Sather v. Rogers

10 Iowa 231 | Iowa | 1859

Weight, C. J.

Appellees concede that notice of the dishonor was necessary in order to bind tbe indorser. Th;y claim that the notary’s certificate was prima facie evidence of such notice, as well as tbe presentment for payment. And for this position they rely upon section 2414 of tbe Code, which provides that, “the usual protest by a notary public, without proof of his signature or notarial seal, is evidence of the dishonor and notice of a bill of exchange or promissory note.”

The argument is that the usual protest of a notary, does not include the element of notice, but only of the presentation of the paper for acceptance or payment, and that it is such a protest, which our law makes evidence of notice to the indorser, as well as the presentation. We do not so understand this section.

The object of the statute was to make the certificate of the notary evidence without proof of his signature or seal. It is only evidence however of the matter therein stated. To make it evidence of what is not stated, and of that which is by no means implied from what is stated, would be an anomaly in legislation and the law of evidence. If the certificate should state that notice had been given, it would be competent evidence to prove the fact. And while it may be admitted that the ordinary form of protest, extends only to the fact of presentation, it is nevertheless true that in this country, it is usual for the notary to give notice of the dishonor, and to embody that fact in proper form, in his certificate. It was in view of tbis custom, and not alone of the limited signification of the word protest, that the language quoted was used in the statute.

The statute makes the protest evidence just as the certificates of certain officers touching certain matters in their offices, or the duplicate receipt of the receiver of a land office, are by the same statute made evidence. In each case, however, it must be understood that the certificate, duplicate or protest is only prima facie evidence of the facts contained therein. Presentment for payment and notice of the dishon- or are distinct acts, by no means necessarily performed by the same person, and the certificate that the one had been done, can not include proof of the other.

Judgment reversed.