Haines v. Dennett

11 N.H. 180

• Court: Superior Court of New Hampshire
• Decided: December 15, 1840
• Status: Published

Opinion

Gilchrist, J.

The question in this case is, whether the maker of a promissory note, being released by the surety, is a competent witness, in a suit by a bona fide indorsee against the surety, to prove that the maker, without the knowledge of the surety, at the request of the payee, had altered the note.

The alteration was a material one. Kershaw vs. Cox, 3 Esp. 246; Knill vs. Williams, 10 East 431, in which last case it is said by Le Blanc, J., that the insertion in a bill of exchange, of words to make it negotiable, is a very material alteration.

And a material alteration, unauthorized by the maker, avoids the instrument; and no action can be afterwards brought upon it, even by an innocent holder, for a valuable consideration. Master vs. Miller, 4 T. R. 320; S. C. 2, Hen. Bl. 141.

The question, therefore, is, whether the evidence offered is competent to prove the alteration.

Until the decision of the case of Walton vs. Shelley, 1 T. R. 296, the rule and its exceptions were, in England, that every person was a competent witness who was not interested in the event of the cause, rendered infamous by a conviction of an offence, or excluded for infidelity. In that case, a new exception was introduced, “ that no party who has signed a paper or deed shall ever be permitted to give testimony to invalidate it.” This exception prevailed in England until the case was overruled by Jordaine vs. Lashbroake, 7 T. R. 597, having been recognized but a few years, and the common law doctrine reestablished; and it has been adhered to since that time. Ashton vs. Longes, 1 M. & M. 127.

The supreme court of New-York, in the case of Winton vs. Saidler, 3 Johns. Cas. 135, recognized the rule adopted in Walton vs. Shelley. But in Powell vs. Waters, 17 Johns. 176, Spencer, C. J., says, that the court in Winton vs. Said-ler undoubtedly meant to be understood that a person whose name was on a negotiable paper should not be heard to say that the paper thus sanctioned by his name was tainted when it passed from his hands. In the case of Stafford vs. Rice, 5 Cowen 23, Savage, C. J., says, that “ Winton vs. Saidler has been repeatedly overruled, and cannot now be considered as law.” And Woodworth, J., says that it was directly overruled in Powell vs. Powers, meaning probably Powell vs. Waters, as there was not at that time any such case as Powell vs. Powers in the New-York reports. It is also expressly denied to be law by Savage, C. J., in the Bank of Utica vs. Hillard, 5 Cowen 153. The case of Stafford vs. Rice, 5 Cowen 23, above referred to, decides that one whose name appears upon negotiable paper may, notwithstanding, be a witness to prove it void in its inception, for usury or other cause.

In Connecticut it has been held that a person is not a competent witness to impeach a writing which he has subscribed, on the ground of policy. Allen vs. Holkins, 1 Day 17; and in the case of Cowles vs. Wilcox, 4 Day 108, it is left doubtful whether a person who has no interest in the suit can be admitted as a witness to impeach a security which he has given. In Webb vs. Danforth, 1 Day 301, it is held, that a party to an instrument may be a witness to facts subsequent to the execution thereof, which tend to invalidate it. But in the case of Townsend vs. Bush, 1 Conn. R. 260, it has been decided, after much investigation, that a party to a negotiable instrument, if not interested in the event of the suit, is a competent witness to prove it usurious in its creation. The supreme court of Massachusetts, in the case of Warren vs. Merry, 3 Mass. 27, and Churchill vs. Suter, 4 Ditto 156, adopted the rule of Walton vs. Shelley, and hare adhered to it in numerous decisions subsequent to those. Jones vs. Coolidge, 7 Mass. 199, and various cases cited in a note to the case of Worcester vs. Eaton, 11 Mass. 375, Mr. Rand's edition. In Butler vs. Damon, 15 Mass. 223, the court say, that a party to a negotiable security shall not be received to show facts antecedent to the transfer, whereby the holder is to be defeated of his recovery ; and recognize this as the principle of Churchill vs. Suter.

The same rule is adopted in Maine. Deering vs. Sawtell, 4 Greenl. 191; Adams vs. Carver, 6 Ditto 390; Chandler vs. Morton, 5 Ditto 37; Clapp vs. Hanson, 3 Shepley 345; and these cases proceed upon the authority of Churchill vs. Suter, and the other decisions in Massachusetts in accordance with it.

