, through whom he obtained the bill. Story on Bills, <§> 193. Every person, says the same learned author, is treated as a bona fide holder for value, who has advanced money or other property upon it, or who has received it in payment of a precedent debt, or has a lien on it, or h^is taken it as collateral security for a precedent debt, or for future as well as past advances. Thus, a banker, who is accustomed to make
In the Bank of Mobile, et al. v. Hall, 6 Ala. Rep. 639, it was held that a negotiable note received before its maturity in payment of a pre-existing debt, is negotiated in the usual course of trade, and the previous parties to the paper cannot avail themselves of a defence against the holder, of which he had no notice. But where the transfer is made as an indemnity against future loss on an existing suretyship, the transaction is not in the usual course of trade, so as to preclude the maker from interposing such a defence.
If, however, the holder of a negotiable instrument, at the time he acquired it, knew that circumstances existed which rendered it improper that payment should be enforced, he will not acquire any better interest in the same than the party had, who transferred it to him. A person, therefore, who receives a bill with notice that it is to be negotiated only upon certain terms, or for a particular purpose, holds the bill subject to such terms. Chitty on Bills, 264, 9th Am. ed.
In Wardell v. Howell, 9 Wend. Rep. 170, it was held that receiving the transfer of a note as collateral security for the payment of a pre-existing debt, is not taking it in the ordinary course of trade, and for a valuable consideration, as between' the creditor and an accommodation indorser: consequently, a note indorsed for the accommodation of the maker, delivered to him to be used in renewal of a former note about to fall due at a bank, transferred by the maker as collateral security for the payment of another debt owing by him, cannot be enforced against the indorser by the creditor to whom such transfer is made. It was also decided, that, where a note has effected the substantial purpose for which it was designed by the parties,' an accommodation indorser cannot object that it was not effected in the precise manner content-
When a bill has once been paid by the acceptor, after its maturity, it loses all vitality, and is no longer negotiable; but if paid before it becomes due, and the fact of payment be unknown to a holder, who acquires it in the due course of trade, it will bo a valid security in his hands. Story on Bills, § 223; Chitty on Bills, 9 Am. ed. 248, 249, and notes; Bayley on Bills, 5 ed. 165, 166; Smith’s Mer. Law by H. & G. 222 to 224, and citations in notes; Wallace v. The Br. Bank at Mobile, 1 Ala. Rep. 565.
The principles we have stated are decisive of the questions arising on the second, third, and fifth pleas, and the ruling of the circuit court on the four first prayers for instruction, except so far as the question of usury may be embraced by the qualification which followed the first, second, and third charges; and they clearly show that there is no error thus far, of which the defendant can complain, unless it be in the exception stated — a point which we will hereafter consider.
The acceptor of a bill is primarily liable for its payment, and the act of indorsing is equivalent to drawing a new bill; every indorser thereby separately undertakes, as well as the drawer, that the drawee shall honor the bill, and the holder may consequently resort to him, without calling on any of the other parties. It is the business of the indorser, as soon as he has received notice himself, to forward the like notice to the drawer, and all persons to whom he means to resort. In general, it is advisable for the holder to give notice to every party as he can ascertain his residence; for otherwise he will be without remedy against him, unless some other party to the bill has given him notice, in which case such notice may enure to his use. Whitman and Hubbard v. The Chattahooche Bank, 8 Port. Rep. 258; Chitty on Bills, 369, 530, (9th Am. ed.) and notes. Thus we see that it is immaterial in this action against the second indorser, whether the drawer
