Wells v. Whitehead

By the Court, Nelson, J. Two objections were taken in this case to the plaintiff’s right to recover, which were overruled by the circuit judge: J. That the suit being against an endorser, on a protest for non-acceptance of a bill of exchange drawn in parts, it was incumbent upon the plaintiff to produce at the trial the identical bill, or number of the set that was protested, or account for its absence ; and 2. That sufficient evidence was not given to establish the fact that the defendant had b een duly notified of the non-acceptance, or that due diligence had been used for that purpose, i The law on this point is correctly laid down by Chancellor Kent in his Commentaries. He says, “ If several parts, as is usual, of a bill of exchange, be drawn, they all contain a condition to be paid, provided the others remain unpaid, and they collectively amount to one bill, and a payment to the holders of either is good, and a payment of one of a set is payment of the whole. The drawer or endorser, to be charged on nonacceptance or non-payment, is entitled to call for the protest, and the identical bill, or number of the set protested, before he is bound to pay; and it would be sufficient to produce it at the trial, or account for its absence. His rights attach to the bill dishonored, and he is entitled to call for it. He may want it for his own indemnity, and without it he might be exposed to claims from some bona fide holder, or person who had paid supra protest for his honor.” 3 Kent’s Com. 109. As to the right of the drawer of endorser to .call for the protest, the chancellor must be considered as referring to a foreign bill, no protest being necessary in respect to a domestic or inland bill. Where the bill has been protested for non-acceptance, any person may accept it supra protest for the honor of the bill, the [529] drawer, or any particular endorser. This usage promotes the negotiation of it, when the drawer’s credit is suspected, and may save the character and prevent the prosecution of some of the parties, in case the drawee cannot be found, is not capable of accepting, or refuses. Chitty on Bills, 241. 3 Kent’s Comm. 87. The person accepting supra protest subjects himself to the same obligations as if the bill had been directed to him; and if he accepts for the honor of the drawer or endorser, though without his knowledge, he has a remedy against such persons, and all others liable to them, for his responsibilities assumed, the same as if he acted under their direction. Chitty, 243. 3 Kent’s Comm. 87. 1 Esp.N. P.R. 113. 1 Ed. Raym. 575. If he takes up the bill for the honor of the endorser, he stands in the light of an endorsee, paying full value for it, and has the same remedies to which he would be entitled against all prior parties. From this doctrine it seems to me clearly to follow, that if the bill presented to the payees, in this case, had been accepted by a friend of the defendant, for his honor, after the refusal by the payees to accept, the defendant would be bound to indemnify him, notwithstanding a recovery, on the number of the set produced at the trial. It is true, as a general rule, payment of one of the set is payment of the whole, but if the drawer or endorser is entitled to call for the identical bill dishonored, before he is obliged to pay it, the omission to do so would subject him to the charge of negligence, and make him, notwithstanding, accountable to the person who had accepted it for his honor. Indeed, if he stands in the light of an endorsee for the value of a bill transferred before due, there is no escape from this liability. His security, therefore, requires that he should be allowed to call for the bill protested before a recovery is permitted to be had against him. The view of the law, as taken by Chancellor Kent, is sup-, ported by several approved authorities. Chitty on Bills, 387. 2 Starkie’s Ev. 142. 1 Saund. Pl. & Ev. 318, 275. 4 Petersdorff’s Abr. 536. According to these authorities all the sets should be produced in case of a foreign bill. In the case of Kenworthy v. Hopkins, 1 Johns. Cas. 107, to which Chancellor Kent refers, to sustain his qualification of this rule., [530] the second of the set was declared on, which was the one accepted, and the only one produced at the trial. It was there objected that notice of protest for non-payment was insufficient, on the ground that the identical bill protested had not accompanied it. It was accompanied by one of the set that had not been accepted, or protested, and payment was refused on that ground. The court decided that the holder had a right to retain the bill accepted, as he might want it to proceed against other parties, and intimated that the production or presentation of it was essential only when payment was demanded. The marginal note of that case does not correctly state the /point decided ; nor did the facts call for an examination or decision of the question as there stated. The note would sustain the ruling of the judge in this case; it is there laid down that where one of a set of three bills of exchange on London was protested for non-payment, it was held an action might be maintained here against the endorsers on one of the set not protested, with the protest of the other. In truth, the point particularly examined in that case is no longer of any- importance, because the better opinion now is, that a copy of the bill and protest need not accompany the notice, in the case of a foreign bill. Notice of the fact of non-acceptance or non-payment is sufficient. Chitty on Bills, 217, and cases there cited. 3 Kent’s Comm. 93, 109. ,3 Campb. 334. 2 Esp. N. P. R. 511. 10 Mass. R. 5, and note. 1 Selw. 273. 4 Esp. N. P. R. 48. Production of the protest at the trial is all that is necessary. Whether the bill in this case be considered a foreign or inland bill can make no difference, so far as the material question involved is concerned. The rule of evidence should be the same in both cases as to the production on the trial of the identical bill presented. Either may be accepted supra protest, and the reasons for the production, or accounting for the absence of the protested bill, on the trial, are alike applicable in both cases. In Buckner v. Finley & Van Lear, 2 Peters’ U. S. R. 586, bills of exchange drawn in one state, on persons residing in another, were held to partake of the character of foreign bills. It had before been held, in Townsley v. Sumrall, id. 170, that such bills were to be [531] deemed foreign, in respect to the protest and proof of dishon- or. A different opinion had been expressed by Mr. Justice Van Ness, in Miller v. Hackley, 5 Johns. R. 375. It was not, however, the point in the case, and should not, perhaps, be considered as conclusive upon the court. When the question arises directly for consideration, it may be proper to review it. The convenience of trade and commerce preponderates strongly in favor of viewing such bills as foreign, so far, at least, as respects the protest and proof, as then the certificate of the notary, under the seal of office, is evidence of the protest in the foreign state, without any auxiliary support, and is so received in all courts, according to the usage and custom of merchants. We have already stated, and we think upon authority, that the holder need not accompany the notice of non-acceptance with a copy of the bill and protest, and the only question left for consideration, upon this branch of the case is, whether the notice was directed to the right place, and with reasonable diligence. Of this, upon the evidence, we cannot entertain a doubt. It was mailed for the defendant, the day of the refusal by the drawees to accept, to a place'where, upon inquiry, the notary ascertained the defendant resided, and where the bill was drawn. At all events, the defendant cannot be permitted to raise the question of proper diligence, in endeavoring to ascertain the place of his residence after prima facie evidence on the subject, when he does not pretend that his place of residence was in fact at a place different from that to which the notice was directed. New trial granted, costs to abide the event.