In this court it has been held, that a party who has put his name to a negotiable instrument is not a competent witness to prove that the consideration was usurious, and the testimony of the maker was rejected. Houghton vs. Page, 1 N. H. Rep. 60. In this case the court say, that the rule is too well settled to be questioned ; and reference is made to Warren vs. Merry, 3 Mass. 27; Churchill vs. Suter, 4 Ditto 156; Manning vs. Wheatland, 10 Ditto 502, and Coleman vs. Wise, 3 Johns. 165; and the principle is also recognized in Bryant vs. Ritterbush, 2 N. H. Rep. 212, and Carleton vs. Whitcher, 5 Ditto 196.

The supreme court of the United States have adopted the same rule. Bank of U. S. vs. Dunn, 6 Pet. 51. No other •reason is given in this case, than that one who has given a note the sanction of his name, shall not invalidate it by his testimony. Bank of the Metropolis vs. Jones, 8 Peters 12.

The case of Walton vs. Shelley is the foundation of all the subsequent decisions in accordance with it. The cases which follow it, and which have been referred to above, contain no other, nor different reasons for the rule, than those given by Lord Mansfield, and his associates. Upon principle, then, the decisions in this country are of no greater weight than Walton vs. Shelley; and if the reasoning in that case be unsound, the case of Houghton vs. Page, 1 N. H. Rep. 60, cannot be held to be law.

In Walton vs. Shelley, Lord Mansfield says : “ But what strikes me is, the rule of law founded on public policy, which I take to be this, that no party who has signed a paper or deed shall ever be permitted to give testimony to invalidate that instrument which he hath so signed. And there is a sound reason for it, because every man who is a party to an instrument gives a credit to it. It is of consequence to mankind that no person should hang out false colors to them, by first affixing his signature to a paper, and then afterwards giving testimony to invalidate it. It is emphatically right in the case of notes, for in consequence of different statutes two very hard cases have arisen. First, with respect to a gaming note, which, though in possession of a bona fide purchaser, without notice, is void. It is similar in the case of usury : anote given for an usurious consideration, though in the hands of a fan indorsee, is equally void. And, therefore, whenever a man signs these instruments he is always understood to say that, to his knowledge, there is no legal objection whatever to them. The civil law says, ‘ nemo allegans suam turpitudinem est audiendus.’ ”

But the general proposition in this case, after having been denied by Lord Kenyon, in Bent vs. Baker, 3 T. R. 34, was finally overruled in the case of Jordaine vs. Lashbrooke, 7 T. R. 601, at which time but two of the judges who were oil the bench when Walton vs. Shelley was decided, were in office. These were Grose and Ashhurst. Of these, in Walton vs. Shelley, Ashhurst coincided with Lord Mansfield, but the opinion of Grose is not reported. In the case of Jordaine vs. Lashbrooke, Ashhurst adhered to his former opinion, but Grose agreed with the court. In the case of Jordaine vs. Lashbrooke, Lord Kenyon reasons thus : “ The proposition attempted to be established by the plaintiff is this: that for some technical reason, or for some reasons of policy, a court of justice must shut its ears, and not suffer facts to be disclosed which may be laid before them by a witness who is not infamous in his character, and who has no interest in the cause. If the law be so, there is some novelty in it. I have always understood the rale to be, that where a witness is infamous, and his record of conviction is produced, or where he is interested in the event of the cause, he cannot be received; but to carry the rule beyond that would be extending it farther than policy, morality, or the interests of the public, require. The rule contended for by the plaintiff is this, that however infamously you, (the defendant) have been used ; whatever fraud may have been committed on you ; whatever may be the rights of other persons, if I, (the plaintiff) the party to the fraud, can get on the instrument the name of the person who may be the only witness to the transaction, I will stand entrenched within the forms of law, and impose silence on that only witness, though he be a person of unimpeachable character, and not interested in the cause. But I cannot conceive on what ground such a proposition can be established. It. is contradicted by every hour’s experience; it would tend to show that a party to an instrument shall not be permitted to contest the validity of it in a court of law, not only by his own evidence, but by any evidence whatever.” Mr. Justice Grose says, that there can be no reason why a man should not disclose a fact, which, if true, it is his duty to the public to disclose ; and that if, by his assistance, the law has been violated, he owes to the public, by way of retribution, a disclosure of the circumstances. He also says that the maxim, “ homo allegans suarn turpitudinern, non est audiendus,” has no application to witnesses guilty of criminal actions.