We do not perceive any objection to the notice of the dishonor of the bill, -which the notary who protested it transmitted to the defendant. The notice states the date of the protest, the amount of the bill, the names of the drawer, acceptors, and indorsers, in consecutive order. The only other requisites to a perfect description of the bill are, its date and time of payment, and these are not indispensable to inform the drawer or indorser what particular paper has been dishonored ; the notice furnishes other and satisfactory criteria for its identification. It does not appear that the defendant had indorsed more than one bill for the same amount, and between the same parties, maturing about the date of the protest, so that if proof of these facts could impair the effect of the notice, in the absence of such evidence it is quite sufficient. See Moorman v. The State Bank, 3 Port. Rep. 353. The written notice being produced, it was the province of the court to determine its meaning, and to say whether, upon its face, it was sufficient. There is no fact for the decision of the jury arising upon such a paper — its interpretation upon well established principle is referable to the judge. Mills v. The Bank of the U. S. 11 Wheat. Rep. 431; The Bank of the U. S. v. Carneal, 2 Pet. Rep. 552; The Bank of Alexandria v. Swann, 9 Id. 33; Musson v. Lake, 4 How. U. S. Rep. 282, op. of Woodberry, J.; Gilbert v. Dennis, 3 Metc. Rep. 495; Cowles v. Harts, Johnson & Co. 3 Conn. Rep. 516; Ransom v. Mack, 2 Hill’s N. Y. Rep. 587; Meirs v. Brown, 11 Excheq. Rep. 372; 2 Kent’s Com. 2d ed. 108; Higgins v. Morrison’s Ex’r. 4 Dana’s Rep, 105; Chit. on Bills, 9th Am. ed. 501-2; Stockman v. Parr, 11 Mees. & Welsb. Rep. 809; Strange v. Price, 10 Adol. & Ellis’ Rep. 125; Hartley v. Case, 4 Barn. & C. Rep. 339; S. C. 1 Bing. New Cases, 194; Bank of Cape Fear v. Seawell, 2 Hawks’ Rep. 560; Story on Bills, § 390. According to the English decisions, no form of words is necessary to be used in giving notice of the dishonor of a bill of exchange, but the language employed must be such as to convey notice to the par
The rule adopted in the American courts is said to be far more liberal than that generally maintained in the English courts, and proceeds upon the ground that it is sufficient to state in the notice, that the bill or note has not been paid, and either expressly or by implication, that the holder looks to the indorser for reimbursement or indemnity. If, however, there be no statement of the dishonor of the paper, nor any thing from which it can fairly be implied, that a due presentment has been made, the notice would seem to be fatally defective. Story on Prom. Notes, <§> 354.
In addition to the description of the bill, the notice in question states, that the bill was protested by the notary for non-payment, on the day of its date, and that the holder looks to the responsibility of the defendant. It is not essential to a notice that it should affirm, that the bill was duly presented for payment, and that payment was refused. This is intended from the recital of the fact, that the bill was protested for non-payment. If the protest was irregular, or made without a due presentment, it
We proceed now to consider, whether the fact that the defendant’s indorsement was made on Sunday, will' avail as a defence to the action. By a statute passed in 1803, it is enacted, that “ no wordly business or employment, ordinary or servile work, (works of necessity or charity excepted,) &c. shall, be done, performed, or practised by any person or persons within this state, on the Christian Sabbath, or first day of the week, commonly called Sunday; and every person being of the age of fourteen years, or upwards, offending in the premises, shall for every such offence forfeit and pay the sum of two dollars,” &c. Clay’s Dig. 592, § 1.
In New Hampshire there is a similar statute, which prohibits every person from performing “ any labor, business or work of their secular callings, works of necessity and mercy only excepted,” &c. Under this enactment it seems to be conceded, that all secular contracts made on the Sabbath are void, yet it has been held, that where a note was written and signed on Sunday, but not delivered to the payee, the contract was not completed — delivery being essential to make it operative. Clough v. Davis, 9 N. Hamp. Rep. 500. So the mere indorsement of a note or bill for the benefit of the maker or acceptor, does not become a contract binding upon the indorser until the maker or indorser has negotiated it. Sauerwein v. Brunner, 1 H. & G. Rep. 477.
