Bank of Gassaway v. James

Lively, Judge: The plaintiff, Bank of Gassaway, obtained this writ to a judgment entered upon a verdict in defendant James ’ favor in an -action of debt on a $1500.00 note. . On October 1, 1922, defendant James -and Archa Singleton executed their joint note for $1500.00 to the plaintiff bank, pay-able four months after date. Archa Singleton died, testate, in December, 1922. In 1923, upon maturity of this $1500.00 note, his executors, J. B. Fisher and Belle Singleton (wife of the -deceased), acting under authority conferred by the decedent’s will, executed, together with defendant James, a renewal note in place of that dated October 1, 1922, the executors signing the instrument in their representative capacity. Similar renewals were made until June 1, 1926, when the last renewal note was executed. This note was similar to the prior ones with the exception that Belle Singleton failed to include the word “executrix” -after her name, and James, who had signed the previous renewals as maker, signed his name on the back of this one. James claimed that his liability on the original note was that of surety. His testimony was objected to- as incompetent against the estate, but the court permitted it to go- to- the jury. After the note of June 1, 1926, became due, Mrs. Singleton having been advised by her uncle that as she had -signed the instrument in her representative capacity she should have included the word “executrix” after her name, went to the *437 bank, tbe bolder of tbe note, and was granted permission to make tbis change. Tbe defendant stated be bad no knowledge of tbis action, and that when be bad indorsed tbe note it bad been signed by Mrs. Singleton individually. Tbe interest on tbe various renewal notes was paid by tbe estate of Arcba Singleton, deceased. In May, 1927, tbe plaintiff bank instituted tbis suit against defendant James on tbe note of October 1, 1922. Tbe case was submitted to a jury with tbe result noted above. Before passing upon tbe merits, it will be necessary to consider a preliminary question raised by counsel for tbe defendant. Counsel for James claims that tbe evidence is not made a part of tbe record by proper bill of exception. There is an order entered December 16, 1927, reciting that plaintiff excepted to certain rulings of the court in tbe trial and tendered its bills of exception Nos. 1 and 2 which were signed by' tbe Judge and said bills made a part of tbe record. By order of December 21, 1927, it is recited that bill of exception No. 1 was signed, sealed and made a part of tbe record. There is a bill of exception signed by tbe Special Judge W. L. Armstrong which says that plaintiff moved tbe court to direct a verdict in its favor, which motion tbe court overruled, and then plaintiff tendered certain instructions, some of which were refused, others given as tendered, and one as modified by tbe court; and setting out those .tendered, given, and re-, fused on tbe part of defendant. There is another bill (and this is tbe one in question) which says that after the verdict plaintiff made a motion to set it aside for reasons therein stated, which motion tbe court overruled, to which plaintiff excepted, and then plaintiff asked that tbe evidence taken be certified and made a part of tbe record, and tbe court certified that tbe transcript of tbe evidence attached to tbe bill marked “Transcript of evidence” signed by W. L. Armstrong, Special Judge, was all tbe evidence taken at tbe trial, which was made a part of tbe bill of exception No. 2 which, is signed, sealed and made a part of tbe record, Then follows, in the printed record, what purports to foe all of tbe evidence certified by Raymond Allman, official reporter. The claim that tbe evidence is not properly made a part of tbe record is basen *438 on the assertion that there is nothing in the printed record -which identifies the purported evidence therein copied as the transcript -which was attached to and made a part of .bill No-. 2 .and which the court certified was all of the evidence introduced on the trial. Tersely stated, the point is that the evidence in the record is not identified as the evidence attached to and made a part of bill No. 2. Dudley v. Barrett, 58 W. Va. 235; Parr v. Currence, 58 W. Va. 523; Coal & Coke v. Joyce, 58 W. Va. 544; McKendree v. Shelton, 51 W. Va. 516; and Tracy’s Adm. v. Coal Co., 57 W. Va. 587, are relied upon to sustain the proposition that there was not sufficient identification. By stipulation of counsel the original transcript of the evidence is filed in this Court, together with plaintiff’s original bills of exception Nos. 1 and 2. On the back of the 'original transcript of the evidence so filed is the style of the case, the court wherein pending, the term at which it was heard, and marked “Transcript of testimony”, Bill of Exception No. 2, followed by the signature of “W. L. Armstrong, Special Judge.” This original transcript contains the same evidence as that printed in the record. It will be noted that the only discrepancy between the order and the above description of the paper is that the order says “transcript of evidence”, whereas the paper endorsed by the Special Judge is “transcript of testimony”. We think this discrepancy is more of form than of substance. There can be no doubt that the evidence so transcribed and identified was before the Judge, and that it was made a part of the bill of exception No. 2. A liberal construction is always given to the court’s orders and the record, in order to. give a party his exceptions. Cecil v. Coal Co., 94 W. Va. 116, 120. All that is inquired, where the paper is not incorporated in the body of the bill of exception, is that it