Kelly v. Staed

37 S.W. 1110, 136 Mo. 430, 1896 Mo. LEXIS 340
CourtSupreme Court of Missouri
DecidedDecember 15, 1896
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 37 S.W. 1110 (Kelly v. Staed) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kelly v. Staed, 37 S.W. 1110, 136 Mo. 430, 1896 Mo. LEXIS 340 (Mo. 1896).

Opinion

Bukgess, J.

This action was begun in the circuit ■ court of the city of St. Louis to enjoin the defendant, who was then sheriff of said city, from selling, under a deed of trust, certain real estate in that city.

On the twenty-second day of April, 1891, one Alonzo K. Florida, was the owner in fee of the real estate in question. On that day he conveyed it by general warranty deed to Josephine L. Wellington, of said city for a stated consideration, but which in fact, was never paid. On the same day Josephine L. Wellington executed and delivered to said Florida her promissory note for $3,000, due one year after date, with two interest notes; and to secure the payment of said notes she at the same time executed a deed of trust on said property to secure their payment in which one Gilbert J. George was named as trustee.

Thereafter, on the same day, she, without any consideration, reconveyed all of the property to Florida, by deed of general warranty, subject to said deed of trust, Florida assuming and agreeing to pay the debt [434]*434secured by it. The notes secured by the deed of trust were accommodation paper only. Florida afterward gold the principal note to Sallie M. and F. C. Sharp, which was not paid when it became due and went to protest. Thereafter and before the' twenty-eighth day of April, 1892, Florida paid the note, took it up and on that day sold it for value and delivered it to William Spear, but did not release the deed of trust. Spear agreed to take the security with the indorsement of' Florida and Gilbert J. George (the trustee), indorsing on the note an extension for six months at eight per cent interest (the note calling for ten per cent after maturity), and paid Florida therefor $3,000 in cash.

On the seventh day of July following, Florida, representing to George, the trustee, that the note had been paid induced him to join him in the execution of a deed of release reciting therein that the Wellington note had been paid. This deed was recorded on the thirteenth day of July, 1892.

On the sixth day of July, 1892, Florida and wife by warranty deed of that date, acknowledged July 15, and recorded July 19, 1892, sold and conveyed the property to Mrs. Branconier, who thereafter, to wit, on‘the twenty-fifth day of October, 1892, sold and .conveyed.by deed of general warranty, her husband, David Branconier, joining with her, said property to the plaintiff, Catharine Kelly.

When the six months extension matured in October, .1892, Florida asked Spear to carry the note awhile; that he, Florida, had sold the property and had made an arrangement to carry it (the note) for the purchaser. Subsequently Florida paid the interest to Spear and asked him to hold the note until the end of the year, that is, for six months longer.

After the expiration of the time of the last extension, Spear called upon George, the trustee, to sell the [435]*435property under the deed of trust, but he was absent from the city, and refused to act. The deed of trust provided that in the event of the “absence of the trustee from the city of St. Louis, sickness, disease, or other disability, or refusal to act, the acting sheriff for the time being of the city of St. Louis, upon the request of the legal holder of the notes,” etc., should act. Thereupon Spear called upon defendant Staed, the sheriff, to act as trustee, who in accordance with said request made publication of notice of sale under the power in the deed of trust.

Mrs. Branconier and husband, and Mrs. Kelly and her husband instituted this suit to enjoin the sale, setting up the deed of. release, and also that the note had been “conveyed” in the fee, and thereby annulled.

A temporary injunction being granted, an answer and motion to dissolve were filed by respondent alleging that, “the note was outstanding, due, and unpaid, the property of Spear,' and that the deed of release was void.”

The filing of this suit was the first notice to Spear • of this deed of release.

Upon the trial the injunction was dissolved and the petition dismissed. At the same term $295 damages were assessed under the injunction bond. Appeal was first taken by plaintiffs to the court of appeals, and was thence transferred to this court.

It is contended by plaintiffs that, as Spear took the note áfter maturity, with notice of its dishonor, he took it subject to the defenses: that it was withput consideration; that after its maturity it was paid by Florida, who had contracted and agreed to assume and pay it; and that the fact that Florida may have attempted to reissue it, after he came in possession of it the second time was of no avail to Spear, the holder.

It is a rule of universal application that where a [436]*436negotiable note is transferred after it becomes due the assignee takes it subject to all equities and defenses as between the maker and payee. Chappell v. Allen, 38 Mo. 213; Livermore v. Blood, 40 Mo. 49; Kellogg v. Schnaake, 56 Mo. 136; 1 Daniel on Negotiable Instruments [4 Ed.], sec. 724a. But in such case it is only subject in the hands of the indorsee to such equities and defenses as are connected with the note itself, and not such as grow out of transactions disconnected with the note. Cutler v. Cook, 77 Mo. 388; Barnes v. McMullins, 78 Mo. 260; Knaus v. Givens, 110 Mo. 58. It follows that as between Mrs. Wellington and Spear she could avail herself of any defense that she had against the note in the hands of Spear, that she had against it in the hands of Florida.

But the suit is not against her, as to whom it is conceded that Spear acquired the paper subject to whatever equities in the paper she had the right to assert against it in the hands of Florida. But at the time Spear acquired the note from Florida, the latter whs the owner of it, having taken it up from the party to whom he had theretofore transferred it. Notwithstanding it was an accommodation note Florida having taken it up he had the right to reissue it, so as to bind himself, and to transfer with it to those claiming under him any ownership of the property covered by the lien securing the note. Where a negotiable note is transferred by the payee before or after maturity, and is taken up by him, it seems that he may reissue the paper, and if after due, it is equivalent to drawing a new bill at sight. 2 Daniel on Negotiable Instruments [4 Ed.], secs. 1238-1242.

Thu.s it is said in Light v. Kingsbury, 50 Mo. 331: “Such indorsement [after maturity] is equivalent to drawing a new bill at sight, and the same diligence in [437]*437making demand and giving notice is required.” See, also, Beeler v. Frost, 70 Mo. 185.

This rule does not apply where the bill or note has been paid by the acceptor or maker at or after maturity, for in that case it, becomes extinguished, and if he were to reissue it even if it were to pass into the hands of a Iona fide holder, he could not hold the drawer or indorser liable, for being overdue would of itself be sufficient notice of its payment. 2 Daniel on Negotiable Instruments, sec. 1238.

But in this case the note was not paid by Mrs.

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Bluebook (online)
37 S.W. 1110, 136 Mo. 430, 1896 Mo. LEXIS 340, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kelly-v-staed-mo-1896.