Hoffman v. Atkins

Merrick, C. J. The answer to' the appeal, praying" an amendment of the judgment in favor of the appellee, waives the motion tor dismiss the appeal. This is an action upon two promissory notes, signed by Jacob Michael, the maker, and endorsed by the payee, ÁdviUe Aikins, and the defendant, Riddle. The plaintiffs allege that Riddle placed his name on the back of the notes as surety for their payment at maturity. The defendant Riddle in his answer admits his signature, and “ avers that he is only surety, and as such is not liable for the payment of the debt, for this, that there has never been any legal protest made, or notice of protest given, or any of the requirements of law complied with in the premises to’ make him liable as surety as aforesaid.” One of the notes having been protested for non-payment, and due notice given, judgment was rendered thereon against both defendants. As it respects the other note, the plaintiff failed to introduce proof of any notice to Atkins of a demand upon the maker. The judge of the lower court rendered a judgment of non-suit in favor of Aikins; and a final judgment in favor of Riddle, on the ground that as he was but a surety for the payment of the debt, he was discharged because the holder had lost one of the securities to' the note b'y his failure to protest the note and give notice thereof to Aikins, and that he was therefore unable to subrogate the surety to any right of action' against the first endorser. We do not think that we are called upon to decide the questions whether Riddle was surety for Michael or Atkins, of both, or whether, as a surety upon the note generally, he stands in any better position than an endorser, With' notice 1 The pleadings are not sufficient to put at issue the fact asserted, that the plaintiff has through his acts lost any of the securities upon the note, and thereby become unable to subrogate the surety to his rights. Such a defence implies an admission that plaintiff did have a demand against the surety, and that the same has been discharged by the act of plaintiffs. This is in the nature of an exception in factum composite:, which should have been specially pleaded. C. P. 337, 346; Inst. 4, 13,5 1; New Orleans Gaslight Company v. Hudson, 5 Rob. 486. The defendant, Adville Aikins, not being before us, no judgment can be rendered affecting him. [173] It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed by the court that the judgment of the lower court as to said Napoleon B. Biddle be avoided and reversed, and now proceeding to pronounce such judgment as to said Biddle as ought to have been rendered by the lower court, it is ordered, adjudged and decreed by the court that the said plaintiffs do have and recover judgment against the said Napoleon B. Riddle, as surety upon said promissory note, for the sum of eight hundred dollars, with eight per cent, interest on the sum of four hundred dollars, from-the 11th day of July, 1855, until paid, and the like rate of interest on the further sum of four hundred dollars, from the 11th day of October, 1855, until paid, together with costs of protest and cost of suit ordered in both courts.