Branch of the Bank of the State v. Gaffney , 9 Ala. 153 ( 1846 )

COLLIER, C. J.

It may be, that the fourth count shows a misrepresentation or concealment in respect to the ability of the makers of the note in ¿fftestion to pay it, so as to subject’ them to an action for the fraud. Be this as it may, it is a point we will not stop to consider, as it cannot avail the plaintiff in the case at bar. The suit is brought upon the indorsement of the defendant, not to enforce a collateral liability, wholly independent of it; consequently the’ question offrau vel non, is an inquiry without the issue. Besides, it may be asked, if misrepresentation or Concealment are imputable to the defendant, who has been prejudiced, and who did he intend to defraud ? Certainly not the payee of the note, who is the plaintiff in this action ; for it is not pretended that the Bank over was its proprietor, much, less that it received the noto in consequence of any influence or agency of the defendant.

If the agent of Bryant was induced by the fraud of the defendant, to receive the note, upon the indorsement of which the present suit is brought, then it is clear that the action for a fraudulent representation or concealment should have been brought in the name of Bryant’s personal representative. The intestate alone was affected by the malafides, and'if it gave him a right of action against the defendant, that right did not enure to others, who might acquire the note under other circumstances, either as a payee or otherwise. A tort is not transmissible, so as to invest an assignee with the right to sue the wrong doer in his own naine. This rule applies in all force to a fraud, whether practiced by means of conduct, either active or passive.

It is shown by the proof, that Bryant did not become the proprietor of the note until after its maturity, and upon this hypothesis, we will consider the second point in the cause. By a statute passed in 1832, it is enacted, that bonds and other instruments payable in bank, shall be governed by the rales of the law merchant, as to days of grace, demand and notice, in the same manner that bills of exchange and notes, payable in bank, now are. [Clay’s Dig. 383, §§ 13, 17.] In Kennon v. McRae, 7 Porter’s Rep. 175, it was held, that the fact of a note being over due when-negotiated, did not dispense with the demand and notice ; that it was tire duty of an indorser to demand payment of the maker, within a reasonable time after the transfer to him of paper, and if it was refused, to give notice of nonpafcnent to the indorser. The undertaking of the indorser is made upon these considerations, and unless they are performed, it cannot become absolute, so as to entitle the holder to his action against him : and in this respect, there is no difference between paper indorsed before, .-and after it is due. See further the cases there cited, and Adam’s Adm’r. v. Torbert, 6 Ala. R. 865.

The transfer of a note “not payable in hank,” which does not pass the legal title, is not embraced by the act of 1828, to .define the liability of indorsers, but is a warranty that the mote may be collected of the maker by due diligence. What constitutes diligence, has been held to be a question of fact for the jury, under all the circumstances of the case; but suit must be brought to the first term of the court to which it could be instituted after the maturity of the note, unless excused by some sufficient reason, such as the insolvency of the maker, &c. [Jordan v. Garnett, 3 Ala. Rep. 610; Hall & Chilton v. McCampbell, Id. 633; Nesbit v. Bradford, 6 Ala. Rep. 746.]

In Milton v. DeYampert, 3 Ala. Rep. 648, the defendant was sued upon his indorsement oí a negotiable note, of which he'was not the legal proprietor, and the question was, what-was the character of his undertaking ? Was it absolute or conditional? If the latter, what was the condition? We held, that he was 'not liable as a co-maker, but as an indorser, and as the liability attaching to an irregular indorsement of a note merely assignable, was similar to that with which the payee was chargeable upon his indorsement, the same rule would apply mutatis mutandis to a note payable in bank. Further, that “ a similar degree of diligence is necessary to charge one who becomes bound by an imperfect indorsement, as is necessary to charge an actual indorser.” Again, that although the contract of the defendant in that case, was “notan indorsement in the technical sense of that word, yet it is to be governed by similar rules, and his liability was complete as soon as the maker made default, and notice was given of the refusal or neglect to pay.” It was however, then left an open question, whether it was not allowable to show, that due diligence, otherwise than according to the requirements ofB^A^v merchant had been used to charge the indorser; offier, if nd injury resulted from the failure to give notic^ueiact might not be proved as an excuse.

Subsequently, in Lake v. Gllchrist, 7 Ala. Rep. 955, we said, that where there is an irregular indorsement of commercial paper, the indorser must be charged by demand and notice. This conclusion, we think, is not inconsistent with principle, but harmonizes with the analogies of the law,, and commends itself as furnishing a certain rule, adápted te all cases.

