Hale v. Aldaffer ( 1896 )

Garver, J.

The material facts in this case are substantially the same as those involved in the case of Hale v. Hitchcock, 3 Kan. App. 23 ; the note sued on being the companion note to the one made the basis of the action in that case. Much of the evidence in this case, as well as some of the' special findings of the jury, add to the facts a coloring which was absent from the former case ; but the essential facts remain the same. W. H. Aldaffer, the defendant in error, a^d Milton S. Aldaffer, on the one side, and John L. Howard, on the other side, agreed upon a certain exchange and trade of real estate, in which, as a part of the consideration therefor, and to equalize the values of the several properties, the note in suit was executed by Milton S. Aldaffer, as principal, and Lydia Nichols, now deceased, as surety, in favor of John L. Howard, as payee. At that time, Milton S. Aldaffer was indebted to W. H. Aldaffer in a sum equal to the amount of the note, on account of a prior real estate transaction. Deeds for the several properties were made and exchanged by the parties, and this note and two other notes, aggregating six hundred dollars, were delivered to Howard. A few days thereafter, Howard becoming dissatisfied because of the alleged minority of Milton S. Aldaffer at the time he executed his deed, the trade was rescinded, and the deeds, which had been executed, were returned to the respective grantors. In this last transaction, pursuant to an agreement between the Aldaffers and Howard, the latter transferred said notes to W. H. Aldaffer, it being agreed between the Aldaffers that they should be taken in satisfaction of the indebtedness of Milton S. Aldaffer to him. This was done without the knowledge or consent of the surety, Lydia Nichols.

On these facts, it.must be held that the consideration for the note in suit failed upon the rescission of the contract for the exchange of properties between the Aldaffers and Howard. The jury specially found that Lydia Nichols executed it for no other purpose than to effect the real estate trade ; and that the only consideration for the transfer of the note from Howard to W. H. Aldaffer was the return of the deeds executed by the former. The mere fact that there may have been a pre-existing indebtedness from Milton S. Aldaffer to W. H. Aldaffer, which to some extent influenced the execution of the note, does not affect the question. The fact remains that the makers of the note promised to. pay the amount called for by it to John L. Howard, and the consideration was represented in the value of real estate to be conveyed by Howard. At the end of the several transactions between these parties, the deeds having been re-exchanged, Howard again had his land, and the Aldaffers were again, also, in their original position. It needs no argument to show that, under these circumstances, payment of the note could not have been enforced by Howard. And, having no rights which he could enforce, it follows, necessarily, that he could not transfer to another, who had full knowledge of the facts, rights which he himself did not possess. The assignee in such case acquires only such rights as were possessed by his assignor. Hatch v. Barrett, 34 Kan. 223-230. For these reasons, the motion made by the plaintiff in error for judgment upon the special findings of the jury should have been sustained.

The judgment will be reversed, and the case remanded with directions to enter judgment on the special findings in favor of the plaintiff in error.