Hall v. First State Bank of Hawley ( 1928 )

The appeal is from a judgment in favor of appellee and against appellant Hall as maker and appellant Chorn as indorser of a promissory note. The case was tried before the court without the aid of a jury, and no findings of fact and conclusions of law appear in the record. The appellant Hall pleaded as a defense to the note that same had been novated, the claim of novation being based upon the following allegations in his answer: That, after the note sued upon became due, at the request and suggestion of the cashier of the bank, he executed and delivered to the bank his renewal note in lieu of the note sued upon, and that, in consideration of the execution of said renewal note, the bank contracted, promised, and agreed with him that it would deliver and surrender to him the note sued upon; that he relied upon the promise and agreement, and executed and delivered to said bank a renewal note; that the bank has never returned to him the renewal note, but same is still an outstanding obligation against him.

The appellant Chorn pleaded novation, based upon the same allegations, in substance, as those contained in the answer of the appellant Hall, and, in addition, pleaded that he was not primarily liable on said note, but that, if liable at all, his liability was that of indorser; that the appellee bank did not bring suit upon the note at the first term of the district court to which suit could have been brought, nor at the second term of said court; that said note was not sued upon until more than one year after it became due and payable; and that, on account of the bank's failure to bring suit at either the first or second term of the district court after the maturity of said note, said appellant had been discharged from liability.

The facts disclosed in the record on the question of novation are substantially that, at the time the note was executed, as well as at the time it became due, and for several months thereafter, the appellant Chorn was cashier of the appellee bank. The appellant Hall was a tenant on a farm belonging to appellant Chorn. W. R. Hedrick became cashier of appellee bank four or five months after the maturity of the note. His testimony would support the conclusion that he discussed this note with both appellants, and refused to accept a renewal thereof signed by appellant Hall alone; that appellant Chorn agreed with him to sign a renewal note; that he talked to Chorn more than one time regarding the matter. Thereafter, and on July 31, 1926, Hedrick, the cashier, sent to appellant Hall through the mail the following letter:

"Mr. W. F. Hall, Hawley, Tex. — Dear Sir: Hereto attached note for ($1,093.26) this is to take up note of yours and Mr. J. H. Chorn's for ($996.66) due Oct. 1st, 1925.

"Please sign and return to us in the enclosed envelope and I will return to you canceled note for ($996.66).

"Yours truly, W. R. Hedrick, Cashier."

Appellant Hall executed the renewal note therein inclosed, and sent it back to the bank with his signature affixed. Hedrick testified that he thereupon mailed the note to appellant Chorn for his signature, but that same was returned to him through the mail unsigned. He thereupon delivered the renewal note to his attorney, who later filed suit on the original note.

Appellant Chorn denied the receipt of the renewal note; but we must presume, in support of the judgment, that the trial court resolved the issues of fact in favor of the bank and against appellants. We do not believe the evidence establishes a novation. Novation is a question of fact to be passed upon by the court or jury. The burden is upon the one asserting novation to prove it. No witness testified in this case that there was ever an agreement to substitute the note of appellant Hall, without the indorsement of appellant Chorn, for the note sued upon in this case. The only evidence of such an agreement is the letter hereinabove copied and the fact that the renewal note executed by appellant Hall was not returned to him. The retention by appellee of the original note and of the renewal note creates no presumption that the renewal note was taken as payment of the original. Darby et al. v. Farmers' State Bank of Barnet (Tex.Civ.App.) 253 S.W. 341, and authorities there cited.

Neither do we think the letter alone is sufficient to establish a contract of novation. The testimony would support the finding that the renewal note was to be accepted in payment of the original upon condition that same be indorsed by appellant Chorn. The agreement being based upon that condition, it could not become effective until the condition was fulfilled. The letter discloses that the note for which the renewal was executed by appellant Hall was the note of Hall and Chorn. The agreement being that both should execute the renewal before same would be excepted by the bank, according to the testimony of appellee's witnesses, we do not believe that the letter evidences any intention to change this agreement and to release Chorn from liability. The presumption would certainly obtain that the bank did not intend voluntarily and without consideration to release Chorn from this obligation, and we do not believe the letter indicates such intention. The evidence supports the judgment of the trial court in favor of appellee on the issue of novation, and the assignments of appellants presenting this question will be overruled.

It is urged by appellants that appellee was entitled to no judgment, because it did not tender back to appellant Hall the renewal note executed by him, or properly account for the same. The contention is made that such note may have been negotiated by the bank before maturity, and that appellant Hall may hereafter be compelled to pay it to an innocent holder thereof. The evidence of appellee on this issue is that, after appellant Chorn returned the note unsigned, the same was delivered to appellee's attorney. That is our construction of the testimony of the witness Hedrick, who testified that "immediately after it came back unsigned I sent it to you." Evidently the appellee's attorney who was conducting the examination of the witness was the person referred to as "you" in the testimony. We believe that appellee should have returned this note or accounted for it in a more definite manner, but have concluded that its failure so to do would constitute no defense to this suit. The only issue involved was the liability of appellants on the note in suit. Appellant Hall did not ask for the cancellation of the renewal note in his pleadings, and did not interrogate appellee's witnesses to determine anything about the then ownership and possession of the renewal note. The evidence establishing the note in the hands of the appellee and its agent and attorneys at a time just prior to the institution of this suit, it will be presumed that there has been no transfer thereof, but that possession of said note is still with appellee. We cannot presume that appellee has negotiated a note which it had no lawful right to negotiate.