Where, however, paper past due is indorsed, it cannot be assumed as a legal conclusion, that a demand should have been made, and notice of its dishonor given, within any precise time. It is certainly the duty of the indorser, who become the proprietor of a note after its maturity, to demand payment of the maker within, a reasonable time after the transfer to him of paper, and if refused, to give notice of nonpayment to the indorser. The undertaking of the indorser is made upon these conditions, and unless they are performed, it cannot become absolute, so as to entitle the holder to his action against him. See Kennon v. McRae, 7 Ala. Rep. 175, and cases there cited. Where a bill is indorsed after due, the indorsement is said to be equivalent to drawing a bill payable at sight. [Chitty on Bills, 9th Am. ed. 242.] If this analogy be just, then it is impossible to lay down the measure of diligence which the indorsee, in such case, should employ, in order to secure the liability of his indorser. “ With respect to the time when bills payable at, or after sight, should be presented for acceptance, the only rule, whether the bill be foreign or inland, and whether payable at sight or so many days after sight, or in any other manner, is, that they must be presented within a reasonable time; and as the drawer may sustain a loss by the holder’s keeping it, any great length of time, it is advisable, in all cases, to present it as soon as possible ; but he is not obliged to present it by the first opportunity.” [Chitty on Bills, 301.] The authorities all show, that the rule in respect to the payment of a bill payable at, or after sight, must necessarily vary with the circumstances of every case. Eyre, Ch. J., in Muilman v. D’Equino, 2 Bla. Rep. 56, considering the law upon this point, said, “I do not see how tnl Bfcan lay down any precise rule on the subjectancuomR; J., observed, “Norule can be laid down as to the time for presenting bills payable at sight, or a given time after.” See further, Chitty on Bills, 301 to 305, and cases cited in the notes. The reasonableness of the time within which the demand or payment should have been made, and notice of the maker’s default communicated to the defendant, depends upon the distance the respective parties reside from each other, the facility of communication, &c.; and consequently cannot be defined bylaw. In all such cases, the facts must be ascertained by the jury, and their verdict, should be influenced by such legal analogies as are established.

It results from this view of the law, that the court should not have assumed that there had not been sufficient diligence used to charge the defendant on his indorsement; if the evidence had shown, that a demand had been made of the makers, payment refused, and notice thereof given to the indorser. The bill of exceptions affirms, that the only proof of a demand, was the institution of a suit upon [the note, which the plaintiff ascertaining would prove unproductive, notified the defendant, that he would' be looked to for payment.

Where a party promises to pay on demand, it has been frequently held, that an action may be brought without a previous request, and the service of process is a sufficient demand. But that principle cannot apply to this case. Here, the undertaking of the defendant. was, that the note should be paid on presentment to the makers, and that if they -did not pay it, if duly presented, he would, if due notice of their default was given to him. The presentment for payment, then, was a condition precedent, and to warrant a recovery, against the defendant, the condition should have been complied with. [Chitty on Bills, 384, 385, note 1.] To make a demand good, it has been held, that it should be made by one who has the indorsed paper under his control, either as holder or agent; and that the demand contemplates a readiness to receive the money, if the party offers to pay it. [Chitty on Bills, supra, and 401, 402.] The writ, or .summons, by which a suit is commenftrf not invest the officer to whom it is addressed, with"^Hpy to receive the money— it is not, in form, a request tp it, nor does it suppose that the defendant therein will pay it, otherwise than by legal coercion. There was,‘then, no sufficient, demand of the note, and the notice, which was merely consequential, can avail nothing.

There was no proof adduced at -the trial, of which the bill of exceptions informs us, which dispensed with, or excused a demand and notice. It cannot be assumed from the form of the note, that it was not an operative security for money in the hands of Felder — in fact, its indorsement by him and the defendant, may be regarded as an affirmation that it was recoverable of the makers. In the Planters’ and Merchants’ Bank v. Blair and Morrah, 4 Ala. Rep. 613, it was held, that when a creditor receives a note from his debtor, with other persons as security, and the note is made payable to a bank, under the expectation that it will be discounted, the securities are not discharged by the refusal of the bank to discount it; but the creditor may sue in the name of the bank, or transfer the note to another, who may in like manner use the name of the Bank to collect the money. See the cases there cited, which fully sustain the conclusion of the court. There is, then, no pretence for saying, that the note in question was made for the accommodation, merely, of Felder, or the defendant, and that they could not be prejudiced by its nonpayment.

This view is decisive of the case, and the judgment of the Circuit Court is affirmed.