Lazier v. Horan

7 N.W. 457, 55 Iowa 75
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedDecember 9, 1880
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 7 N.W. 457 (Lazier v. Horan) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lazier v. Horan, 7 N.W. 457, 55 Iowa 75 (iowa 1880).

Opinion

Rothrock, J.

— The promissory note which is the foundation of the action is in these words:

“$1,250.00. Des Moines, Iowa, March 21, 1872.
“On or before the 21st day of March, 1874, I promise to pay to William Braden or order twelve hundred and fifty dollars, with interest thereon from this date until paid, at the rate of ten per cent per annum, payable annually, on the 21st day of March in each year, for value received, principal and interest payable at B. E. Allen’s Bank, in city of Des Moines; should any of said interest not be paid when due, it shall bear interest at the rate of ten per cent per annum from the time the same becomes due, and a failure to pay any of said interest within 30 days after due shall cause the whole of this note to thereupon become due and collectible at once.
his
“ Timothy fxj Horan. mark.
[76]*76“The mortgage securing this note is duly stamped with a U. S. Revenue stamp legally canceled.
“Endorsed on the back as follows, to-wit: ‘pay to the order of Jesse Lazier.
“ ‘Wm. Braden.’ ”

The note was given for part of the purchase-money of certain real estate situated in Madison county. The land was owned by the plaintiff, and the sale was made through Braden, and the note was laken payable to the order of Braden, for the plaintiff’s benefit.

On the 21st day of March, 1871, the defendant, who is a resident of Madison' county, went to B. F. Allen’s bank to pay the note. The note was not at the bank, and the defendant deposited the amount required to pay the same, to-wit: $1,512.50, and took from the bank a deposit ticket of which the following is a copy:

“B. F. Allen’s Bank.
“Des Moines, March 21, 1871.
“To Timothy Horan:
“ Currency to pay note favor Wm. Braden for. . $1,250.00
“Interest.............................. $62.00
$1,512.50
“ Duplicate.”

Some efforts were made by the defendant by way of correspondence through Percival & Hatton, real estate agents at Des Moines, to have the note sent to the bank, but they were unavailing. The money thus deposited remained with the bank, and on the 19th day of January, 1875, the bank and B. F. Allen failed, and it does not appear from the evidence, what, if anything, will be realized on account of said deposit. That it is a total loss does not seem to be seriously disputed.

[77]*77i promiswSpayable teposiwk maker. 1,7 [76]*76We are required to determine whether the foregoing facts [77]*77are a defense to an action on the note, or in other words where a note made payable at a bank, and the maker deposits the amount necessary to fully discharge it, and leaves the same there, and the bank after-wards fails, is such deposit a complete defense to an action by the payee or indorsee against the maker?

It is well settled that as to the acceptor of a bill of exchange, or the maker of a promissory note payable at a bank, or other specified place, no presentment nor demand of payment need be made at the specified place to entitle the holder to maintain an action against the maker or acceptor. Story on Promissory Notes, Sec. 228; Daniels on Negotiable Instruments, Yol. 1, Sec. 643; Parsons on Notes and Bills, Yol. 1, j)age 308; Wallace v. McConnell, 13 Peters, 136; Fitler v. Beckley, 2 Watts and Sergeant, 458; Armstead v. Armstead, 10 Leigh., 525.

In Parsons on Notes and Bills, it is said: “The courts in this country have, with the exception of Louisiana and Indiana, held that such acceptances were not conditional; that demand need not be averred by the plaintiff, but that if the acceptor was at the place at the time designated and ready to pay the money, it was matter of defense to be pleaded on his part, which defense, however, is no bar to the action, but goes only in reduction of damages and in prevention of costs.”

That the maker of a promissory note, and the acceptor of a bill of exchange payable at a jjarticular j>lace, are under the same obligation in this respect, and their rights and liabilities are the same, seems also to be well established. See the authorities above cited.

What are the rights of the parties, however, where the maker of a note, or the acceptor of a bill, deposits the money in the bank designated as the place of payment, and leaves it there, is another question upon which there is a-surprising paucity of adjudicated cases. The learned counsel for the respective parties in this cause have cited us to no case which is exactly in point.

[78]*78It is true that in Wallace v. McConnell, supra, there is language used from -which it may fairly be implied that in such case, if the holder of the note or bill should neglect to present it at the specified place, by reason of which the money should be lost by the failure of the bank or the like, this would be a defense, and in Armstead v. Armstead, stopra, it is said that “ the maker, if he was ready at the time and place to make the payment, may plead the matter in bar of damages and costs; but he must at the same time bring the money into court which the plaintiff will be entitled to receive. A further consequence, indeed, might follow if any loss had been sustained by his failure to present; but this must be set up as matter of defense.” In Fitler v. Beckley, supra, TIuston, J., said: “I incline to the opinion in IB Peters, 144, as above, that if the maker or acceptor, where the money is payable at a bank, pays the money into the bank to the credit of the payee on such note or bill, and leaves it there, it will be a complete discharge, though the money should be lost by-robbery of the bank or otherwise; but this case does not call for an opinion of the court on this point.”

In Nicholas v. Pool, 2 Jones (L.) N., 6, in discussing the question whether a demand at the place of payment is necessary to maintain the action, it is said: “The more reasonable construction that they (the words payable at, etc.,) were used to convey the idea that the parties had made an arrangement suggested by considerations of convenience to both sides, according to which the money is to be paid at a particular place on a given day, or in other words, assurance given by the debtor and accepted by the creditor, that the moneys will be then and there paid, * * * *. Considered in this sense the effect is that the creditor does not lose his debt by failing to apply for it at the precise time and place, but may afterwards recover it; while on the other hand, the debtor may, if in fact he had the money at the time and place, use that as a defense and defeat the action by bringing the money into court, or if he deposited it and it was lost byr [79]*79the failure of the bank, he can put the loss on the creditor, because of his laches in not calling to get it.”

In Rhoades v. Gent, 5 Barn. & Alderson, 244, language to the same effect is used in the opinion of one of the judges.

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Bluebook (online)
7 N.W. 457, 55 Iowa 75, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lazier-v-horan-iowa-1880.