Throughout this case it was admitted, that there was no foundation in the authorities for the doctrine of Walton vs. Shelley.

The same tribunals which, in the case of Walton vs. Shelley, recognized a doctrine alleged to be of great import-anee to the commercial world, at the same time insisted on a distinction which still exists in courts where Walton vs. Shelley is not yet overruled. The distinction first appears in the case of Charrington vs. Milner, Peake 6, where the indorser was admitted to prove payment of the note, because, as Lord Kenyon said, the evidence not proving the note originally void, he was clearly competent. Humphrey vs. Mason, Peake 53, is to the same effect. In these cases, which were tried before the decision of Jordaine vs. Lashbrooke, Lord Kenyon, sitting at nisi prius, undoubtedly felt himself bound to follow the doctrine of Walton vs. Shelley. In Adams vs. Lingard, Peake 117, and Phetheon vs. Whitmore, Peake 40, the cprestion is raised, but not decided. These cases seem to turn upon the question, whether they are within the decision of Walton vs. Shelley. Whether there was any reason in the distinction, is a point which appears to have been overlooked.

The cases in New-York and Massachusetts give no other reason for the distinction, than that the particular case is not within that of Walton vs. Shelley. Warren vs. Merry, 3 Mass. R. 28; Barker vs. Prentiss, 6 Ditto 430; Parker vs. Hanson, 7 Ditto 470. The case of Woodhull vs. Holmes, 10 Johns. 231, is decided upon the authority of the Massachusetts cases. Nor is any reason given for the distinction in Skilding vs. Haight, 15 Johns. 270.

We cannot perceive any sound reason for this distinction. Notwithstanding the adherence of some tribunals to the doctrine of Walton vs. Shelley, this exception gives the impression, that the application of the rule is avoided whenever it is practicable. If the doctrine of Walton vs. Shelley first came into existence with that case, as is said in Jordaine vs. Lashbrooke, this exception was not known until afterwards ; and the ground of the exception seems to be, that the case was not within Walton vs. Shelley, rather than because it had any particular reason or policy to recommend it.

If it be contrary to public policy and morality that a party to a negotiable security shall testify to facts which show it void in its creation, because he has given the paper the sanction of his name, is it not equally contrary to policy and morality, that he should disclose facts which happened after he has negotiated the paper, and which avoid the note ; when he himself, taking advantage of his situation as a party to the note, has committed the wrongful acts ? If the party should not testify to facts which show the note void when he transferred it, upon what principle should he disclose his improper dealing with the note after it is in the hands of his indorsee ? He may not deceive the indorsee, but he deceives the subsequent holders who, it is said, take the paper, relying on his signature. Policy and morality require, it is argued, that he shall not testify in a suit against the surety, that it was void at the time of its execution, and that he knew it, although the surety might not have known it. But the same policy and morality do not hinder him from testifying, that while the note was in the hands of the payee, he, the maker, altered the note without the assent of the surety. Upon this reasoning, policy and morality are to guide us only in relation to certain favored parties in interest. It is extremely impolitic and immoral that the world, who may take the bill, should be deceived ; but it is both politic and moral, or at least it is not the reverse, that a fraud should be committed upon the surety. If the rule be correct, the exception certainly is not; for nothing that deserves the name of principle can be so fluctuating and flexible. A rule founded upon public policy and morality, is intended to prevent certain results assumed to be opposed to that policy, and subversive of that morality. The rule must be applied in all cases where the same results follow : and no exception can be sound which permits the rule to be relaxed where the consequences are the same. We think, therefore, that the deposition of the maker is not admissible under the exception ; but if admissible, it is upon the broad ground that the rale adopted in Walton vs. Shelley, and followed and applied by this court, in Houghton vs. Page, is not law.

