Wiswall v. Giroux

197 P. 759, 70 Colo. 121, 1921 Colo. LEXIS 278
CourtSupreme Court of Colorado
DecidedApril 4, 1921
DocketNo. 9741
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 197 P. 759 (Wiswall v. Giroux) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Colorado primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wiswall v. Giroux, 197 P. 759, 70 Colo. 121, 1921 Colo. LEXIS 278 (Colo. 1921).

Opinion

Mr. Justice Bailey

delivered the opinion of 'the court.

Plaintiff, Alexander Wiswall, brought suit to recover judgment upon a certain promissory note. At the close of the testimony >the court directed a verdict for the defendants. Plaintiff assigns error and brings the case here for review. The parties are designated as in the trial court.

The note was made, executed and delivered on March 20, 1909, by George H. Collins and Abbie E. Collins, payable three years after date and secured by trust deed on certain real property in Boulder County. In January, 1910, George H. Collins conveyed such real property by warranty deed to defendants J. P. Giroux and Alvah E. Collins, subject to the deed of trust.

On March 20th, 1912, the defendants herein entered into an agreement whereby they undertook to pay the interest on said note, from time to time as it should fall due, and the principal on March 20th, 1914, which agreement is as follows:

“Whereas on the 20th day of March, 1909, George H. Collins and Abbie E. Collins of Boulder, made and delivered their certain promissory note dated on said day, payable three years thereafter to the order of The Mercantile Bank and Trust Company, in the sum of Fifteen Hundred ($1,500.00) Dollars, with interest as stated in said note, and to secure the payment thereof, said George H. Collins executed and delivered a deed of trust to Albert A. Reed, Trustee, of even date with said note, which deed [123]*123of trust is recorded in the Public Records of Boulder County in Book 334 at page 223.
“And whereas said premises are now owned by J. P. Giroux and A. E. Collins, and are about to be conveyed to C. C. Gross and Louisa J. Gross,
“And whereas, said note is this day due, and the parties in interest .desire to obtain an extension of the time of the payment thereof, now, therefore:
“This agreement made this 20th day of March, 1912, by and between The Mercantile Bank and Trust Company, a corporation doing business in the county of Boulder and State of Colorado, party of the first part and J. P. Giroux, A. E. Collins, C.'C. Gross, Louisa J. Gross of Boulder, Colorado; in consideration of the premises and of the mutual promises herein contained, Witnesseth:
“Party of the first part agrees that the time of payment of said promissory note shall be extended for a period of two years, so that said note shall become due March 20, 1914.
“The parties of the second part agree to pay interest on said note from time to time, as the same shall become due, and to pay the principal of said note on the 20th of March, 1914.
“It is mutually understood and agreed that all the terms and provisions of said note, and deed of trust, save only the time of payment of the principal of said indebtedness, shall remain in full force and effect.
“The party of the first part hereby reserves all fights and remedies against said George H. Collins and Abbie E. Collins.
“In witness whereof this memorandum has been subscribed.
(Signed) Mercantile Bank and Trust Company,
By L. E. Chenault, Cashier.
J. P. Giroux,
Louisa J. Gross,
C. C. Gross,
A. E. Collins.”

[124]*124The note, the time of payment of which was extended by the above agreement, is as follows:

“Three (3) years after date we promise to pay to the order of The Mercantile Bank and Trust Company One Thousand Five Hundred and no/100 * * * Dollars together with interest thereon from date at the rate of seven per cent per annum, payable June 15th and December 15th, both principal and interest payable at the office of The Mercantile Bank and Trust Company in the City of Boulder, Colorado. Value Received.
“After maturity this note shall draw interest at the rate of ten per cent per annum. In case this note shall be collected by an attorney, whether by suit or otherwise, there shall be added to the principal hereof for attorney’s fees a sum equal to ten per cent of the face of this note.
“Presentment for payment and notice of dishonor are hereby expressly waived.
“The privilege of paying Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or any multiple thereof, on any day when interest matures, on account of the principal of this note, is hereby reserved.
(Signed) George H. Collins,
Abbie E. Collins.”

On the 24th day of November, 1916, this note was sold, transferred and delivered by The Mercantile Bank and Trust Company, to plaintiff, with this endorsement:

“Without recourse pay to Alexander Wiswall or order The Mercantile Bank and Trust Company, Boulder, Colo., by L. E. Chenault, cashier.”

The bank at the same time also delivered to Wiswall the extension agreement.

Upon failure of defendants to pay, this suit was brought, in reliance upon the extension agreement, which resulted in a directed verdict in their favor. The court, in directing a verdict, instructed the jury upon the question of the extension agreement following the assignment of the note as security, as follows:

[125]*125“Now, then, if these defendants can be held on this indebtedness at all, they must be held by virtue of a separate instrument which was entered into between The Mercantile Bank and Trust Company, acting through and by its cashier, L. E. Chenault, and J. P. Giroux and Louisa J. Gross, C. C. Gross and A. E. Collins.
“That the instrument entered into between the parties whose names I have just read was an obligation, obligatory upon those parties between themselves; that Giroux and Collins and others would pay the interest and principal of this note. After this instrument was entered into the note for fifteen hundred ($1500.00) was assigned to the present plaintiff, who is now the holder and owner of the note and seeks to recover against Mr. Giroux .and Mr. Collins, among other things by virtue of this agreement. While the note is assignable, that is, was passed from one person to another by assignment, this instrument does not follow it. This instrument is not negotiable. This instrument rests and remains and would fall obligatory upon the parties who signed it, but does not follow the assignment of the note, and these defendants in this case who were not makers of the note, did not sign the note, either as parties or sureties or guarantors. That being the law, as I take it, gentlemen, there is only one thing for the Court to do in this case, and that is to direct a verdict in favor of defendants.”

The court found the plaintiff to be the owner and holder of the note, which finding is abundantly supported by the evidence, and also found, by necessary implication, that the money which Wiswall had furnished to buy the note was not used to pay and discharge it, as contended by the defendants. Indeed, there is not a syllable of evidence worthy of serious consideration which shows or tends to show payment of the note.

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Bluebook (online)
197 P. 759, 70 Colo. 121, 1921 Colo. LEXIS 278, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wiswall-v-giroux-colo-1921.