Harmon v. Moffitt

6 D.C. 297

• Court: District of Columbia Court of Appeals
• Decided: October 20, 1868
• Docket: No. 3163
• Status: Published

Opinions

Mr. Justice Wylie

delivered the opinion of the Court:

The plaintiffs were partners, and claim that' they sold to the defendant and one P. House, who bought the same jointly, a bill of lumber amounting to $1,445.79, for which they gave the promissory note of the said House, indorsed by Moffitt at four months. The note was dated the 10th of April, 1865, and was made “payable at any bank in Washington, D. C.” It fell due on the 13th of August, when demand of payment was made at the'First National Bank and two banking houses in said city, which -was refused and notice thereof being sent by mail to the maker and indorser, directed to the cashier of the First National Bank of Alexandria, through whom it had been doubtless sent for collection, and whose name as cashier was also on the back of the note.

The declaration contains a count on defendant’s indorsement, and avers due demand made on the maker for payment, and notice of non-payment given to the defendant and the note and protest are attached to the declaration. It also contains a count for goods sold and delivered to the amount of the note.

Defendant pleaded: 1st. That he never was indebted as alleged. 2d. That he did not promise as alleged. 3d. A failure of the consideration of said note, and that $622.80 was all that was due. 4th. Defendant claimed to recoup $500 expended in transporting the lumber, the sale and delivery of said lumber being the consideration of the note.

On the trial, the plaintiffs gave evidence tending to show that they sold the lumber to House and Moffitt jointly, and that credit was given to them jointly, and that they received the promissory note in question in payment of said bill; that after the note had become due the defendant promised to pay it, but subsequently refused to do so, and thereupon closed his case. Thereupon defendants asked the Court to instruct the jury that the verdict must be for the defendant on the ground that neither the promissory note sued on nor proof of demand and notice had been given to the jury, but the Court refused to so instruct the jury, to which refusal the defendant thereupon excepted. A verdict was then rendered for the plaintiff.

Wo think the Court below was right in refusing to grant this instruction. The note and protest were attached to the declaration filed in the case, and it further appears that on the cross-examination of the defendant’s witnesses, the note in question was produced and proved. As to the objection that there was no proof of demand on the maker, and notice of non-payment to the indorser, the promise to pay by the defendant was prima facie evidence that the note had been properly presented, dishonored, and due notice given the indorser. Lord Ellenborough decided this in 7th East., 231. This doctrine is entirely consonant with Thornton vs. Wynn, 12 Wheaton, 183.