Baugher v. Duphorn

9 Gill 314

• Court: Court of Appeals of Maryland
• Decided: December 15, 1850
• Status: Published

Opinion

Frick, J.,

delivered the opinion of this court.

Samuel Duphorn, one of the defendants in the court below, had purchased of John Wilson, a tract of land for which he gave three bonds with the other appellees as sureties. Two of these bonds constitute the matter in controversy, upon the pleadings and issues in the case, which affirm that they have been paid.

At the time of the purchase of the land, it was agreed between Samuel Duphorn and his sureties, that bark should be taken from the land so bought, and should be delivered to Joseph Baugher, & Co., (of which firm Isaac was a partner,) the proceeds of which were to be applied to the payment of these bonds. It does not appear that Baugher & Co., were parties to this agreement; but bark exceeding in value the amount of these bonds was delivered to them in conformity ■with the agreement. When the first bond became due, upon application to Samuel Duphorn for payment, Wilson was referred by him to Isaac Baugher, saying that he had received the bark for that purpose, and “he expected him to lift the bond.” When Wilson called, Isaac admitted that bark had been received sufficient to pay the bond, but stated that he had a large account upon other matters against Samuel Duphorn and John Duphorn, his brother, (who were partners in the bark,) “nevertheless” he said to Wilson, “if you will assign the bond, I will pay you the money,” Wilson accordingly agreed so to assign the bond “at Isaac Baugher's risk,” who thereupon paid the money. So afterwards, when the second bond became due, Isaac called upon Wilson, and upon receiving a similar assignment, also paid the second bond.

John Duphorn, the brother and partner of Samuel in the bark, was also a party to the agreement of Samuel, with his sureties.

After the assignment of the first bond, (on the 22nd of October, 1844,) Baugher & Co., in February 1845, settled debts due to them by Samuel and John Duphorn, with the proceeds of bark delivered to them, amounting to $753, and afterwards, in December 1846, some time after the payment of the second bond, a further settlement for bark was made between them, amounting to $1240. Prom-these settlements the two bonds were excluded and retained by Isaac Baugher, and are now the 'cause of action in the present suit.

To the declaration in this case the defendants have put in five pleas, which may in subtance be thus abridged.

The first two are pleas of payment at maturity, and after the maturity of the bonds, to the assignee Isaac Baugher, in his life time.

The third is, that the defendants delivered (he bark to the assignee Isaac, in full discharge and satisfaction of the bonds.

Th e fourth, that Samuel, one of the defendants, before suit, delivered bark to the value of $1200 to Isaac and Joseph Baugher, as partners, to be applied in payment of these bonds, which was received by fsaac with a knowledge of this intended application, before the assignment to him of the bonds, and that he did out of the proceeds of the bark, so pay these two bonds.

The fifth, that Samuel agreed with his sureties, that the bark taken from the land, should be applied to the payment of these bonds, and that in pursuance thereof, Samuel at, (fee., did deliver to Isaac and Joseph Baugher bark to be so applied, the said Isaac knowing before the assignment, of said application, and that he did afterwards pay the said bonds out of the proceeds, &c.

On these pleas and the general replication, the issues are made up, and the instructions of the court upon the several prayers submitted at the trial, and also the verdict being in favor of the defendants, the present appeal is brought up by the plaintiffs in the case.

The hypothesis which the plaintiffs seek to maintain is, that whatever agreement, if any, subsisted between the Baughers and the Duphorns, as to the application of the proceeds of the bark, it was at all times subject to modification between themselves as debtor and creditor, and unless Annan and Gamble were parties to the agreement, they can have no right to complain of the revocation of it, or the altered direction given to the fund. It is contended that a contract made by a principal with a third party to pay off a debt, where sureties are concerned, to make it binding on such parties and irrevocable, it is necessary that the sureties should be parties to the agreement. And as a general proposition in the absence of other special circumstances, that may control or forbid the violation of such agreement, this is conceded. But a third party may have such knowledge or notice of the interest of the sureties, and may so far assent to their rights in the agreement, as to preclude him from diverting the payment and depriving the sureties of their contemplated indemnity. If he has in any way assented to the application of the fund to the particular debt, with a notice that such direction was given to it, to- indemnify sureties, or if he receives the fund with that understanding, he has acquiesced in the agreement of the principal with his sureties, and it is not in the power of either to change it without the assent of the others. A security so given and a fund so pledged must enure by operation of law to the benefit of the sureties, and cannot afterwards be diverted to their prejudice, and the depository will be bound to apply it as directed, whether the sureties are expressly parties with him to the agreement or not.

There is therefore no error in the instruction given by the court at the instance of the defendants: “that if the jury find from the evidence in the cause that there was a contract or agreement between Annan and Gamble and Samuel and John Duphorn, to lohieh Joseph Baugher óp Co., assented, that the purchase money to be paid by the Baughers for the bark, should be applied to the payment of the bonds, and that the bark was sold and delivered to (hem upon said contract, that it was not competent for the Duphorns and Baughers to' apply the proceeds to any purpose inconsistent with such contract, without the consent of Annan and Gamble.”

