Hall's Adm'x v. McHenry

19 Iowa 521

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: January 18, 1865
• Status: Published

Opinion

Weight, J.

i pkomis note: ad-party'after eiivery. Appellee, in his argument, does not insist that the adding of the words “ in specie ” had the effect to ^charge him. We may, therefore, dismiss this feature of the case without comment, simply referring to Sanderson v. Symond, 1 Brad. & 134 and Stephens v. Graham, 7 S. & R., as throwing some light on the question involved.

The points relied upon are: First. That the addition of the name of Lyon as a co-surety or co-promisor, without defendant’s consent, this being known to Hall, so changed the instrument as that it was not his (defendant’s) undertaking. Second. That if, notwithstanding this addition, it was binding, then plaintiff or the payee, by cutting off the name of the third promisor, so changed the note or affected its integrity as to discharge defendant.

When a note has. been fully issued, completed and delivered to the payee, the doctrine seems to be well sustained that the addition of another maker at the instance of the payee, and without the knowledge of tbe other makers, operates to discharge the latter. Thus, says Mr. Parsons, if a person sign a joint and several note with another as surety, and a third name be afterwards added also as surety, without his consent, the note is vitiated as to the first surety. 2 N. & B., 556.

The reasons or principles upon which this rule is founded, we need not discuss, as they will be found referred to at length by the learned author, and also in the following cases. Chappell v. Spencer, 23 Barb., 584; Harper v. The State, 7 Blackf., 61; Limestone v. Penick, 5 Mon., 32; Pulliam v. Withers, 8 Dana, 98; Adams v. Frye, 3 Metc., 103; note and authorities cited to Smith v. Croaker, 5 Mass., 540; Marthi v. Miller, 4 T. R, 320; S. C., 1 Smith’s Lead. Cas., 458, and note; 2 Pars, on Cont., § 7, p. 716; Add. on Cont., 1082; and see, particularly, the comparatively recent case (decided in 1855) of Gardner v. Walsh, 5 E. & B., 82, overruling Catler v. Simpson, 8 A. & E., 136.

2_before delivery, These cases and authorities, as far as we have been able to examine them, treat of the doctrine as applied to a note fully issued and delivered, and when the name is afterwards obtained, at the instance of the payee, or with his knowledge and consent, without the consent of the original maker or makers. Indeed, we can find no case precisely analagous to the one at bar. And we are not prepared to go to the extent of holding, that such addition of a name before the complete execution of the instrument, would have the effect of discharging the other joint and several maker, when the payee had no knowledge of the circumstances under which the note was signed by the joint maker, or of his intention at the time of signing. It will be readily seen that this might involve the inquiry, whether the surety, by delivering the note to the principal, had not placed it in his power to procure other parties, and whether- he, rather than the payee, should not suffer the consequences thereof. A field of inquiry not free from difficulty, and one which, in our opinion, we need not enter in this instance.

This note, on its face, shows that it is made by Gill as principal, and McHenry as Jus surety. In addition to this, it is averred in the answer that Hall, the payee, took the note with a full knowledge of all the facts. If so, then he knew that McHenry signed the note, intending to be the sole surety of Gill, and that he did not intend to be jointly and severally bound with any other person. This being so, it seems to us, that the reason of the rule applies, which would declare the defendant discharged, when the other name was added after the note was fully completed and delivered. For the payee knew just as well what defendant’s contract was, what his intended and understood liability, as though Lyon had not signed until after he had accepted the note and parted with his money. And this is especially so, when we consider that defendant was a surety, known to be such- to the payee, whose rights are guarded with great care, and as to whom the doctrine under discussion, should be applied as a protection and not to his injury. 2 Pars. N. & B., 561; Waterman v. Vose, 43 Maine, 504; Lisle v. Rogers, 18 B. Monr., 528.

3__ alteration. But however this may be (and it is due to one member of the court, Cole, J., to say, that he is not prepared to fully commit himself, to this position, in the absence 0f SOnre element of fraud on the part of the payee, or proof of injury to the defendant), yet we unite in the opinion, that the subsequent act of the payee, in cutting off the name of Lyon, without the knowledge of the other surety, had the effect of so altering the note as to discharge defendant. This amounted to a spoliation of the instrument, or so affected its integrity, by the act of the payee, as that he should not be allowed to claim any advantage from it, as against the other surety. A payee should not be allowed, thus at his mere will, however honest his motive, to tamper with a contract which should be kept entire and unmutilated,, and which frequently, and,. indeed, generally, is tbe best and only evidence of tbe rights, equities and liabilities of all tbe parties to it. Tbe policy of tbe law is, to look to and secure this integrity, and especially when it is assailed by tbe payee himself, without looking beyond to ascertain whether there has been actual injury or fraud. In support of this view, we refer to the authorities already cited, as also, Marn v. Bradley, 11 Mees. & Wels., 590; Gillett v. Sweet, 1 Gilm., 475.

So that we unite, without, perhaps, placing our opinions upon the same groqnds or adopting the same reasoning, in the conclusion, that the judgment below should be

Affirmed.