George v. Smith

In this cause appellant, sued in the court below as indorser upon a promissory note which on its face contained an express waiver of grace and protest, complains of an instructed verdict and consequent judgment against the maker of the note and himself. His contention is that neither the pleadings nor proof indicated that proper steps had been taken to fix liability against himself as the indorser of the note, or any excuse for a failure to take them.

The position cannot be sustained. The note itself was in evidence, and, as stated, its terms embraced a specific waiver of both grace and protest; this alone, under our authorities, bound appellant and fixed his liability. Leeds et al. v. Hamilton Paint Glass Co., 35 S.W. 77; Costin v. Button-Lingo Co., 57 Tex. Civ. App. 634, 123 S.W. 177; Central Bank Trust Co. v. Hill, 160 S.W. 1099; Newton County Bank v. Montgomery et al., 175 S.W. 803; Archenhold Co. v. Smith et al., 218 S.W. 809; Bank v. Vickery (Com. App.) 206 S.W. 841.

All assignments have been overruled, and the judgment affirmed.

Affirmed.

On Motion for Rehearing. In his motion for rehearing appellant points out that the waiver of protest we formerly held sufficient to bind him and fix his liability on the note was not alleged in the pleadings declaring upon it.

A re-examination verifies the statement that such is the condition of the record — a fact which in some way escaped our attention on original hearing. In the case of Beauchamp v. Chester,39 Tex. Civ. App. 234, 86 S.W. 1055, this court directly held that, where a waiver of protest is relied on against an indorser, it must be expressly alleged, else the petition will not state a cause of action against the indorser. The reason given in our original opinion for affirmance of the judgment is therefore no longer sufficient.

It does not follow, however, that the motion for rehearing is good. Under our law the liability of indorsers may also be fixed, without protest or notice, by bringing suit upon the note before the first term of court after the right of action accrues, or before the second term, if good cause is shown for not proceeding before the first term. R.S. art. 579. There is nothing in the record before us to show that this suit was not so brought, and we cannot assume that it was not.

The plaintiff's pleadings below alleged that appellant indorsed the note, was liable to him thereon, and bound to pay it, and did not predicate the liability solely upon the protest otherwise set up. This alone was a sufficient statement of a cause of action, as against the general demurrer, since he was not required to negative everything that might defeat the action. Porter v. Burkett, 65 Tex. 383; Lane v. Bell,53 Tex. Civ. App. 213, 115 S.W. 918; Jones v. Ellison, 49 S.W. 406; Ashburn v. Evans, 72 S.W. 242.

The motion is overruled.

Overruled.