Meyer v. . Hibsher

47 N.Y. 265, 1872 N.Y. LEXIS 14
CourtNew York Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 23, 1872
StatusPublished
Cited by26 cases

This text of 47 N.Y. 265 (Meyer v. . Hibsher) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Meyer v. . Hibsher, 47 N.Y. 265, 1872 N.Y. LEXIS 14 (N.Y. 1872).

Opinion

Folger, J.

The motion made by the appellant, at the close of the opening to the jury of the respondent’s case, for a dismissal of the complaint and for a nonsuit, was substantially a demurrer to the complaint, that it did not contain facts sufficient to show a cause of action. But the complaint averred an application by the makers of the note to the respondent, for a loan of $500 at three months. It then made an allegation in these words : That as a condition of said loan, and as security for the payment of the same, said defendants (meaning the makers), made and executed their certain promissory note, and the said defendants George Hibsher, and Joseph Duringer, then and there indorsed the same to the plaintiff.” The grammatical construction of this clause of the sentence, holds all the parts of it in relation to each other. Each part is connected with each other part, and it needs that all be read together to express the full and intended meaning.- That meaning is, that the act of indorsement of the note by Hibsher and Duringer, was as much the condition of the loan upon it, and as much the security for the payment of the same, as the act of- making and executing it by the other defendants. We think that it sufficiently avers that the indorsement of the note by Hibsher, was made a con. dition of the loan, and was required and taken as security for its repayment. Under this averment, it was proper to receive testimony of the appellant’s privity with the negotiation and its- result. If he indorsed the note with a knowledge on his part, that his name was required by the respondent as a con *269 dition of making the loan, and for the purpose of securing the repayment of it, he is placed in the same relation to the respondent, as though it had been done by agreement between them.

The complaint then sets out the note in full. By its terms it was given “ for value received.” This is sufficient as an averment of a consideration. (Prindle v. Caruthers, 15 N. Y., 425.) And this averment in connection with those already noticed, of an application for a loan, and the making and executing and indorsing of this note as a condition thereof, and a security therefor, is an allegation that such loan was the consideration of the note; was the “ value received.” The averment of the making, and the execution and indorsement over, was the equivalent to an averment of a delivery. (Prindle v. Caruthers, supra.)

So that there are in the complaint averments of the delivery of the note by the defendants to the plaintiff, for a good consideration, existing in a loan by him of $500, at three months.

The complaint then alleges the maturity of the note, the presentment of the same at the place of payment, demand of payment, refusal to pay, and personal notice on the same day to the indorsers of non-payment of the note, and that the amount of it is due to the plaintiff.

Wo think that the complaint states a cause of action against the appellant, and that its averments are sufficient to warrant the giving of testimony ample to sustain the opening of the respondent’s case to the jury.

The motion to dismiss and for a nonsuit was properly denied.

The jury having found their verdict for the respondent, the conflict in the testimony is settled in favor of the version of the transactions given by the witnesses, who testified in behalf of the respondent. And it appears that the note in suit was given for a loan of money made by the respondent to the makers of the note ; that it was made a prerequisite of the loan that they should make the note, and that the appellant *270 should indorse it; that the appellant knew of these facts, and with knowledge of them assented and indorsed the note, to enable the makers to obtain the loan, and to secure the respondent that it should be repaid. The appellant indorsed the note, not only for the accommodation of the makers, but for the express purpose of furnishing security to the respondent for the loan of money. He did this with the knowledge, that though the note was upon its face payable to the order of the respondent, and the respondent must, to negotiate it become the first indorser of it, yet that he was to lend the amount of money named in it, as a loan upon the strength of it, and was to become the actual owner payee and holder of it. He was privy to the whole transaction, and knew that the apparent relations of the parties were not the actual ones.

These facts place this case within the ruling in Moore v. Cross (19 N. Y., 227). The appellant was liable to the respondent as the indorser to him of a negotiable promissory note.

Prima facie, the appellant was entitled to have due presentment made of the note for payment, demand thereof, and notice of non-payment. (Spies v. Gilmore, 1 Comst., 321.) And before the respondent can recover of the appellant, he is bound to prove that he has taken these steps, or that he is excused therefrom, or that the taking of them has been waived.

There can be no doubt but that the appellant had ample notice of the fact that the note had not been paid. Then as to presentment and demand for payment. The note is by its terms payable at the place where it is dated. But it is payable there generally, with no designation of a particular place therein, at which payment shall be made or sought. In such case the note must be presented and payment asked for at the place of 'business therein of the maker if he has one; and if he has no place of business, then at his place of residence. ( Woodworth v. Bank of America, 19 J. R., 391; King v. Holmes, 11 Penn., 456.) And if he have neither place of business nor of residence, then if the holder of the *271 note is at the place where it is in general made payable, on the day of payment, with the note, ready to receive payment, it is sufficient to constitute a presentment and demand. (Malden Bank v. Baldwin, 13 Gray, 154.) In the case in hand however, it does not appear that the makers had no place of business, nor any place of residence in Cheektowaga, wherein the note was made payable. If they had not, it was for the respondent to show that fact. He has not done it. And were there nothing else in the case, it might well be doubted whether the respondent was not in laches, and the appellant discharged.

It is however, alleged in the complaint that the house of Duringer, one of the indorsers, was the place of, payment. This particular allegation is not specifically and explicitly denied in the answer. Further than that, the respondent, who was examined on commission, testified that Duringer’s house was the place where the note was payable. This statement of the respondent does not appear to have been denied by the appellant, when he was called as a witness, nor does it seem to have been contradicted by any other of the testimony. Mow, although this was a place of payment not mentioned in the note, it was competent for all the parties to agree orally that the note should be payable there, so far as to make a demand of payment there, sufficient to bind the indorser. (The P. D. & Co. St. Bk. v. Hurd,

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Bluebook (online)
47 N.Y. 265, 1872 N.Y. LEXIS 14, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/meyer-v-hibsher-ny-1872.