The statute of 29 Car. 2, c. 7, § 1, prohibits every person from doing or exercising “ any worldly labor, business, or work of their ordinary callings upon the Lord’s day ;” and under its provisions it has been held, that an indorsee may recover against the acceptor of a bill dated on a Sunday, when there is no evidence that the bill was excepted on that day. The court said, “ it does not appear that any contract was completed on the Sunday, which the defendant was not competent to enter into, notwithstanding the statute ; nor, assuming that there was, is it competent to the defendant who has been guilty of a breach of the law, to set up his
' It is laid down by elementary writers, as well as in the adjudged cases, that a bona fide holder for value, without notice, is entitled to recover upon any negotiable instrument, which he has received before its maturity, notwithstanding any defect or infirmity in the title of the person from whom he derived it; although such person may have acquired if by fraud, or even by theft or robbery. The same doctrine is in general applicable to one thus becoming the holder of negotiable paper, where the note or bill, or the indorsement thereof, is founded on an illegal consideration. The law upon this point is founded in public policy, and there is no distinction between a case of illegality, where the consideration is tainted with moral crime, which is malum in se, or where it violates the positive prohibition of a statute, which is malum prohibitum; for in each case the innocent holder may be otherwise exposed to the most ruinous consequences, and the circulation of negotiable instruments would be materially obstructed, if not altogether stopped. The only exception is, where the statute creating the prohibition has, at the same time, either expressly or by necessary implication, made' the instrument absolutely void in the hands of every holder, whether he has notice of the illegality or not. There are few cases in which any statute has created a positive nullity of such instruments. The most important seems to be the statutes against gaming and usury. Neither is it any defence, that the note or bill was known to the holder to have been made, drawn or endorsed for accommodation, as between the other parties, if he takes it bona fide, for value, before it becomes due. The reason is, that the object of accommodation paper is to enable the parties thereto, by a sale, or negotiation thereof, to obtain for it a free credit and circulation ; and this object would be frustrated, unless the purchaser or other holder for value could hold such paper by as valid a title, as if it were founded in a real business transaction. In fact the parties to every accommodation note or bill, hold themselves out to the world, by their signatures, to be absolutely bound to every person who shall take the sama
Chitty, in his Treatise on Bills, says, that unless the legislature has expressly declared that the illegality of the contract or consideration, shall make the security, whether bill or note, void, illegality of consideration will be no defence in an action at the suit of a bona fide holder, without notice of the illegality, unless he obtained the bill after it became due. Thus in an action by the indorsee against the maker of a prpmissory note, the defence insisted on was, that the note had been given for hits against the defendant in a lottery insurance. Lord Kenyon observed, that the innocent indorsee \ of a gaming note, or note given on an usurious contract, could not recover, but that in no other case could the innocent indorsee be deprived of his remedy on the note; and . that a contrary determination would shake paper credit to/ the foundation. The ground upon which gaming and usury-are made an exception, is, that the statutes declare the securities void; and the law in respect to these, under the influence of commercial policy, has been modified in England, and perhaps some of the States of the Union. Chit, on B. 9th Am. ed. 110 to 117. This distinction has been repeatedly recognized. Thus the statute of 7 Geo. 2, c. 8, makes wagers and contracts in nature of wagers, Spc. void, yet it has been held, that as it does not avoid bills, notes, and securities, but only the contracts, a bill or note on such a contract is valid in the hands of a bona fide indorsee, receiving it without notice, before it was due. Day v. Stuart, 6 Bing. Rep. 109; 2 Man. & R. Rep. 422; Amory v. Merewether, 2 B. & Cresw. Rep. 573; Brown v. Turner, 7 T. Rep. 630; Steers v. Lashley, 6 T. Rep. 61; Aubert v. Maze, 2 Bos. & P. Rep. 374; Story on Bills, § 189, and note 2; 3 Kent’s Com. 4th ed. 79, 80.
