Cady v. Bay City Land Co.

BURNETT, O. J.

At the trial, the plaintiff was called as a witness in his own behalf and was handed two promissory notes, which he stated were the instruments described in the complaint. His counsel then offered them in evidence and they were marked as plaintiff’s exhibits “A” and “B” without any objection. These exhibits, however, are not in the record before us. His counsel then made this statement: “I offer the whole instrument as it is, indorsement an,d everything else.” The bill of exceptions does not-disclose any objection to this offer. After some immaterial offers of testimony about the availability of certain collateral mentioned in the notes, which is not important here, the plaintiff rested, and the defendant declined to offer any testimony.

Schiffman then moved for a directed verdict in favor of himself, on the ground that the complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action against him, that he is sued as an indorser and in order to recover against him the complaint should show presentment of the note for payment, demand, and notice of nonpayment; and finally, that it does not show that the indorsement was signed by him. The court denied the motion and entered judgment as stated.

1, 2. As to the form of the allegation, it is sufficient to allow the plaintiff to prove the fact of an indorsement and delivery. In Frasier v. Williams, 15 Minn. 288, the allegation was that “said Aaron March [payee] for value réceived, transferred, indorsed and delivered it [the note] to the plaintiff.” This was held to be a sufficient averment. In Chester etc. Coal Co. v. Lickiss, 72 Ill. 521, it is said that a statement that the payee indorsed the note to the plaintiff is sufficient without averring a delivery. It imports delivery. “An averment that the payee of a note indorsed it imports that he put his name on it in writing and delivered it to the indorsee, as there can be no indorsement except by the legal holder’s name being on the instrument, and it cannot be complete without delivery. ’ ’

Section 7810, Or. L., says:

“No person is liable on the instrument whose signature does not appear thereon, except as herein otherwise expressly provided.”

The exception relates to signatures by an agent, and the like.

“An instrument is negotiated when it is transferred from one person to another in such manner as to constitute the transferee the holder thereof. If payable to bearer, it is negotiated by delivery; if payable to order, it is negotiated by the indorsement of the holder, completed by delivery.” Section 7822, Or. L.

“The indorsement must be written on the instrument itself or upon a paper attached thereto. The signature of the indorser, without additional words, is a sufficient indorsement.” Section 7823.

“A person placing his signature upon an instrument otherwise than as a maker, drawer, or acceptor, is deemed to be an indorser, unless he clearly indicates by appropriate words his intention to be bound in some other capacity.” Section 7855, Or. L.

The statutory word “indorse” employed in an allegation is sufficient to let in proof of all the elements detailed in the statute and summed up in that expression.

We hold, therefore, that the allegation that Schiffman indorsed, transferred and assigned the note to plaintiff is sufficient to allow proof of his signature to the indorsement, unless the language “notice of protest waived and payment guaranteed,” is not to be construed as an indorsement. This is the important question in the case. There is a contrariety of the precedents, not as to the passing of title by such a writing on the note, but as to the effect of it. The rule is thus laid down in 8 C. J. 354, Section 533:

“There is considerable conflict in the decisions as to the effect of the payee’s writing a guaranty on the back of a note, in regard to the nature of the liability of the signer, although it is almost universally held that the inclusion of a guaranty in the indorsement does not prevent it from operating as a transfer of the legal title to the instrument, and it is generally held that it is equivalent to an indorsement and hence that it cuts off equities.”

The text-writer in that connection notes further discordance in the decisions in a few states. The very great majority of the precedents, however, is to the effect that a man who writes his name on the back of a negotiable instrument is an indorser and that he may enlarge his liability or restrict it, without destroying his character as an indorser.

