Wilkins v. Usher

Opinion by Chief Justice Hobson Affirmed. On August 15, 1904, there were judgments in the Graves circuit court’ against J. A. Tilley for fines amounting with costs to $430. Tilley had $300 in cash, but wished to replevy the judgments. W. T. and J. R. Wilkins. wished to borrow $300 for a short time, and it was arranged between them and Tilley that they would sign the replevin bonds as Tilley’s sureties, and hold the $300 until the bonds were due; that then they were to pay the $300 on the bonds, and Tilley would pay the remainder. Tilley paid over the $300 to them [699] under this agreement, and they signed the bonds, but they executed no writing to Tilley to show for the $300. On September 21, 1904, Tilley being in debt to W. A. Usher in three notes for $600 each, and, being pressed by Usher for the money agreed to .give him a mortgage on his house. He also owed A. L. Brand $117. Tilley was then under the impression that he held a note on W. T. and J. R. Wilkins.for the $300. It was agreed between Usher, Brand, and Tilley that, if Tilley would assign to Usher the $300 note which he said he had on W. T. and J. R. Wilkins, Usher would pay Brand the $117, and would hold the' note to secure this money, well as his note for $600. When Tilley went to look for the note he found that he did not have any. Brand, on the next morning, went to the mill of W. T. and J. R. Wilkins and got them to sign a note to Tilley for the $300, which he thereupon brought back to Tilley, Tilley assigned it to Usher, Usher paid Brand the $117, and notified Wilkins brothers that he held the note. Usher’s mortgage on the house proved of no value, and he brought this suit against W. T. and J. R. Wilkins on the $300 note. The jury to whom the case was submitted found for him, and they appeal. The proof for the defendants showed that they had paid off the judgments which they had replevied as Tilley’s sureties, and that Tilley was insolvent, so that they are already out $430, and will have no security if they have the note to pay. The proof for them also showed that Brand got them to sign the note by telling them that Tilley was sick, and he only wanted the note to show for the money in case of death, when the fact was that Tilley was not sick at all, and Brand concealed from them the purpose for which the note was obtained, but Usher knew nothing of this, and took the note in good faith when it was brought to him. The note referred to is in [700] these words: “One day after date we promise to pay to the order of J. A. Tilley the sum of three hundred dollars ($300.00) for value received. This note is given in lieu of and to take the place of a duebill for above amount, $300.00, executed by us on or about August 15,1904, in favor of said Tilley, which duebill has been either lost or misplaced by said Tilley, and this is to be a receipt against same. This September 21, 1904. W. T. Wilkins, J. R. Wilkins.” The court, at the conclusion of the evidence, instructed the jury as follows: “The court instructs the jux-y to find for plaintiff the sum of $300, unless they shall believe from the evidence that plaintiff, W. A. Usher, knew at the time he accepted the note sued on as collateral security that said note or the duebill it purported to he evidence of, was executed for money furnished by J. A. Tilley to the defendants Wilkins brother’s to go on his replevin bond, under agreement that said sura of xnoney was to be used by them to pay on said replevin bond, and that they have so used said money, in which event the law is for defendants, and you should so find. Or, unless the jury shall believe from the evidence that, at the time the writing sued on was executed by defendants Wilkins brothers, A. L. Brand, who presented said note for their signature, fraudulently concealed from the defendants the real nature of the writing sued on, and that defendaxxts were thereby deceived and induced to sign said writing — if you believe this latter proposition, the law is for the defendants, and you should s5 find.” The act regulating negotiable instruments, approved March 24, 1904 (Acts 1904 p. 213 c. 102), contains, among others, these provisions: “See. 25. Value is any consideration sufficient to support a simple contract. An antecedent or preexisting debt constitutes a value, and is deemed such, whether the instrument is payable on demand or at a future time. [701] ‘ ‘ Sec. 26. Where value has at any time been given for the instrument, the- holder is deemed a holder for value in respect to all parties who became such prior to that time. “Sec. 27. Where the holder has a lien on the instrument, arising either from contract or by implication of law, he is deemed a holder for value to the extent of his lien.” “Sec. 52. A holder in due course is a holder who has taken the instrument under the following conditions: (1) That the instrument is complete and regular upon its face. (2) That he became the holder of it before it was overdue, and without notice that it had been previously dishonored, if such was the fact. (3) That he took it in good faith and for value. (4) That at the time it was negotiated to him he had no notice of any infirmity in the instrument or defect in the title of the person negotiating it. ’ ’ “See. 56. To constitute notice of an infirmity in the instrument or defect in the title of the person negotiating the same, the person to whom it is negotiated must have had actual knowledge of the infirmity or defect, or knowledge of such facts that his action in taking the instrument amounted to bad faith. ‘ ‘ Sec. 57. A holder in due course holds the instrument free from any defect of title of prior parties and free from defenses available to prior parties among themselves, and may enforce payment of the instrument for the full amount thereof against all parties liable thereon.” “Sec. 59. Every holder is deemed prima facie to be a holder in due course.” . The evidence does not warrant the conclusion that the Wilkins brothers did not' know the real nature of the writing when they signed it. They were deceived as to the purpose for which the writing was [702] wanted, but they both saw tbe note before they signed it, and had ample opportunity to read it. Tbe instruction of tbe court in directing tbe jury to find for tbe plaintiff unless Usber, at tbe time be accepted tbe note as collateral security, knew of tbe infirmity of the paper follows section 59 of tbe act which provides that every bolder is deemed prima facie to be a bolder in due course. Although Usber took tbe nóte as collateral security for an antecedent debt, be was, under section 25, a bolder for value to tbe extent of bis lien. Tbe note was dated Septemb’er21 st. It was payable one day after date, or September 22d, but it was not overdue at any time on tbe 22d. Section 52 provides, among other things that tbe purchaser of a note before it is overdue may be a bolder for value. Usher’s purchase was made before tbe note was overdue. Tbe instrument was complete and regular on its face, and be bad no notice at tbe time of any infirmity in it. Tbe instruction of tbe court was therefore proper under tbe statute. Tbe defendants asked tbe court to instruct tbe jury that, if Brand noted for Usber in procuring tbe note from Wilkins brothers, and bad notice of'the agreement between them and Tilley, they should find for them. Tbe court properly refused to give this instruction, for there was nothing in tbe evidence to show that Brand bad any authority from Usher to act for him in any way with tbe Wilkins brothers. So far as tbe proof shows, Usber bad ho notice of Brand’s visit to them at all, and was in no' way connected with it. Brand evidently acted in this matter on bis own behalf to secure bis own debt of $117. Judgment affirmed,