Maltz v. Fletcher

Cooley, C. J. The facts out of which this litigation arises appear in the opinion of the Court in Beekman v. Fletcher 48 Mich. 156. In the year 1881 John G-. Beekman, assignee of the Alpena Lumber Company, filed his bill in the circuit court for the county of Alpena in chancery to restrain Fletcher from interfering with or taking legal or other measures to get possession of certain logs, the ownership of which was in dispute between them. The bill showed that the controversy respecting the logs was involved in another suit in equity to which Beekman and Fletcher were parties, and it prayed no other relief than' an injunction and the appointment off a receiver for the logs, to abide the result of the principal litigation. In that injunction suit Maltz was appointed receiver by consent of the parties ; and was authorized to sell the logs and hold the proceeds subject to the order of the court. This Court was of opinion that there was no equitable ground on which the injunction suit could be maintained, and the bill was directed to be dismissed. As to the receiver it was said in the opinion that he “ got his appointment and all his powers from the consent of the parties and became their baileeand there will be no difficulty in reaching a disposition of the funds when the parties have settled their rights ; which could not be done in this suit.” The present suit is brought on promissory notes given by Fletcher to Maltz. The defense which Fletcher undertook to make was that the notes were given for the logs of which Maltz was receiver, and. which he allowed Fletcher to take at a price agreed upon ; that it was understood when the notes were given that they were only to be paid if the logs should be adjudged not to belong to Fletcher, and that they were Fletcher’s in fact. The circuit judge was of opinion that this defense could not be made, because it would be in effect permitting an oral understanding to control the written contract of the parties. ¥e are of opinion that this is not the proper view to take of the case. .The suit in which Maltz was appointed receiver was disposed of, leaving him mere bailee in respect [486] to the logs or their proceeds. He was not an officer of the court, and could only be called to account by the parties in individual suits. His bailment was for the party entitled in fact; in other words for the real owner. The intent of the parties that he should account under the order of the court was defeated when it was decided that there was mr case of equitable cognizance; for that determined that there was no pending case in which he could be called to account. If, therefore, Fletcher was in fact, as he offered to show, the owner of these logs, the bailment was for him, and any notes he had given for the logs, and which depended for their consideration upon the pendency of the suit, were without consideration when the suit was disposed of without a decision upon the merits of the controversy between the parties. It is always competent to show that a contract sued irpon is without consideration. And no rule or policy of the law is violated by allowing proof to be made of the purpose for which negotiable paper was given : or that the purpose does not require that payment should be enforced. Colman v. Post 10 Mich. 422; Catlin v. Birchard 13 Mich. 110; Bowker v. Johnson 17 Mich. 46. Counsel for the plaintiff very justly say that this conclusion imposes very serious hardship upon Maltz, who, having consented to act for the parties, and having no personal interest in the controversy, is compelled to determine at his peril whom he will recognize as owner. Common fairness to him seems to require that the parties should come to some understanding whereby they may relieve him from this embarrassment; but the Court is powerless in the premises. A new trial must be ordered. The other Justices concurred.