We have seen that the act of 1803, inhibits all “worldly business or employment, or servile work, (works of necessity or charity excepted,”) and goes quite beyond the English statute, which applies to the business of one’s “ ordinary calling.” Now the indorsement of a bill, and delivery of it to
It has been repeatedly determined, that a penalty inflicted by statute upon the doing of an act, is equivalent to a prohibition, and a contract relating to it is void. See Shippey and another v. Eastwood, 9 Ala. Rep. 198, 200. Under the influence of this rule, it has been decided that a contract made on a Sunday is void, and a security founded on it, is not recoverable at the suit of a party to the illegal consideration. But as the act does not declare that both the contract and security are void, the authorities clearly indicate that a bona fide indorsee of negotiable paper, founded upon such a contract, who acquires it before maturity, without notice of the illegality, for value, may enforce its payment. See also as to contracts, &c. made on Sunday, Pierce v. Hill, 9 Port. Rep. 151, O’Donnell v. Sweeny, 5 Ala. Rep. 467; Dodson v. Harris, 10 Ala. Rep. 567; Butler v. Lee, 11 Ala. Rep. 885; Styles v. Smith, 12 Wend. Rep. 57; Drury v. DeFontaine, 1 Taunt. Rep. 131; 56 Law Lib. (top page,) 86; Smith v. Sparrow, 4 Bing. Rep. 84; Williams v. Paul, 4 M. & P. Rep. 532; Boynton v. Page, 13 Wend. R. 425; Tracy v. Jenks, 15 Pick. Rep. 465; Clap v. Smith, 16 Ib. 250; Lyon v. Strong, 6 Verm. Rep. 219; Fox v. Abel, 2 Conn. Rep. 541; Kepner v. Keefer, 6 Watts Rep. 231; Northup v. Foot, 14 Wend. R. 248; Blaxsome v. Williams, 3 B. & C. Rep. 232; Fennell v. Ridler, 5 B. & C. R. 406; Myers v. The Stale, 1 Conn. Rep. 502; Story on Con., 2d ed 543.
We come now to consider whether the plaintiff is a bona fide indorsee, without notice, for value, so as to preclude the defendant from setting up the defence of illegality in the in
The evidence recited in the bill of exceptions abundantly shows, that the bill declared on was given to the plaintiff in substitution and extension of a bill for the same amount, on which he had previously advanced money at a usurious rate of interest to the acceptor. It does not appear that the original transaction was divested of the taint of usury in the renewal of the bill; but it is clearly inferrable that the plaintiff, in extending the time of payment, charged for the indulgence, interest beyond the legal rate. But however this latter hypothesis may be, it is sufficient that the impurity in th.e inception of the contract, has not been purged, so as to divest the bill of usury. Chit. on Bills, 9th Am. ed. 109; Story on Con. 2d ed. § 601; Wilkes v. Brummer, 2 McC. Rep. 178; Jones v. Jackson, at this term, and citations in opinion.
