Lomax v. Smyth & Co.

50 Iowa 223
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedDecember 13, 1878
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 50 Iowa 223 (Lomax v. Smyth & Co.) 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
Lomax v. Smyth & Co., 50 Iowa 223 (iowa 1878).

Opinions

Day, J.

I. The plaintiffs retain the acceptance of Cragin & Co., and have refused to deliver it to the defendants. Upon the part of the defendants it is claimed that the note sued on was given in purchase of the draft in question, and that, because of the refusal of the plaintiffs to surrender the draft, there is a failure of consideration for the execution of the note. Upon the other hand the plaintiffs insist that the note, and the conveyances securing it, were intended merely as collateral security for the draft; that it was never contemplated that the draft should be surrendered; that the security for the note is deemed inadequate for the amount due plaintiffs, and that they rightfully retain possession of the acceptance, hoping to be able to make something out of it if the ■security shall prove to be inadequate. This branch of the case involves the determination of a question of fact.

We have carefully examined the testimony bearing upon this question, and we unite in holding that the preponderance of the evidence, taking into consideration all the surroundings and the conduct of the parties, sustains the claim of the .plantiffs. The space which would be occupied in our reports by a full review of the evidence bearing upon this branch of the case would not be compensated by the resulting benefits.

notes and ^ j and notice. II. It is insisted further that, as no demand of payment was made upon the acceptors of the draft, nor notice of nonpayment given to George B. Smyth & Co., the drawees and indorsees of the draft, they were discharged from liability thereon, and the note is, therefore, without consideration and cannot be enforced.

'Upon the trial of the case the deposition of George B.’ Smyth was introduced, as follows:

“Previous to the maturity of the draft Cragin & Co. became j badly embarrassed, and informed me that they could not' [228]*228meet the draft at maturity. I saw Mr. Hosmer, stated that fact to him, and, as I was going east just previous to the maturity of the draft, asked him to let me take the draft with me, and have Cragin & Co. waive protest, and I would return it to him when I returned home, which he did. Cragin & Co. waived protest, and I returned it to him. Then I commenced negotiations for the settlement of the claim, stating to him that I was unable to pay it, and asking him to take a deed for land situated in Humboldt, Pocahontas, Emmett and Plymouth counties, stating that these lands were a part of the land grant to the Des Moines Valley Railroad, by a disinterested party valued at from five dollars and-twenty cents to six and one-half dollars per acre. * * * Sometime after making this proposition, I think in September, 1874, Mr. Hosmer consented to it, and said, so far as I recollect, that Mr. Lomax attended to the legal part of the business of the Moody estate, and he would fix the matter up with me.”

The evidence further shows that the note and deeds were^ executed pursuant to this proposition.

There are two reasons why the want of protest and notice cannot now avail:

1. It seems to have been the understanding of both Hosmer and Smyth that protest was necessary in order to bind the acceptors, Cragin & Co. Under this impression Smyth obtained possession of the draft, a short time before its maturity, for the purpose of procuring a waiver of protest from Cragin & Co. The draft matured on the 6th day of June. The waiver of protest is dated the 5th day of June. The writing, except the signature, is shown to be that of Smyth. He then had the draft in his possession in New York, on the day before it matured, and he handed it back to Hosmer when he returned to Keokuk. He had the draft in his possession when it matured, and thus deprived the holders of the power to present it for payment on the day when it matured. “Where an indorser obtains possession of the note before maturity, and withholds it until after that time, demand and [229]*229notice are waived.” 1 Parsons on Notes and Bills, 584; Havens v. Talbot, 11 Ind., 323.

2. It very clearly appears that Smyth, with full knowledge that there had been no demand of payment, nor notice of nonpayment, after the draft matured, entered into negotiations for the settlement of the claim, which finally resulted in the execution of the note sued on. It is very clear that this constitutes a waiver of notice.

In Parsons on Notes and Bills, p. 595, it is said: “The general principle seems now to be settled, in this country, at least, and by the earlier decisions in England, that, where no demand has been made or notice given, a promise to pay, after maturity, made with full knowledge of laches, is binding upon the party promising, and removes entirely the effect of any negligence in making the demand, or in giving the notice.” See numerous authorities cited in note. See, also, to the same effect, Creshire v. Taylor, 29 Iowa, 492; Hughes v. Bowen, 15 Iowa, 446; Allen v. Harrah, 30 Iowa, 363. In addition to all this the affidavit of Smyth appears in the case, filed May 8, 1876, in which he says that “Cragin & Co. did not pay the bill at maturity, and, by consent of all parties, a waiver of protest was entered upon said bill.” Under all the circumstances disclosed the want of protest cannot avail as a defense.

III. On the 9th day of December, 1876, the answer of defendant was filed, which, among other things, alleges that the draft was never protested as against the said Smyth. The replication to this answer, filed on the 7th day of March, 1877, is a mere denial. On the 17th day of March, 1877, and at the term at which the cause was tried, the plaintiffs filed an amended replication, admitting that said draft on Cragin & Co. was not protested, but averring that said Smyth & Co., with full knowledge of the same and the facts, waived protest, to-wit: demand and notice, and promised to pay said draft, and that said draft was in possession of Smyth & Co. at maturity. A motion for a continuance was made upon thp [230]*230ground that this replication tendered a new issue, which the defendants were not prepared to meet. This motion was overruled. It is claimed that the defendants were thus compelled to go to trial upon an issue respecting which they had no opportunity to procure evidence, and that they have been greatly prejudiced by this action of the court. The deposition of George B. Smyth was taken and filed in the cause March 13th, before this amended replication was filed. In this deposition he distinctly admits all the facts alleged in this amendment. The amendment does no more than conform the issues to the facts already proved in the case. It is not. apparent how the defendants could possibly have sustained any real prejudice from the ruling of the court.

2. convexáderatíom" estoppel. IY. The main question in this case remains to be considered. It is this: Was there any consideration for the conveyance by Martha M.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

First Connecticut Small Business Investment Co. v. Hoffman
265 A.2d 508 (Connecticut Superior Court, 1970)
Bank of Commerce v. Williams
69 P.2d 525 (Wyoming Supreme Court, 1937)
Hansen v. Bowers
223 N.W. 891 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1929)
County Savings Bank v. Jacobson
211 N.W. 864 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1927)
Benn v. Trobert
1919 OK 292 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1919)
Collier v. Smaltz
128 N.W. 396 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1910)
McKee v. Needles
98 N.W. 618 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1904)
Gibson v. McIntire
81 N.W. 699 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1900)
McDonald v. Second National Bank
76 N.W. 1011 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1898)
Burke v. Dillin
61 N.W. 370 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1894)
Davis v. Miller
55 N.W. 89 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1893)
Stevens v. Ferry
48 F. 7 (U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Washington, 1891)
Dunlap v. Thomas
28 N.W. 637 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1886)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
50 Iowa 223, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lomax-v-smyth-co-iowa-1878.