Staples v. Bedford Loan & Deposit Bank

JUDGE HAZELRIGG delivered the opinion op the court. Intending to bind himself as surety for Gr. M. and W. R. Morgan on a note for $1,200, executed to the appellee, the appellant, not being able to write, made his mark thereto between the words “James” and “Staples,” written by AY. R. [452] Morgan, who also attested the signature or mark of the appellant. In this form the note was sent to and accepted by the bank. When sued on it the appellant pleaded non est factum. He admitted making his mark, but his contention was that under section 482, Kentucky Statutes, he was not bound. Whether he was or not is the sole question on this appeal. The statute reads as follows: “No person shall be bound as the surety of another by'the act of an agent unless the authority of the agent is in writing, signed by the principal; or, if the principal do not write his name, then by his sign or mark, made in the presence of at least one creditable attesting witness.” The argument is that if the principal (the surety) do not write his name, then the authority of the agent to sign it must be by a writing, signed with the mark or sign of the principal, made in the presence of at least one creditable witness, who shall attest it. And of what value, say counsel, is a power of attorney which is required to be attested by at least one creditable witness, if it can be attested by the party upon whom the power is conferred? Why require at least one credible witness where the party upon whom the power is conferred is himself a credible witness to prove his power? And would not his own act, if full credit is to be given him, show his authority? If we had under consideration a case involving the execution of a note by an agent, or by means of a power of attorney, the argument of counsel would seem plausible enough. However that may be, we have no such state of ' case here. The note on which the appellant is sought to be held liable was not signed by an attorney in fact or agent, but by the appellant himself. The making of his mark or sign was Ms own act, and if there was no witness at all to it [453] he would be bound, provided it could be shown that he in fact made the mark or sign. The statute has no application. Morgan was not the agent of Staples in the execution of the note, and the words his James Staples mark do not constitute the signature of the appellant, but the cross-mark or sign is that signature. It may be that, had Staples denied making the mark, some trouble might have been experienced in proving it satisfactorily; but the statute was not intended, we suppose, to prevent all the evils that could arise out of the execution of written obligations. It applies only where an agent seeks to bind his principal as surety by himself signing the surety’s name to the obligation — a state of case not presented here, if we are right in saying that the signature of Staples consisted in his sign or mark made by himself. If that signature consisted of the words “James Staples,” written by Morgan, then, indeed, the surety is not bound. A “mark” for a name or signature is most often the sign of the cross made in a little space between the Christian name and the surname, and the word “his” is usually written above the mark, and the word “mark” below it (2 Bla. Com., 305), and when so made, though it may be made otherwise, it is a signature or a signing in law. (Maupin, &c. v. Berkley, 3 Ky. Law Rep., 617.) Judge Bouvier, in his Dictionary, says: “It is not necessary that a party should write his name himself to constitute a signature; his mark is now held sufficient; though he was able to write.” Citing a number of authorities. In Meazels v. Martin, 93 Ky., 50, it was held that where one signs his name to a mortgage by making his mark it is a good [454] signature, although not attested by a witness, and further that the statute under consideration did not apply w.here a party signed his own name by his mark to the document by which he is to be bound. The judgment below conforms to these principles and must be affirmed.