Todd v. James

GRAY, J. — Oto Feb. 1st, 1909, Guy L Wade and the appellant made, executed and delivered to G. H. Walser, their promissory note for $700 by the terms of which they agreed to pay said amount to Walser or order, on or before one year from date, and with interest at the rate of eight per cent per annum. The interest was paid for one year. About May 1st, 1910, Mr. Walser died, leaving a widow and two children by a former marriage. A short time after his death, the widow and the children agreed upon a division of the property, by the terms of which the widow took all notes, except the ones Walser had put up as collateral'security before his death. [420] The note in controversy was kept by Walser, together with certain other notes in the vault of the Bank of Liberal, in Barton county. Mr. Walser at that time lived in Liberal, and the plaintiff administrator was his son-in-law and the Cashier of the Bank. Sometime in the summer of 1909, Mr. Walser obtained a loan from the bank, and at the time stated to the cashier that the bank could hold the notes he had in the vault as collateral security. The note in question was in the vault at that time. When the agreement was made with the widow, the note in controversy was treated by her and the other heirs as a note up as collateral, and therefore, was not to be received by her in the division of the property. The evidence does not show that Mr. Walser had any other notes up as collateral except the ones-in the vault at the time he made the loan, and told the cashier that his notes in the bank might be held as collateral. A short time after Mr. Walser’s death, the plaintiff herein was appointed administrator of his estate and qualified, and was administering the estate at the time -this suit was brought and tried. The note was inventorized by him as a part of the assets of the estate. Sometime after the death of Mr. Walser, the note he owed the bank was paid and the administrator took charge of the collateral notes, including the one in suit, and placed it-in the hands of an attorney for collection. On the 24th day of August, 1910, Mr. Wade sent to Mr. Todd by mail a draft for $87.88, stating it was to be used in payment of the interest on the note-until October 1st, 1910. Mr. Wade stated in his letter that he thought by October 1st, he would be in a position to take care of the note. On the 25th of August, the plaintiff, as cashier,, wrote Mr. Wade that he could not grant an extension for the reason that it was the intention to institute suit at once against the appellant for the September term of the court. The latter further stated that the writer had learned that Mr. Wade was bankrupt, and therefore the [421] bank declined to extend the time of payment. On August 28tb, Mr. Wade wrote to the plaintiff demanding the return of the draft unless the monéy was applied as he had directed. In the meantime, and on August 26, 1910, this suit had been commenced by the plaintiff as administrator of the estate of Mr. Walser. The answer alleged that appellant executed the note-as surety, and that plaintiff and deceased well knew that fact; that for a valuable consideration to plaintiff, paid by Mr. Wade, the plaintiff renewed and extended said note so that the same became due and payable October 1, 1910, and by reason thereof, the appellant was discharged. The answer also denied that plaintiff, as administrator, was the owner of the note at the time the suit was commenced. The cause was tried before the court without a jury, resulting in a judgment in favor of the plaintiff, from which defendant appealed. The facts as above stated are not disputed, and therefore, the issues are to be determined by applying the law to said facts. It is the general rule in this state, that upon the death of a person, the legal title to his personal property passes to the administrator, with the equitable title in the distributees. [Richardson v. Cole, 160 Mo. 372, 61 S. W. 182.] The exception to the rule is that where there are no debts, an administrator is unnecessary, and the personal property may at once vest in the distributees. [Richardson v. Cole, supra; Johnson v. Johnson, 173 Mo. 91, 73 S. W. 202.] But in this case the evidence shows there were debts and an administrator was appointed. The evidence further shows that the agreement between the heirs and the widow was that notes up as collateral, should pass to the estate; and that all the parties treated the note in controversy as one up as collateral. The administrator took charge of the note and inventoried it as an asset of the estate. The debt it was deposited to secure, has been paid, and the note released. [422] These things being conceded, the title to the note sued on was in the administrator nnd he is the proper party to maintain the suit. It is contended that the appellant was a surety on the note, and that he was discharged by virtue of the agreement between the plaintiff and Wade, extending the time for the payment of the note to October 1,1910. This contention is made in the face of the evidence, so far as any agreement for extension is concerned. When Mr. Wade sent the draft referred to to the plaintiff, the note was past due and unpaid. It is true Mr. Wade stated it was to pay interest in advance to October 1, 1910. The plaintiff refused to accept it as advance interest, and refused to extend the time of payment, and assigned as reason therefor that he intended to institute suit at once against the surety. He further stated to Mr. Wade that he had credited the amount on the note. Before a reply was received to this letter, this suit was instituted. The appellant claims that the plaintiff was compelled to either return the money to Wade, or grant the extension, and cites for his authority, Pollman Coal Co. v. St. Louis, 145 Mo. 651, 47 S. W. 563; Dove v. Fansler, and similar cases, 132 Mo. App. 669, 112 S. W. 1009. The two cases just mentioned related to disputed accounts and wherein the debtor sent his check for the full amount he claimed to owe, and with the statement that it was in full payment of the debt. The court held that if there was a dispute as to the amount due, and the party made an offer to compromise by sending the amount he claimed to owe, with the statement that it was in full payment, then at least it made a prima facie case of full payment if the creditor accepted the payment under the conditions. The legal principles involved in these cases and in the one now under consideration are entirely different. It is claimed here by the appellant that he was discharged from his obligation because of a new contract [423] made between tbe plaintiff and Mr. Wade. Mr. Wade, did not send tbe amount be claimed to be due, and there was no dispute between tbe parties relating to tbe sum due on tbe note. He sent tbe draft to pay back interest, and also interest in advance. Tbe plaintiff refused to extend tbe time of payment to October 1st, for tbe express reason that be desired to bring suit at once against tbe appellant herein, and not only was there no agreement to extend the time, but an express refusal so to do. We think tbe trial court correctly held that tbe surety was not disregarded under tbe circumstances. Tbe above are all tbe points urged for. a reversal, and having determined them against tbe appellant, tbe judgment should be affirmed and tbe same is accordingly done. All concur.