We note in passing that there is no effort made to set up any defense as against the original holder of the note. In another form the question for discussion is whether title passed to the plaintiff irrespective of whether or not the note would be subject to defenses as against the original holder. The leading case cited against the doctrine that a writing of this kind on the back of a note is a contract of indorsement, is Central Trust Co. v. Wyandotte First National Bank, 101 U. S. 68 (25 L. Ed. 876, see, also, Rose’s U. S. Notes). The bank, wishing to establish credit with the Cook County National Bank in Chicago, gave to the latter bank its note for $5,000 with an agreement, not expressed in the note, that the Cook County Bank should retain possession of the note and not negotiate it, and that the Wyandotte Bank should receive on the note only $1,000, leaving the balance of $4,000 to its credit in the Cook County Bank. Afterwards, in some transaction the Wyandotte Bank placed an additional sum of $868 to its credit with the Cook County Bank, making a total due to the Wyandotte Bank of $4,868, in the hands of the Cook County Bank. Contrary to its agreement, the latter bank negotiated the $5,000 note to a New York concern and it finally came into the hands of the Central Trust Company as receiver of the New York institution. At this stage the Wyandotte Bank brought snit against the trust company to compel it to surrender and cancel the $5,000 note and return certain collateral pledged with it, upon payment by the Wyandotte Bank of $132, being the difference between the amount to its credit with the Cook County Bank, the original payee, and the $5,000 for which the note was given. The indorsement on the back of the note by the Cook County Bank was. as follows:

“For value received, we hereby guarantee the payment of the within note at maturity or at any time thereafter, with interest at 10% per annum until paid, and agree to pay all costs and expenses incurred or paid in collecting the same.

“B. F. Allen, President.”

The decree of the court was that upon payment by the maker of the note, the Wyandotte Bank, of $132 to the defendant receiver, the latter should surrender the note and collateral. The effect of this decree was that the title passed but left the note subject to prior defenses against the original holder, on the ground that the writing on the back of the note was not an indorsement and not intended as such. That case is not an authority against the passing of title by such an indorsement; it is only to the effect that such a guarantee does not cut off prior defenses.

A leading case on the other side of the question is Hendrix v. Bauhard, 138 Ga. 473 (75 S. E. 588, Ann. Cas. 1913D, 688, 43 L. R. A. (N. S.) 1028), which holds that a payee indorsing a guaranty on the note for the purpose of negotiating the same becomes an indorser with enlarged liability. In Baldwin Fertilizer Co. v. Carmichael, 116 Ga. 762 (46 S. E. 1002), it was held that where a payee writes on the back of a note, a transfer of the same to a specified indorsee coupled with his guaranty of payment, he is to be held as an indorser. It is stated in Voss v. Chamberlain, 139 Iowa, 569 (117 N. W. 269, 130 Am. St. Rep. 331, 19 L. R. A. (N. S.) 106), that “The indorsement by the payee of a note of his name under a guaranty of payment, combined with a waiver of demand, notice and protest, constitutes a blank indorsement so as to pass title to one who takes the paper in due course for value.” In Kellogg v. Douglas County Bank, 58 Kan. 43 (48 Pac. 587, 62 Am. St. rep. 596), the holding was to the effect that such a writing on the back of the note is b'oth an indorsement and a guaranty, and hence passes the title thereto. The court said:

“The guaranty itself would be senseless and wholly inoperative, unless the note was transferred by the payee to a third party. ’ ’

In Durand National Bank v. Shaw, 157 Mich. 192 (121 N. W. 809, 133 Am. St. rep. 342), the court said:

“A guaranty of payment indorsed upon a promissory note is equivalent to an indorsement within the meaning of the law-merchant.”

In Dunham v. Peterson, 5 N. D. 414 (67 N. W. 293, 57 Am. St. Rep. 556, 36 L. R. A. 232), the court, speaking by Mr. Justice Corliss, says:

“One who is payee or is the holder of negotiable paper, and writes above his indorsement the contract of guaranty of payment, is an indorser with enlarged liability. It is on this ground that the decisions rest which hold that such a transfer of a negotiable instrument is an indorsement of it, within the purview of the rule which shields a bona fide indorsee against defenses good between the original parties: (Citing many authorities.) * *

