1 Stew. 199 | Ala. | 1827
Lead Opinion
delivered the opinion of the Court.
This was an action on the promissory note of the defendant, payable to one Payne or bearer.
On the trill the testimony of Payne was admitted to impeach the consideration of the note^ and this is the matter now .ssigned as error.
This is animportant question as to a rule of evidence. The Englishdecisions made on it at different times, conflict with eaci other, and the decisions in our sister States do not agree The old doctrine seems to have been, that one who hac put his name to an instrument of writing, or who had riven currency to a negotiable instrument, was under aiy circumstances, incompetent to impeach its
Concurrence Opinion
Tue opinion just given is in conformity with the more-rec.-s¡1 decisions of the English Courts; but their former decisions, aid those of New-York, New-Hampshire, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, are to the contrary. Connecticut is the only State in the Union, w’iose Courts have adopted the modern English doctrine o.i this point. As the authorities thus conflict, I feel at lberty to regard the probable effect of the principle on society. To permit a man who has transferred a negotiable paper, to give testimony by which its validity in the haids of an en-dorsee, or subsequent holder, is to be destroyid, must evidently encourage combinations to commit fraids, and tend to destroy confidence in notes and bills, whici is essential to commercial operations. The very circurrstance of its being necessary to introduce the evidence cf the payee, to impeach the validity of the note, presupposes (in most cases) that the original transaction has b.-ei kept secret from all but him and the maker. To a mm capable of
Judgement affirmed.
1 Term R. 296. 1 New H. R. 60 4 Mass. R. 156. 3 Mass R. 27. 10 Id. 502, 17 Id 94. 3 John.Cases 185 2 John. R. 165. 15 Id. 270 2 Dall. 194. 2 Yeates 17