In Ramsdell and Brown v. Morgan, 16 Wend. Rep. 574, goods fraudulently obtained were deposited with an auctioneer, who made an advance upon them, and charged five per cent, besides the usual commissions: Held, that the transaction was usurious, and for that reason the auctioneer could
Our statute, we have seen, explicitly declares, that all contracts for the loan of money, &c., by which a higher rate of interest than eight per cent, is reserved, as well as the securities founded upon such contracts, “ shall be void and of no effect for the whole interest.” Such contracts and securities are against the declared policy of the state, and in violation of law. True, the statute of 1834 does not visit upon the lender consequences so severe as that of 1819, which declared a forfeiture not only of the interest, but the principal also; and this latter enactment we have seen is still further divested of its harshness by the act of 1845. But under
It is however insisted for the defendant in error, that as usury only avoids the contract and consequent security, to the extent of the interest, it can have no other effect in the present case, than to abate the recovery pro tanto; and to sustain this view, De Wolf v. Johnson, 10 Wheat. 367, has been pressed upon our attention. In that case,, a bill was filed in the federal circuit court of Kentucky, to foreclose a mortgage executed in Rhode Island upon lands situated in the former state, and one of the questions was, whether, as the mortgage was usurious, and the security void as to the interest, according to the statute of Rhode Island, the plaintiff was entitled to a decree for the principal. It was conceded by the court, that chancery would not lend its aid to an illegal or unconscionable bargain — that the law of Rhode Isl- and forbid the contract of loan for a greater interest than six per cent., and so far no court would lend its aid to recover such interest. But as it did not go farther and inhibit the recovery of the principal under any circumstances, the court could not add another to the penalties declared by the law itself, which were the loss of the interest, and a penalty to the amount of the whole interest, and one third of the principal, if sued for within a year. We are unable to perceive the application of this citation to the question we are now considering. There the mortgagor did not resist a decree of foreclosure upon the ground of usury, or for any other cause, but the defence was set up by subsequent incumbrancers. The court might very well (as it did) have disallowed the defence, for the reason that the defence of usury was personal to the borrower; and he being silent, it is difficult to perceive of any reason, either in law or morals, which would forbid a decree in favor of the mortgagee, to the extent of the principal at least. See Young v. Scott, 4 Rand. R. 415; Turpin v. Powell, et al. 8 Leigh’s Rep. 93; Campbell v. Patterson, 11 Leigh’s Rep. 113; Crawford v. Harvey, 1 Blackf. Rep. 382; Taylor v. Smith, 2 Hawks’s Rep. 465; McBrayer v. Roberts, 2 Dev. Eq. Rep. 75.
The question is not whether the defendant could defeat a recovery in toto, upon the ground of usury, for the statute is explicit, and only avoids the contract as it respects the interest ; but it is, whether the holder of negotiable paper, who became such under a usurious contract, is a bona fide proprietor in the usual course of business, so as to exempt the paper in his hands from a defence which would have been available against it, as between the original parties. The statement of this question seems to suggest a ready answer. A usurious contract, as we have seen, is violative of the expressed policy of the state, and although it may not be marked by that deep moral stain which was formerly supposed to attach to it, yet it must be considered as illegal or immoral, if for no other reason, because the law prohibits it. These are propositions which are founded in municipal justice, and to a great extent supported by established principles of ethics —they must command universal assent, and do not require the aid of further argument to illustrate them. See Lloyd v. Scott, 4 Pet. Rep. 224.
The plaintiff then, who has become the indorsee of the bill, by violating the positive provisions of a statute, cannot with any degree of propriety be said to be a bona fide holder in the usual course of trade. An enlightened morality requires a punctillious obedience to the legislation of the country and good faith enjoins an observance of the law in all human transactions. Integrity, in the most extended sense of the term, is the soul of commerce ; and if the usual course of business, in any community, among any class of men, or in any des
It is insisted by the counsel for the defendant in error, that the prayers for instructions were so framed as to require the court to refer to the jury the determination of legal questions, and for this reason, if no other, their refusal may be justified. We think this argument cannot be supported, at least in respect of all, or most of the charges asked. The prayers, as to the effect of the indorsement of the bill on Sunday, and the usurious contract under which the plaintiff acquired it, seem to be sufficiently explicit, without devolving upon the jury the duties of the judge. They distinctly call upon the court to declare the law, without forestalling or extending the inquiries of the jury.
This view answers the question presented by the bill of exceptions, not previously answerd, and shows, that if the plaintiff became the proprietor of the bill upon a usurious loan of money, that he is not a bona fide holder in the regular course of trade; and therefore the defendant is entitled to any defence which would have availed against the plaintiff, if the latter had been informed of such defence before he became the proprietor of the paper. We have seen, that upon the law of the case, the defendant might have successfully resisted a recovery, if the jury credited the proof adduced; and that the ruling of the circuit court denied the validity of the defence. The judgment is consequently reversed, and the cause remanded.