Brewer v. Holborn

Cole, J. At the September term, 1870, this defendant, Francis Holborn, obtained a judgment by default, in the district court of Page county, against this plaintiff, for $1,269.46, and costs, upon a promissory note made by said Oliver H. Brewer to the order of the Racine & Mississippi Railroad Co. This action is brought to vacate that judg [474] ment, and obtain a new trial, on the ground of unavoidable casualty preventing said Brewer from defending. The matters relied upon to show the failure to defend, as well as the facts constituting the defense itself, are set out in the petition, pursuant to Revision, sections 3499, 3501. In such cases, our statute provides that the judgment shall not be vacated, until it is adjudged there is a defense. § 3503. the parties have, therefore, in this case, entered into a full examination, proof and trial of the merits of the entire case. the record is a voluminous one, and contains .all the testimony taken by the parties. It would serve no useful purpose to here restate and argue the evidence. We simply state our conclusions as briefly as practicable. In our view of the evidence, the plaintiff has established that be was prevented by unavoidable casualty from defending. There can be no question but that the plaintiff left borne before the suit was brought, expecting to return before the September term of the court; and that be was prevented from so returning by reason of bis own personal sickness; that the service of notice was by leaving a copy with bis daughter at his house, and that she was not at all acquainted with legal matters. No fault attaches, under the proof in this case, to the defendant in that action, for failing to defend. He bad no personal knowledge of the action until after judgment was rendered. But, the evidence further shows that the first action was brought on a negotiable note, executed by this plaintiff to the Racine & Mississippi Railroad Co., and that, before it became due, it was transferred to one Russell, and by him to one Lathrop, and by him, a few days after maturity, to this defendant. There is not one word of proof showing that Russell was not a bona fide bolder for value, and, even if it be conceded that Lathrop held it as collateral security, and Holborn was charged with notice of defects, because he took it after due, yet either of them would be protected [475] by the title of Russell; for, since they acquired his title, they might properly and legally stand in his shoes. We might say further, that, under the proofs in this case, we would have to hesitate long, before holding that the facts proved would constitute a defense, even against a holder for value, acquiring it after maturity. This conclusion is reached after giving due consideration to all the evidence. Although our views do not entirely accord with those expressed by the learned ^district judge, who tried the cause .below, yet we reach the same .conclusion, and order the judgment. Affirmed.