Van Riper v. Baldwin

26 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 344

• Court: New York Supreme Court
• Decided: December 15, 1879
• Status: Published

Opinion

Pratt, J.:

The verdict establishes the fact that Mr. Homan, by the express authority of his wife, delivered the promissory note, in controversy, to the plaintiff’s agent, to be used as security for the rent. Such delivery of the note constituted a formal pledge thereof for the purposes mentioned, and vested the equitable title thereto in the plaintiff, notwithstanding the note Avas payable to Mrs. Homan, and she Avithheld her indorsement thereof. (Taddiken v. Cantrell, 69 N. Y., 597.) By that pledge the plaintiff acquired a right, and it was her duty to collect the amount of the note from Mr. Baldwin, and she is liable to account to Mrs. Homan. (Wheeler v. Newbould, 16 N. Y., 392.) The rule requiring an equitable assignee to sue in the name of his assignor has been abrogated, and he is now expressly authorized to sue in his oavh name. (Code of Civil Procedure, § 449.) We think that the amendment allowed at the trial was quite proper.

These are all the questions which concern the defendant, Baldwin.

We think that they were properly disposed of at the circuit, and that the judgment should be affirmed.

DykmaN, J.:

The defendant’s motion for judgment on the pleadings was properly denied. The complaint states a cause of action against both defendants.

The defendant’s motion, at the close of plaintiff’s testimony to dismiss the complaint, was properly denied. There was matter for the jury then in evidence. There was proof that the delivery of the note Avas to secure rent, and that this rent was due and unpaid.

The exceptions to the admissions of testimony, one and all, are without force. None of the objections were well taken.

The exception to the. part of the charge “ did she deliver the note as security for rent ? if she did, whether she indorsed it or not, does not make any difference,” Avas not well taken. .

Delivery, as security, effected an assignment. The condition being fulfilled, an absolute title Avould vest.

This, if right, disposes of the next exception to the part. “I” say, if they credit his evidence, it was delivered to Hopper under this agreement. I think that it is a delivery to the plaintiff: Hopper was a mere custodian.

The next two exceptions assert, that to transfer negotiable-paper held by her, a married woman must charge its payment-upon her separate estate. This statement is sufficient answer.

Judgment and order denying motion on minutes for new trial,, affirmed with costs and disbursements.

Present — DvkMAN and Pratt, J., BarNard, P. J., not sitting.

Judgment and order denying new trial affirmed, with costs.