National Bank v. Dean

53 N.W. 338, 86 Iowa 656

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: October 25, 1892
• Status: Published

Opinion

Granger, J.

1. Promissory notes: ftyt:ebomftñd6 purciiaser.

I. An important feature of this case is whether or not the plaintiff bank is such a good-faith purchaser of these notes as not to be subject to equities arising at their inception. It is beyond dispute that the first, note was transferred, if at all, before its maturity, and was not paid at maturity. It is also beyond dispute that the other three notes were assigned after maturity and default in the payment of the first note, and before the commencement of this suit. Before the commencement of the suit there was no election by the holder to have the last three notes due, because of a failure to pay the first note. The district court instructed the jury that the default in the payment of the first note rendered the other notes due at the time of the default, and that they were subject to such defenses as they would be in the hands of Nichols, Shepherd & Co., and of this the appellant complains.

We do not understand the appellees to contend that the mere fact of default in payment, without election by the- holder, would render them due, but that the “option must be declared at the time of the default or as of the time of the default;” that is, the act by which the notes are rendered mature relates back to the time of the default, and hence that the maturity of the latter notes and ■ the default are the same in point of time. No question is made as to the right of the holder to make the election at any time after default, and we do not determine it, but consider the case with that as an uncontroverted question; and, thus considered, we think the election does not relate back .to the maturity of the first note, but that the notes mature at the time of the election. The reasons for such a holding are quite manifest. The very fact that the maturity of such a note depends on an election, if before maturity, by its other terms, militates strongly against the thought that when the election is made the note matured months or years before, as the fact might be. The day before the election the note is not due; th'e day of the election it has been due for months or years. Again, the consequences to result to commercial paper from such a holding are such as to forbid it, in the absence of reasons quite imperative for its support. The giving of the instruction was error.

2. -: mortgage: foreclosure: application of proceed. „ . II. April 8, 1891, the plaintiff received from the sale of mortgaged personal property two hundred and eighty-sis dollars and ninety-five cents, and applied the same on the note due January 1, 1891, being the second of the series. The court instructed the jury, as a matter of law, that the payment should be applied on the first note, .maturing January 1, 1890. The appellant also complains of this, but we think without reason. The appellant gives considerable attention to the general rule as to payments wherein the debtor first has the right to make the application, and second, the creditor; and, where neither make it, the court will apply the payment in the interest of justice. We think the statute is conclusive upon this question. Code, chapter 4, title 20, is “Of the foreclosure of mortgages,” and treats of both chattel and real estate mortgages. Section 3324 provides: “If there is an overplus after satisfying the mortgage and costs, and if there is no other lien upon the property, such overplus should be paid to the mortgagor.” By section 3325 it is provided: “If there are other liens on the property sold, or other payments secured by the same mortgage, they shall be paid off in their order.” These sections seem to be of general application in foreclosure proceedings, and we can see no reason why they are not applicable in this case. These latter notes are “other payments secured by the same mortgage,” and we think it was the right of the mortgagee to have the money derived from the mortgaged property, applied in the payment of the note due January 1,1890. In this respect there was no error in the action of the district court.

3. —: bona flae evidence. III. At the foundation of several complaints in this record lies the error of the court in holding that the three notes matured alone by the default in payment of the first note, which ruling opened the door for defenses available against Nichols, Shepherd & Co., without proof of notice or mala, fides on their part. Our holding on that branch of the case will, we think, avoid on another trial some of the questions argued.

In the answer it was pleaded that the notes in suit were never delivered; that they were placed in escrow, to be delivered only when the threshing machine for which they were given should prove satisfactory, and be accepted as complying with the warranty; and that they “were'taken from escrow without compliance with any of the conditions, and without authority or right, and of all this plaintiff had full knowledge.” The jury found specially that the notes were placed in escrow and that they had never been delivered. The district court instructed the jury that if it so found, “then the holder has the burden of showing that he purchased the same before maturity fdr a valuable consideration, and without knowledge of the wrongful delivery of the escrow.” Upon this point the jury also found specially against the plaintiff. The only evidence on this branch of the case that we find, or are referred to, is that of the president and cashier of the bank at the time of the transfer. The notes bear the indorsement of Nichols, Shepherd & Co., and the testimony of the witnesses show that they were taken for value, and without knowledge of any dispute as to the machinery for which they were given, or that any defense was claimed thereto. We must refrain from comments upon the evidence that might prejudice another trial, and we only add that this undisputed testimony seems to have been disregarded by the jury, without anything in the record to impeach or discredit it. If such testimony can not prevail, it would seem impossible for an innocent holder of commercial paper to vindicate his title when he assumes the burden of so doing. The only evidence on this point is for the plaintiff. The finding is against the plaintiff and the evidence. We think the district court should have set aside the verdict and granted a new trial. Be versed.