Holmes v. Preston

Cooper, J., delivered tlie opinion of the court. While we Would have preferred the rule that the liability of an irregular indorser of a negotiable instrument was prima facie that of a co promisor with the party primarily bound, we are precluded from adopting it by former decisions of this court. In the case of Thomas v. Jennings, 5 S. & M., 630, reported also on another appeal in Jennings v. Thomas, 7 S. & M., 617, [155] the rule was declared that the liability of such party was determinable by the nature of the transaction, which must be proved by evidence other than that afforded by the instrument itself. In other words, that a defendant, not connected with a promissory note or bill of exchange otherwise than by ■such irregular indorsement, may be charged as maker, acceptor, indorser or guarantor, as the evidence may disclose his contract to have been, and that the instrument alone is not sufficient evidence to charge him in either capacity. In Polkinghorne v. Hendricks, 61 Miss., 366, it is decided that one who, by irregular indorsement, by writing his name on the back of a negotiable instrument, before its delivery, for the purpose of giving credit to the party primarily liable thereon, becomes liable as a co-promisor with such person. Hnder the decisions in Thomas v. Jennings, the evidence •of the plaintiffs, which consisted only of the bill of exchange and its protest, was insufficient to uphold a verdict against the appellant, Holmes. But the appellees contend that, since the facts set out in the declaration are supported by the evidence, the defendant has lost all right to object to their sufficiency by failing to ■demur to the declaration; that a judgment in their favor on a demurrer to the evidence is to he considered just as the verdict of the jury would have been, and that the defect is cured by the judgment of the coui’t on the demurrer, by that provision of the statute of jeofails, which declares that “no judgment shall be stayed or reversed, after verdict, . . . from any mispleading, insufficient pleading, ... or for omitting the averment of any matter without proving which the jury ought not to have given such verdict.” Code 1892, § 746; This contention by appellees is upon the assumption that the defect of evidence goes only to the extent of a failure to prove that notice was given to appellant of the dishonor •of the bill; and the argument is, that, since the declaration did not aver su’ch notice, the appellant, by failing to demur [156] to the declaration, waived the defense of wTant of notice. There are 'two replies to this. The first is that, under the rule announced in Thomas v. Jennings, the mere production of the note was insufficient to fix any liability upon Holmes. The second is that the statute of jeofails cures only defects of pleading, and not those of proof. If a defectively stated case is well proved, the verdict cures the defect of the pleading, and so, after verdict, nothing t'o the contrary appearing in the record, it would be presumed that a case was proved entitling the successful plaintiff to the verdict secured; but when the evidence is made a part of the record by a demui’rer thereto, or by general bill of exceptions upon motion for a new trial overruled, the court, must find sufficient evidence to support the judgment or verdict before it can be permitted to stand. A defectively stated cause of action cannot occupy a stronger position than one correctly averred, and a verdict under either must find support in the evidence. Reaves v. Dennis, 6 S. & M., 89. The judgment on the demurrer should have been for the defendant, but to render that judgment here would be to preclude the plaintiffs from the opportunity of making out their case. They seasonably applied to the court for leave to make further proof, which was denied them, and they were-forced to join in the demurrer. Since the judgment of the court below was in their favor, they cannot now assign error of the action of the court in refusing them leave to supply the defect of evideuce. This the court should ha.ve permitted to be done. The substantial rights of litigants should not be lost by reason of the-mere slip or inadvertence of counsel when discovered during the progress of the trial, and application to avoid its effect is promptly made, which, if granted, would result in no delay or injustice to the adversary party.' The plaintiffs are not entitled to retain the judgment they have secured, but, to preserve the rights of both parties, we will reverse the judgment, discharge the demurrer to the evidence, and remand the cause.