There are two reasons given for the rule. One of them is, that the maxim of the civil law, “ nemo allegans suam turpitiidinem est audiendus,” is applicable to the case of a witness whose name is upon the security. The rule, with some modification, has been practiced upon, at common law, in relation to parties to a suit. But the question is, if it be applicable to witnesses.

Mr. Justice Grose, in the case of Jordaine vs. Lashbrooke, says, that “ this as a maxim applied to parties in a case may in some cases be true ; but there, if both are participes criminis, the rule applies, potior est conditio defendentis. A man shall not sustain an action upon a ground which proves him guilty of a breach of the law. So a man shall not recover money due upon an illegal consideration, such as usury, gaming, smuggling, or the like. But this rale does not extend to shut the mouths of witnesses guilty of criminal actions ; if it did, witnesses daily received in courts of justice, and whom the policy of the law invites to come forward, must be rejected; such as accomplices, and others concerned in illegal transactions.” So, in trover against a pawnbroker, the servant embezzling his master’s goods, and pawning them, is admitted to prove that fact. Buller’s Nisi Prius 290. So, a witness who admits that he has been in prison under judgment for grand larceny, is competent. Rex vs. Castel Careinion, 8 East 73. So, if he admit that he has committed perjury on another occasion. Rex vs. Teal, 11 East 309. So, a servant who has embezzled money or notes of his master, is an admissible witness, provided he has a release, against the person who received the property of him, in an action brought by the master to recover the amount. Clark vs. Shee, Cowp. 199. And a witness is admissible to prove that he forged a will. Wright vs. Littler, 3 Burrow 1255. It is also remarked, in 2 Evans's Pothier 276, that the real principle of the maxim is no more than that a person shall not found any claim, or defend upon his own iniquity, and that it has no relation to the case of a witness. Rands vs. Thomas, 5 M. & S. 244.

We think the maxim is not to be regarded as a rule of evidence, but as a principle applicable only to the right of a party to recover. As the authorities show that it has not been applied to witnesses, the rule can derive no support from it.

The other reason for the rale is the very comprehensive one, that it is contrary to policy to sustain the negotiability of commercial paper by the admission of such evidence. But the general rule of law is to admit, rather than to exclude testimony; to ascertain the truth, rather than to shut it out. It is an evil, doubtless, that a note is ever held to be void in the hands of an innocent holder ; but the fraud upon the surety is an evil equally to be guarded against. We cannot apply to the surety the rule of law, that where one or two innocent parties must suffer by the fraud of a third person, the party who has trusted such third person, and enabled him to deceive the other, is to abide the consequences of the fraud, however innocent he may have been in other respects. For any unauthorized dealing with the note, after the surety had signed it, we do not see that the surety is responsible. The maker of the note, as such, has no authority to alter a note at the expense of the surety. The case of Goodman vs. Eastman, 4 N. H. Rep. 455. decides that the maker cannot alter a note from twenty dollars to one hundred and twenty dollars, and thereby bind the surety to pay the larger sum ; and the principle of that case, and the reasoning, are equally applicable to the case before us. Nor do we anticipate the existence of any evil effects, so injurious to the public as the exclusion of a witness, not interested nor infamous, and who knows the facts. Justice can be done the plaintiff only by shutting out the truth, and doing injustice to the surety. If the truth be admitted, let the evil fall where it may. It is a misfortune to the plaintiff, but one from which we can relieve him only by excluding the facts. In the language of Mr. Justice Lawrence, in Jordaine vs. Lashbrooke, “ if the matter may be proved by a witness, not a party to the bill, how can a defendant, not estopped to make such a defence, be deprived of the testimony of a witness, called to establish a defence, which the law allows, and not interested nor infamous ? It is certainly of consequence to prevent men hanging out false colors ; but the rule must be applied to theparties to the cause, or you may prejudice men who have not hung out such colors.”

We consider the rule of law, that all witnesses shall testify, who are not excluded for interest, infamy, or infidelity, as of the greatest consequence to the cause of justice. It is of too much consequence to be restricted by the policy of the law as to the circulation of negotiable paper. We are, therefore, of opinion that the case of Houghton vs. Page, 1 N. H. Rep. 60, is not law; (See 9 N. H. Rep. 348; 10 N. H. Rep. 343;) that the deposition of the maker of the note, in this case, was properly admitted; and that there be

Judgment on the verdict.