Brey v. Hagan

Opinion of the court by

JUDGE WHITE

Reversing.

Appellant, Brey, instituted this action against' N. G. Stanley, Sylvester Hagan, Thomas J. Hagan, and William M. McAllister on a note signed by all the parties for the sum of $1,384.19. Appellees McAllister and the Hagans filed answers presenting the issue of a material alteration in the note, and pleading that by reason of such alteration the note is void as to them, all being sureties ob Stanley. The facts of alteration a.s pleaded are that the note was a renewal of a former note of Stanley, and was ■first signed by 'Stanley and Sylvester Hagan and delivered to and accepted by appellant, and subsequently, without the knowledge or consent of Sylvester Hagan, the signature of Thomas J. Hagan was also procured to the note, when it was again delivered to and accepted by appellant, and that subsequently to this the signature of Mc-Allister was procured to the note without the knowledge or consent of either .of the Hagans, when it was redelivered to and accepted by appellant. This plea was denied, and on trial before the court without a jury the court found the facts as follows: “T find from the evidence the facts in this case to be that the note sued on was executed in renewal of a note theretofore held by plaintiff, executed by defendant Stanley and others for borrowed money. This note was prepared at the house of Stanley, and signed by him alone, and given into the hands of plaintiff, with request by Stanley that lie procure the name of Hagan to it as his surety. Brey did present the note to Hagan, with the request that he sign it as Stanley’s surety, which he did. Nothing was said about others signing it, and Hagan knew nothing of the names added until the suit was brought on it. It was understood between Brey and Stanley that other sureties were to be added, and Brey sent it back to Stanley for the additional names. He procured the additional name of Thomas J. Hagan, returned it to Brey, when he returned it again to Stanley for an additional name, which was procured, — W. M. McAllister signing it as the fourth surety, — when plaintiff accepted the note as satisfactory, and the old note was then given up. It appears that S. Hagan had no knowledge or notice of the latter signature.” On these facts the trial court adjudged that both S. Hagan and Thomas J. Hagan were released, and because of their release McAllister was, also, and then rendered judgment in favor of these three defendants for costs; hence this appeal.

We are of opinion that the judgment rendered herein is erroneous, upon the facts found. The case of Edwards v. Mattingly (a case to be reported, decided since the judgment herein was rendered), 53 S. W., 1032, (21 Ky. L. R., 1045) is decisive of this case. The court, by Mr. Justice Burnam, said: “These opinions [referring to Singleton v. McQuerry, 85 Ky., 41, ( 2 S. W., 652); Shipp’s Administrator v. Suggett’s Administrator, 9 B. Mon., 8; Lilley v. Evans, 3 B. Mon., 417; Bank v. Penick, 5 T. B. Mon., 25; and Pulliam v. Withers, 8 Dana, 98] rested upon the principle of law that the delivery of the obligation to the payee, and the payment of the money thereon by him, consummated a contract between the parties, and any subsequent alteration of the contract which destroyed its identity and changed the evidence in respect to the transaction to which it related rendered it void, and that the adding of another obligor by the payee without the assent of those previously bound was such a material alteration of the obligation as to amount to a novation. But this court has never held, so far as we are advised,, that the addition of another security to an obligation, which was executed for the express purpose of borrowing; .money, before its delivery to the payee, even when done without the assent of parties previously bound thereon, •rendered such instrument void as to them; and there is no reason why it should have that effect. The addition of another' security did not increase the liability of those already bound, and it can be reasonably presumed that the principal in such an obligation had implied authority from the surety previously bound^ to consent to or secure ■such additional name, when necessary to affect the object for which the note was executed; and we are of opinion that such an addition may be made at any time before its final delivery to the payee, without invalidating it, provided it does not prejudicially affect the rights of persons who have executed it before such alteration.” This expression of the court is applicable to, and decisive of, the question here. Upon the findings, the judgment should have been for appellant. Wherefore the judgment is reversed, and cause remanded for a new trial, and for proceedings consistent herewith.

Petition far rehearing by appellees overruled.