Payne v. Cutler

By the Court, Savage, Ch. J. I understand the law to be that the maker of a negotiable note may set up any defence against the holder which he might against the payee, unless the holder has advanced money or property, or incurred liability upon the credit of the note. The note was not passed in the usual course of trade. Chief Justice Spencer, 20 Johns. R. 651, says: “ I understand, by the usual course of trade, not that the holder shall receive the bills or notes thus obtained (fraudulently) as securities for antecedent debts, but that he shall take them in his business, and as payment for a debt contracted at the time.” In this case, the parties to the note, payee and endorsees, were brothers doing business about 30 miles apart. The notes were charged in account, but it does not appear that property was advanced upon them. They may have been received by the endorsees for a balance due them by the payee ; or if the balance was in favor of the payee, the notes were sold on a credit; and, in either case, the defendant had a right to give the evidence offered, provided he would have a right to give it, had a suit been brought in the name'of the payee. The offer in this case was to prove a fraud, in which not only the payee, but S. Payne, one of the endorsers, participated. It is the doctrine of this court, that the partial failure of consideration may be given in evidence to reduce the amount to be recovered upon a promissory note between the parties to it. The argument against it is, that any consideration is sufficient to support the note ; and that if there is any consideration, however small, that is sufficient to justify a recovery for the whole amount. This is fallacious. It may be technically sufficient, but is not the "best calculated to do justice between the parties with the least expense. Here the de [607] fendant offered to show that the boat purchased by him was of no value. The defendant alleges that he has a claim arising out of the same transaction, which, if not deducted from the notes, forms the ground of an action ; the examination of the basis of such action, therefore prevents circuity of action. There may be, indeed, a difference between the contract and the security. If the security (the note) is passed according to the course of trade to a third person, there is no privity between such person and the original contract; and he having parted with his property, or incurred responsibility, takes the paper free from any claims the maker may have against the payee; but where the suit is between the parties to the contract, the admission of such evidence prevents circuity of action, and promotes justice between the litigating parties. The plaintiff in this case neither having advanced any thing, nor incurred liability on the credit of these notes, we must on this motion assume that the notes were obtained by fraud, and the defence therefore was proper. It is now said that notice of this defence should have been given; and it certainly should, upon general principles, as regards the partial failure of consideration. Under the general issue alone, the defendant may. show that the plaintiff had no cause of action at the commencement of the suit, and such was the offer in this ease. Where & partial failure only is offered to be shown, notice should be given. In this case, the rejection of the offered testimony was not and could not be placed upon that ground. The report must be set aside ; costs to abide the event.