This case is now presented upon a motion ta take off a compulsory non-suit. Judgment was entered in favor of the plaintiff, against the defendant, which, upon petition, was subsequently opened and the defendant let into a defence. Upon the trial, it appeared that Tofie Admy signed a note for $1688.50, dated “Pittsburgh, Pa., November 9, 1921,” payable “on demand after date” to the order of J. G. Lozier, and in which there is an authority for the immediate confession of judgment. This note was signed in the office of the Motors Mortgage Corporation in Pittsburgh, at once delivered by the defendant to the plaintiff, who immediately endorsed it and delivered it to the Motors Mortgage Corporation, together with a lease for an automobile. On the strength of this note and the lease, the Motors Mortgage Corporation furnished the money necessary to enable the plaintiff to purchase the automobile. The defendant was the accommodation maker of that note and secured no advantage therefrom. Judgment was entered in the name of J. G. Lozier alone. Upon this showing at the trial, counsel for the plaintiff moved to amend the caption by adding after the words “J. G. Lozier” the words “to the use of the Motors Mortgage Corporation.” We declined to allow the amendment, and subsequently granted a non-suit on the ground that upon the plaintiff’s case it was shown that the defendant owed nothing to the plaintiff. The motion is now made to take off this non-suit.
This motion involves the questions (1) whether the note was negotiable; and (2) whether, if not negotiable, it passed to and became the property of the Motors Mortgage Corporation.
(1) Section 5 of the Negotiable Instruments Act of May 16, 1901, P. L. 194, provides that a negotiable instrument, otherwise negotiable, is not affected by a provision which “authorizes a confession of judgment if the instrument be not paid at maturity.”
In Andress’s Appeal,
In Milton National Bank v. Beaver,
In Green v. Dick & Shope,
In Haney v. Wilson, 37 Pa. C. C. Reps. 180, it is held that a power of attorney in a promissory note authorizing an immediate confession of judgment renders the note non-negotiable.
In Jackson, Admin’r, v. Utz’s Exec’rs, 18 Dist. R. 163, it is held that a note payable one day after date, with the authority to enter an immediate judgment, is not negotiable.
Judgment could have been entered on this note upon the delivery, but payment could not have been demanded until the following day. Therefore, the judgment could have been entered before maturity, and this destroys the negotiability of the note.
(2) This note was endorsed by J. G. Lozier. It was delivered to the Motors Mortgage Corporation, and, being a note under seal and non-negotiable, it would regularly pass by assignment. In this case there is only an endorsement and delivery, and the question is whether the Motors Mortgage Corporation thereby secured a valid title. In other words, was there an equitable assignment? Bonds under seal may be assigned in equity by parol and delivery. The legal title would not pass, but the equitable ownership would: Licey v. Licey,
In Merchants’ National Bank v. Gregg (Mich.), 64 N. W. Repr. 1052, it is held that an endorsement of a non-negotiable note by the payee, accompanied
It, therefore, appears that the Motors Mortgage Corporation may have acquired title by this endorsement and delivery. That being so, we think the amendment to the caption, so that the suit would read “J. G. Lozier, to the use of the Motors Mortgage Corporation,” should have been allowed.
In Schmucker v. Bertrand, 1 Woodward, 443, it is held that “where, by misconception either of fact or law, the parties equitably, instead of those legally, interested have been erroneously made plaintiffs in an action, the court has power to amend the record by the substitution of the proper parties:” Walthour v. Spangler,
In Folwell v. Beaver, 13 S. & R. 311, 313, the court, speaking of an instrument under seal, said: “If transferred, as the beneficial estate may be, by simple endorsement, still the action must be brought in the name of the original obligee for the use of the assignee; the equitable right and the beneficial interest is in the assignee, but he has no right of action in his own name:” Armstrong v. Lancaster, 5 Watts. 68; Jackson, Admin’r, v. Utz’s Exec’rs, 18 Dist. R. 163; Blue Star Nav. Co. v. Emmons C. M. Corp.,
It, therefore, appears that the amendment of the caption of this case so as to make the Motors Mortgage Corporation the use-plaintiff would have been proper: Tyrrill v. Lamb,
It must be borne in mind, however, that the Motors Mortgage Corporation, having acquired the note and the rights under it by an equitable assignment, takes it with all the equities in the case.
In White v. Heylman,
For these reasons, the motion to take off the compulsory non-suit is allowed, and the amendment to the caption of the case is allowed so as to read “J. G. Lozier, to the use of the Motors Mortgage Corporation,” with the right to' the defendant to file an affidavit of defence within fifteen days from the date of the filing of this opinion. From Sidney E. Friedman, Harrisburg, Fa.
