Dayton v. Hopkins

OPINION OF THE COURT BY JUDD, C.J. This is an action of assumpsit on a promissory note, brought by D. Dayton, administrator of the estate of Narcisse Perry, deceased, against O. L. ITopldns and W. Larsen. The note declared upon is made a part of the declaration and a copy of it is attached thereto. It is as follows:' [541] “$2000. Honolulu, H. I., April 12, 1890. For value received we jointly and severally promise to pay to Narcisse Perry or order, in one year from date, tbe sum of Two Thousand Dollars, with interest payable semi-annually at tbe rate of eight per cent. A. P. Peterson, C. L. HopKins, W. LarseN.” Certain payments are indorsed. Tbe defendant Larsen demurred on tbe ground of a variance between tbe declaration and tbe note sued upon. This was overruled and -the case was tried by tbe Circuit Court, First Circuit, jury waived, and judgment ordered for tbe plaintiff. Defendant Larsen then moved in arrest of judgment on tbe ground that it appears on tbe face of tbe declaration that tbe note sued upon was jointly and severally executed by defendant W. Larsen, O. L. Hopkins and one A. P. Peterson, whereas tbe plaintiff declared against said Larsen and Hopkins only, not joining said Peterson as defendant nor declaring against him, and not alleging him to be dead or beyond tbe jurisdiction of the court. This motion was overruled and defendant Larsen excepted. Our statute, Sec. 1105, Civil Code, Comp. Laws, p. 322, requires “all the joint and several or joint makers of a promissory note” to be joined in a civil action. In tbe case before us it appears on tbe face of tbe declaration that one A. P. Peterson was one of the joint and several makers of tbe note declared upon, but be is not mentioned in tbe declaration, nor is there any excuse or suggestion in tbe declaration why be was not joined. It is a general and familiar principle of tbe common law that where three or more persons execute a promissory note, who contract jointly and severally, they may be sued severally in separate actions, or all jointly in one action. But tbe creditor cannot sue two and omit tbe others, for in such ease they are not sued either jointly or severally, as they prom [542] ised. In tlie ease before ns the defendants sought to be held upon their joint obligation. Magoon & Edings, for plaintiff. A. S. Humphreys, for defendant. Counsel for plaintiff contend that non-joinder of a necessary party should be taken advantage of by a plea in abatement, and this would give the plaintiff a better writ by disclosing the names of parties who ought to be joined. And if this plea is not made it will be considered as waived. This is good law if the declaration does not disclose the absence of a proper party. But where on the face of the declaration it appears that a person not made defendant was a joint contractor with those who are defendants in the suit, there being no averment of any reason why such person is not joined, whether the non-joinder may be taken advantage of by special demurrer or by plea in abatement, it is not necessary here to decide. The better practice would be to aver the death of Peterson. But in this case the defendant Larsen did not demur on the ground that it appeared on the declaration that Peterson had signed the note and was not made a party, but merely that there was a variance between the declaration and the note sued upon. But as the note is made a part of the declaration, the declaration must be read as if .the note was incorporated in it, and there can be no “variance” between one part of the declaration and another. The demurrer was properly overruled. Having gone to trial, the verdict, authorizing judgment against Larsen and Hopkins alone, has cured the defect. There is some authority apparently in favor of holding’ that a defect of this character may be reached by a motion in arrest, notably Gilman v. Rives, 10 Pet. 298. But a distinction is drawn in that case that where the declaration is to recover upón judgments, recognizances and other matters of record, and the defect-of non-joinder is apparent on such record,-a motion in arrest of judgment would be good. Exceptions overruled. •