There was certainly evidence in the cause competent to go to the jury to establish such an assent between the Duphorns and Baugher fy Co., and that the money paid by Isaac Baugher to Wilson, the obligee, was paid in pursuance of it, and in liquidation of the notes. Theory to which the plaintiffs restrict this agreement and evidence is, that when the Duphorns should get the proceeds from Baugher fy Co., they were to pay the notes with the amount, and thus relieve the securities, and this it is said imposed no obligation on the Baughers. Concede it to be so, and yet it is not at all in conflict with the fact afterwards, that Samuel Duphorn as most convenient to all parties should direct Wilson to call and receive the money. And when Wilson accordingly informs Isaac Baugher, that the bark was delivered for the purpose, and that Duphorn expected the Baughers to lift the note, he admits the receipt of the bark, and upon an assignment of the note, he pays it. If, the jury believe these facts, does it admit of a question that the defendant’s pleas are maintained, and that the note is paid in conformity with the intention and agreement of the Duphorns? If the Baughers had received bark enough to cover the amount of the note, and Isaac Baugher assented to the order to pay, it was paid by his compliance. The law will so construct it and the parties between themselves cannot after-wards revoke the payment, where the rights of third parties are concerned. At all events by such payment the sureties are discharged. And if once discharged, how can the Baughers afterwards revive the obligation of the sureties, by any subsequent arrangement with the Duphorns to give to this fund a different direction? At the maturity of the second note Isaac calls himself on Wilson, without waiting to be applied to, and becomes the owner and assignee of this second bond or note. His firm had then in hand and afterwards upon the settlement, more than enough of funds and proceeds from the bark, to liquidate both the notes. These funds were in his hands dedicated to the payment of the notes. He had knowledge and notice of the fact, and he also assented to it as Wilson’s testimony proves. Notwithstanding the subsequent misapplication of the funds, they must be considered as in his hands, and only applicable to these notes in the first instance, and as soon as he became the owner of the notes by the assignment, the law regards it as a payment of them, and thus the plea of payment to Isaac Baugher is supported, and substantially reaches the case in the view here presented. For there is not the slightest proof offered to sustain the pretext, that, he intended and did become the bona fide purchaser of these notes, independent of the fund in the hands of Baugher 6y Co. devoted to the discharge of them.

The court below having thus properly granted the instruction asked by the defendants, with the same propriety rejected the prayer of the plaintiffs next succeeding it, that is the third prayer in the record.

It proceeds upon the hypothesis that although a contract did exist between the Duphorns and Joseph Baugher Sf Co., that the bark was to be delivered to them, and the purchase money applied to the payment of Wilson’s notes, yet if Jlnnan and Gamble were not parties to the contract, they, the Duphorns, and Baugher Co. had a right to revoke it, unless the defendants should prove (hat Joseph and Isaac Baugher had notice of the contract existing between Duphorn and his sureties, (hat the bark should be delivered to said Joseph and Isaac Baugher, and that the purchase money was to be applied to the payment of the notes.

If the county court was right in the preceding instruction, that the assent of the Baughers to apply the proceeds of this bark to the payment of Wilson’s notes, was sufficient, without being parties to the contract with the Duphorns, and the sureties on ihe- notes, then it was not incumbent on the defendants to prove that they had also notice of the contract existing between the parties to the notes. The funds and the means placed in their hands were devoted to that particular purpose, and Isaac was distinctly so told and warned before he paid the notes. Sufficient then it was, that he so far recognized the arrangement and actually so applied the proceeds to that purpose. It was then not necessary that they should be notified of the contract between the others; more especially that Isaac and Joseph, both should have notice as the prayer requires. As partners, notice to either was notice to both. The prayer was therefore properly rejected.

The 4th prayer, (by the plaintiffs,) assumes that if before the institution of this suit, the Duphorns had received from Isaac, one of the firm, payment for the bark delivered in 1844 and ’45; that the said bark was allowed in settlement between the Duphorns and Isaac Baugher Co., (another firm of which Isaac was a partner,) and applied to the payment of moneys due to that firm, with the assent of the Duphorns, then the plaintiffs are entitled to recover on the notes.

This is still the assertion in another form, that the Duphorns and the Baughers had a right to divert this fund, in the face of evidence from which the jury might infer that the notes were actually paid and satisfied, either to Wilson or to Baugher, the assignee, out of the fund. And if so, the Duphorns could have no right to demand of Joseph Baugher Co., the payment of the proceeds of the bark already applied; and the settlement afterwards made by Isaac, by and between the two firms of which he was a member, and the Duphorns, was at his own risk. There was notice to him in the first interview between him and Wilson, before the assignment, that the bark was so appropriated to the payment of these notes, and upon this notice, he paid them and received the assignments. After this he could have no right by another settlement with the Duphorns, including all the bark, to revoke the previous payment to the prejudice of the sureties, whose equities were then distinctly known to him, by their names upon the notes in his possession, and the instruction here asked was properly refused.

