Morss v. Johnson

Beck, J. practice.instructions: verdict. — The defendant transferred to plaintiff two promissory notes, and signed his name to indorsements waiving demand and notice written thereon. The action is brought upon these indorsements. The defense pleaded is , . ' r that the execution of the indorsements was fraudulently procured by plaintiff, through false representations as to the legal effect of the writing signed by defendant. There was evidence given by defendant himself, tending to prove that he could read and write the English language but a little; that he did not understand the legal effect of the indorsements; that he signed them without reading or attempting to read them, and that they were not read to him. He also testifies that plaintiff represented that the indorsements were mere matters of form, to transfer the title of the notes, and would not have the effect to make him liable therefor. Upon these points he is contradicted by the testimony of plaintiff. No other evidence bearing with much weight upon these points were introduced by either party. The court, among other instructions, directed the jury that if “ the defendant was so ignorant as not to understand the legal effect of the indorsements on the notes, and the plaintiff knowing the defendant was ignorant in regard to the legal effect of [431] the indorsements,” falsely and fraudulently made tlie representations charged, he cannot recover. We are not called upon to inquire into the correctness of this instruction. Having been given by the court as a rule'of law, the jury were to be guided, by it in making up their verdict. Indeed counsel for defendant maintains its correctness by the citation of authorities, and counsel for plaintiff do not seriously question it. In our opinion the verdict of the jury is in conflict with this instruction. There is an utter want of evidence to establish that plaintiff knew defendant to be ignorant of the legal effect of the indorsements. Defendant in his testimony does not intimate that plaintiff had any knowledge on that subject. On the contrary he states that he wrote his signature to the indorsements, and it further appears from his evidence, that the transaction was carried on as we would expect to see such business done by men of ordinary intelligence and capacity. Plaintiff positively states that he had no reason to suspect, and did not know, that defendant was ignorant of the true effect of the indorsements signed by him. The judgment of the Circuit Court- is Eeversbd.