Rice v. Derby

Davison, J. Derby sued Rice, Line and Biddle, upon a promissory note for the payment of 333 dollars. The note was executed by Rice, on the 18th of June, 1853, payable to lane, at twelve months, at the Wabash Valley Bank, and indorsed by him to Biddle, who indorsed it to Derby. It is alleged that the note had been protested; but neither the protest, nor a copy of it, was filed with the complaint. For this reason, Rice and Line demurred; but their demurrer was overruled. [650] Biddle was defaulted. The other defendants answered. Rice, in his answer, alleges, 1. That the note is without consideration. 2. That it was obtained by fraud. Further, the answer avers, that of such want of consideration and fraud, Biddle and Line had full notice when the respective indorsements were made. "With his answer Rice filed two interrogatories, propounded to the plaintiff, namely: “What notice of the want of consideration of said note did you have before it was indorsed to you?” “ What notice had you, before the note was so indorsed, of the same having been obtained by fraud?” As the answer and interrogatories filed by Line are similar to that of Rice, and present a like point of inquiry, they will not be further noticed. There were replies in denial of the answers; and the issues being made, the cause was submitted to a jury, who found for the plaintiff, and, over a motion for a new trial, the Court rendered a judgment on the verdict. We have seen that the note in suit was duly protested, though neither the original protest, nor a copy of it, was filed with the complaint. This is assigned for error. The code provides that “ when any pleading is founded on a written instrument, or on account, the original, or a copy thereof, must be filed with the pleading.” 2 R. S., p. 44. The note is made payable at a bank within the state, and is therefore a bill of exchange. 1 R. S., p. 378. Hence, the liability of the indorsers could only be fixed by proof that “ it was presented at the proper place for payment, at the day when it became due, and that payment was demanded and refused, and that the indorsers had due notice thereof.” To prove this, the protest of the note may be sufficient evidence, and yet not the foundation of the suit against the indorsers. It is, indeed, mere evidence in the case; it involves no contract, and is not the instrument on which the pleading is founded. It seems to us that the provision above quoted, when properly construed, points out the note and indorsements as the only instruments required to be filed with the pleadings. The demurrer was not well taken. [651] Upon the calling of the cause for trial, Rice filed his affidavit, wherein he alleges that the answers to his interrogatories are material to his defence; that he knows of no witness by whom the facts sought to be established can be proved; that he has reason to believe that the plaintiff possesses the knowledge of the facts to which the interrogatories, in this cause, refer; and that he can not safely proceed to trial until those filed by him be fully answered by the plaintiff. Upon this affidavit, Rice moved for a continuance until such answers were made; but the Court overruled his motion, and ordered a trial of the cause. L. Chamberlain, for the appellants. B. W. Peters, for the appellee. This ruling is alleged to be erroneous. The rule is, that “ either party may propound interrogatories to be filed with the pleadings, relative to the matter' in controversy, and require the opposite party to answer the same under oath. All interrogatories must be answered within the time limited,” &c., “ and the Court may enforce the answer by attachment or otherwise.” 2 B.. S., p. 97. Under this provision, we have decided that the mere failure to answer interrogatories filed with the pleadings, is no cause of continuance. Lent v. Knott, ante, p. 230. Here, it is true, there is an affidavit alleging that the plaintiff’s answer would be material, &c. That, however, was not enough to authorize a continuance. The defendants should have taken some steps to enforce an answer. These steps are plainly indicated by the enactment just recited. It was for them to move for a rule against the plaintiff to answer within a specified time, to be designated by the Court, and upon failure to comply with such rule “ within the time limited,” he would have been liable to an attachment. Nothing of this appears on the record; and the result is, the defendants are in default, having failed to use proper means to compel an answer. There was no ground upon which to rest then motion to continue. We think they were not entitled to a continuance. Per Curiam. The judgment is affirmed, with 6 per cent, damages and costs.