On the defense of the appellant Chorn that he was discharged on account of the failure of the bank to bring suit on the note at the first or second term of the court after the maturity thereof, the facts are undisputed. They disclose that suit was brought to the third term of court after maturity of the note. It is provided by article 566, R.S. 1925, in substance, that the holder of any promissory negotiable note may fix: the liability of an indorser, without protest or notice, by bringing suit against the maker before the first term of the court to which suit can be brought after the right of action accrues, or before the second term with a showing of good cause for the delay. This article of the statute, in so far as the same covers the provisions above stated, was article 579 of the revision of 1911. That article was held to have been repealed by the Negotiable Instruments Act in an opinion by the Commission of Appeals in the case of First National Bank v. Lee County Cotton Oil Co., 274 S.W. 127, the opinion in that case being rendered on June 27, 1925. The Revised Statutes of 1925 took effect on September 1, 1925, and re-enacted old article 579 as a part of article 566. The effect of re-enacting this article is not necessary for determination by us in the disposition of this case, as we view it, and we therefore express no opinion thereon. If the decision of the Supreme Court should be construed as holding that the re-enacted article is repealed, then obviously it furnishes no defense to appellant. But we are of the opinion that, conceding that, by bringing the provisions of this article forward in the revision of 1925, it was effectively revived, and is therefore a binding statute, it nevertheless furnishes no ground of defense to appellant. This article is cumulative. It provides a method of fixing the liability of an indorser where the note has not been protested or no notice of dishonor by nonpayment given. McCamant v. McCamant (Tex.Civ.App.)203 S.W. 118.

Under the provisions of article 5938, § 118, of the Revised Statutes protest is not required, except in the case of foreign bills of exchange. By the provisions of other sections of this article, liability of an indorser may be fixed by notice of dishonor. Where liability is fixed in this manner, the provisions of article 566 with reference to the bringing of a suit would not apply. Suit is made necessary to fix liability only when no notice of dishonor has been given. By section 109 of article 5938 it is provided that notice of dishonor may be waived, either expressly or impliedly. By section 111 of the same article a waiver of protest, whether in the case of a foreign bill of exchange or other negotiable instruments, is deemed to be a waiver, not only of a formal protest, but also of presentment and notice of dishonor. The note in suit contains the words, "waiving grace and protest." Under the provisions of the article above quoted, this was an express waiver, not only of protest, but of notice, and fixed the liability of the indorser, without the necessity of bringing a suit at the first or second term of court after maturity of the note.

But, independent of the waiver, the facts in this case establish that appellant Chorn received notice of dishonor in accordance with the statutes. By section 96 of article 5938 it is provided that the notice may be in writing or merely oral. By section 108 of the same article it is provided that, where the notice is actually received by the party within the time specified, it will be sufficient, though not sent in accordance with the requirements of the law. All of the provisions with reference to notice were enacted for the benefit of a person secondarily liable, and, if he actually receives notice, he cannot complain of the form thereof. The facts of this case show that, at the time this note matured, the appellant Chorn was cashier of the appellee bank, charged with the duty of collecting this note. The duty rested upon him to notify himself that same was not paid, and we must presume conclusively against him that he did so notify himself. Otherwise we would be permitting him to profit by his own neglect. Appellant Chorn having actually received notice of dishonor, his liability was fixed, and no suit against the maker was necessary to fix that liability.

The proposition is advanced in appellant Chorn's brief that there was no consideration for his indorsement of this note. The facts disclose that the note was indorsed long after its delivery to, and acceptance by, the bank, and it is insisted that no consideration for such indorsement is disclosed in the record. We are unable to grant any relief on this account. It is provided in article 5933, § 24, R.S., that every negotiable instrument is deemed prima facie to have been issued for a valuable consideration, and every person whose signature appears thereon to have become a party thereto for value. By article 2010, R.S., it is provided that an answer setting up that a written instrument upon which a pleading is founded is without consideration, unless the truth of the pleadings appear of record, shall be verified by affidavit. Appellant's answer did not attempt to plead a failure or want of consideration. As the note was introduced in evidence before the court, it contained the indorsement of appellant Chorn. The law presumes that this indorsement was for a valuable consideration, and provides that, in order to be entitled to introduce evidence overcoming this presumption, a plea setting up the facts must be filed. In the absence of such plea, the assignment presenting this objection cannot be sustained.

Finding no reversible errors in the record, it is our order that the judgment of the trial court be affirmed.