The 5th exception (the plaintiffs,) avers: that there was no evidence from which the jury could infer that there was an agreement between the Duphorns and the sureties, that the bark taken from the land purchased, was to be delivered and sold to the Baughers, and the proceeds applied to the payment of the bills; and that the bark was delivered to, and received by them under such agreeement, of which Isaac had notice or knowledge when he purchased the notes.

Even supposing no testimony in the case which would expressly convey to Isaac the knowledge or notice of the agreement of jDuphorn with his sureties, it. must be admitted that he had notice of the dedication of this bark in the hands of Baugher <§' Co., to the payment of these notes; and the first note when presented to Isaac by Wilson for payment, was notice to him of the names and position of the sureties, to whose benefit the payment was to enure, and against whom he took the assignment. There is ample testimony in the record to prove the agreement between Duphorn and his sureties; and upon these premises the jury had sufficient grounds to infer from the conditions connected with the delivery of the bark to the Baughers, and the proposed application of the proceeds, that the agreement of the parties to the notes was known to Isaac. And independent of this, the court could not be asked to instruct the jury that Isaac “purchased” these notes, when the question on the other hand submitted to them, was, whether he had not paid and extinguished them. This assumption of the fact of purchase must be fatal to the prayer, as calculated to mislead the jury.

We have omitted to say that Wilson’s testimony does not stand alone, but is supported by two other witnesses in the cause. John Duphorn, after stating that he became a partner in the bark after the purchase, says that it was delivered by himself and his brother, with the intention of paying the notes, according to an agreement by them with Annan and Gamble, and that upon one occasion he overheard Isaac in a conversation with his brother, say: “That he had conversed with Joseph Baugher about the matter, and they had agreed to say nothing about the store accounts, and pay that note or notes.” No particular note or notes were specified, nor does he know or say that the Baughers knew of the contract. But Snovffer, another witness, testifies that he delivered] the bark from time to time, and expressly told Joseph Baugher, that “ if it was not that we, (meaning the Dupho?'ns,) were bound to deliver the bark for the payment of the land, we would not haul you a stick.”

Surely then the court could not tell the jury, that there was no evidence from which they could infer knowledge on the part of the Baughers. On the contrary, in connection with this testimony, they were bound to submit the whole to the jury, and properly rejected the prayer of the plaintiffs.

This testimony, however, has been excepted to by the plaintiff, but we think upon insufficient grounds. John Duphorn, it is said, is a partner in the bark, and a partner in the land, as is shown by the recital in the deed of trust subsequently executed by the Duphorns of the one part, and Annan and Gamble of the other, in 1848, and long after the assignment to Isaac Baugher, to secure the payment of these notes, which deed the plaintiffs produce in evidence. The deed recites that he became so interested after the purchase by Samuel; and it is objected to him that he is now interested in defeating these plaintiffs, thereby relieving this security of the land, which consequently enures to the benefit of the witness. But if he does defeat the plaintiffs in this action upon the notes, he is still to refund to them as a partner with Samuel in the bark, which has then been overpaid by the Baughers to the amount of these notes. In either event his liability accrues, and his interest is balanced. For if the plaintiffs recover, he is equally liable over to Samuel for contribution as a partner, both in the bark and in the land.

But even if not so, the objection comes too late. In the progress of the trial after the testimony of Wilson had been read to the jury, this deposition of John Duphorn was introduced by the defendants, and Snouffer was then examined by them. The plaintiffs to rebut this testimony, examined Eli Smith, and afterwards introduced the deed from the Duphorns to Annan and Gamble. After all this evidence on both sides was in and made part of the first three bills of exception, and after all the other exceptions, the plaintiffs for the first time suggest this exception to the testimony. The objection is certainly not in due time, and should properly be made, when the interest of the witness is first disclosed to the party. Star He's Ev., T5T.

The deposition which was filed in court, avows that John was half interested in the bark with his brother. At the trial, the plaintiffs had also in their hands the deed of trust confirming the fact of his interest in both the bark and the land. Yet they permitted the deposition to be read, and introduced the testimony of Smith, to contradict and explain it, and only after all the testimony and other exceptions were before the jury, take this objection. Under such circumstances it comes too late. It must at least be taken in a reasonable time after the objection is known to the party. 5 Gill, 120.

We are at a loss to perceive how the testimony of Snouffer “is irrelevant to the issue, as not showing any connection of Isaac Baugher with it.” In the first place it shows the delivery of the bark to Joseph Baugher if Co., and next, that Isaac was a partner of that firm with Joseph, to whom the the conversation of the witness was directed. It thus establishes one of the elements of proof from which the jury might infer notice to Isaac some months previous to the payment and assignment, that ths bark was delivered with a view to that payment. It is therefore both material and relevant to the issue; and in this as in all the other instructions of the county court, there is no error. The judgment below must be affirmed.

JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.