be .annexed to the bill, .or marked by letter, number or other means of identification mentioned in the bill, or described therein as to. leave no doubt, when found in the record, that it is the one referred to in the bill of exception. Dudley v. Barrett, supra. We think the identification is beyond doubt. The defendant James takes the position that the alteration of the June 1,1926, renewal note was a material one changing *439 the legal effect of the instrument, and haying been fraudulently made, the plaintiff was precluded from recovery on that note or the original (October 1, 1922) note. Was the alleged alteration a material one? This is the controlling question presented upon this writ. It is quite clear from the evidence that the note of June 1, 1926, was given in renewal of the obligation represented by that dated October 1, 1922, and not in payment thereof, and that this fact was known by all the parties to the instrument. The prior renewals had been prepared by the cashier of the plaintiff bank. Tie testified that in their preparation he had at first drawn the renewals signed Estate of Archa Singleton by.Executor and.Executrix, and the signatures of himself and Mrs. Singleton were then written in the blank spaces ; that subsequently he had prepared the renewals as made by.Executor, and....Executrix. The last renewal, but one, made February 1, 1926, and proven as a liability against Archa Singleton’s estate, as hereinafter mentioned, was signed “Estate of Archa Singleton, Belle Singleton, Es., J. B. Fisher, Ex., A. C. James”. There is little or no evidence to justify the conclusion that the parties had decided to change the form of, or the relation of the parties to, the renewal notes. The whole history of the transaction is indicative of the fact that the same parties were intended to be primarily liable — the executors as representatives of the decedent’s estate, acting in pursuance of authority directly conferred upon them — and the same party (defendant) was intended to be secondarily liable' The interest on the renewal notes was paid out of the estate of Archa Singleton, and the renewal note preceding that of June 1, 1926, was proved against his estate. There is no evidence which would indicate that Belle Singleton agreed to individually assume the payment of the note, except the fact that on the last renewal note 'her name was signed without letters or words indicating her fiduciary relationship. The evidence of Fisher, her co-executor, is that no change, was contemplated by the parties or agreed to by the holder of the original note. Fisher, as he had theretofore *440 done, signed as executor. If Belle Singleton Rad signed as an individual and not as executrix, the estate of ArcRa Singleton would not be bound, 'because the terms of the power grant-tRe executors under the will rendered it necessary that the power be jointly exercised. See footnote to section 1402, page 1433, Vol. 2, SRouler on Wills, Executors and Administrators (5th ed.). And consequently, one of the two executors had no power to charge the estate by signing the note for the estate, even though it was given in renewal of one signed by the testator in his lifetime. Bailey v. Spofford, 21 N. Y. Supr. 86. If a suit had been brought on the renewal note dated June 1, 1926, the makers having signed the instrument jointly, it would'have been necessary -to have declared against them jointly. In that action, if the suit was one between the original parties, it would have been competent for Fisher to have explained for what estate he was acting as executor. See Huntington Finance Co. v. U. G. Young, 142 S. E. 102, handed down contemporaneously with this opinion. And after this explanation was made, it would also have been competent to have shown that Belle Singleton was a co-executor with Fisher in the administration of Archa Singleton’s estate, and that this note, in accordance with a long course of renewals, was given in renewal of the original obligation in the exercise of a power expressly conferred by the will of the decedent. Peter v. Beverly, 10 Pet. (U. S.) 532. “ In accordance with the rulés applicable to writings in general, it is permissible’to show by parol or extrinsic evidence as between the original parties or those with notice, the true capacity or legal relation of the parties to a negotiable bill or note.” Jones, Commentaries on Evidence, Vol. 4, (2nd ed.), sec. 1646, page 3019; Clark v. Talbott, 72 W. Va. 46. It will be observed that the note of June 1, 1926, was not an original undertaking, but was simply a renewal of a prior obligation entered into by the deceased Archa Singleton in his lifetime. It being determined that the true relationship of Belle Singleton to the note of June 1, 1926, could be shown in an action thereon by the payee, it becomes apparent that the alteration which the evidence shows apparently was made by *441 ber in good faith., was not a material one, and could in no way prejudice defendant J-ames. Plaintiff could maintain its suit upon the renewal note, and show the true status of thé parties by evidence. This conclusion is decisive of the present controversy. It may :be noted that in 3 R. C. L„ sec. 326, page 1112, it is said:. “ The cases seem to* be harmonious upon the proposition that where an 'alteration is made under an honest mistake of right, and not fraudulently and with a view to gain an improper advantage, a recovery may be had upon the original consideration of the instrument.” The court should have given the' peremptory instruction requested by the plaintiff. The judgment will be reversed, the verdict set aside, and a new trial awarded. Judgment reversed; verdiet set aside; new trial awarded.