“In our judgment, this mooted question, whether the fact that, in addition to indorsing the paper, the person who negotiates it writes above his indorsement a special contract, takes from the act of indorsing the legal character of an indorsement of the instrument, was intended to be put at rest in this state by Section 4868, Eev. Codes. This section provides as follows: ‘One who writes his name upon a negotiable instrument, otherwise than as a maker or acceptor, and delivers it with his name thereon to another person, is called an indorser, and his act is called indorsement.’ It will not do to assert that this section was passed to settle the question whether one out of the chain of title who indorses negotiable paper before delivering it to the payee, to give it credit, is liable as indorser or guarantor or as joint maker. Section 4877, Id., specifically relates to the subject. It declares that ‘ one who indorses a negotiable instrument before it is delivered to the payee is liable to the payee thereon as an indorser.’ The only other purpose it could be enacted for, unless, we assume it to be a purposeless enactment, was to declare that the act of writing his name upon negotiable paper by the holder thereof, as part of the negotiation thereof to a third person, should be an indorsement, despite the fact that, in connection with the act of indorsement, the indorser has, by special contract, restricted or enlarged his liability as indorser. We think this section is limited to the indorsement by the holder of the paper as part of the act of negotiation thereof. When these facts exist, the mere writing of a special contract above his name will not affect the character of his act as an indorsement. It is an indorsement, nevertheless.”

The opinion quotes with approval this excerpt from Brown v. Curtiss, 2 N. Y. 225:

“The direct engagement of the indorser of a negotiable note, and of the guarantor of the payment of a note, whether negotiable or not, is the same. Both -undertake that the maker will pay the amount when it shall become due. If there is a failure in such payment, both contracts are broken. . Ordinarily, upon the breach of a contract, the party bound for its performance immediately becomes liable for the consequent damages. In the case of the indorser of a negotiable promissory note, however, the liability does not become absolute, unless due notice of nonpayment is given to the party whom it is intended to charge. This is not because the indorser has thus stipulated in terms, but it is a condition annexed by the rules of the commercial law. In the case of a guarantor there is nothing to exempt him from the ordinary liability of parties who have broken their contracts, which is direct, and not conditional. No condition requiring notice of nonpayment is inserted in the contract, nor is any inferred by any rule of law. ’ ’

In Elgin City Banking Co. v. Zelch, 57 Minn. 487 (59 N. W. 544), there was written on the back of the note the following:

“Pay the Elgin City Banking Company. D. Dun-ham. Payment guaranteed.

“D. Dunham.”

Dunham was the original payee of the note. The holding in that case was to the effect that whether there was one contract or two written on the back of the note, an indorsement was the result. The fact that Dunham enlarged his liability beyond that of an indorser by guaranteeing payment did not affect the character of his indorsement. In Mangold & Glandt Bank v. Utterback, 54 Okl. 655 (160 Pac. 713, L. R. A. 1917B, 364), the indorsement signed by the payee was in this language: “Payment guaranteed. Protest waived,” and the court held that the purchaser was an indorsee protected against prior defenses. This excerpt is taken from the body of the opinion:

“There is no contention but that in the case at bar the defendant is at least a guarantor. If he be a guarantor only, then he is not entitled to the legal rights of an indorser to be served with notice of nonpayment. Yet we find written upon the back of the instrument in controversy the very significant words ‘Protest waived.’ Why waive a right that the party did not have? It must be presumed that the parties did not intend to do a useless and unnecessary act when these words were written upon the back of the instrument, and the reasonable construction is that by the entire indorsement he became an indorser with the enlarged liability of being legally held to payment without notice of the dishonor of the note. Further, no one can fairly say that the intention of the defendant not to be bound is clearly indicated from the words written upon the back of the instrument in controversy; in fact, the indication points the other way.”

See, also, Mullen v. Jones, 102 Minn. 72 (112 N. W. 1048); Pollard v. Hoff, 44 Neb. 892 (63 N. W. 58); Buck v. Davenport Savings Bank, 29 Neb. 407 (45 N. W. 776, 26 Am. St. Rep. 392); McNary v. Farmers’ National Bank, 33 Okl. 1 (124 Pac. 286, Ann. Cas. 1914B, 248, 41 L. R. A. (N. S.) 1009); Partridge v. Davis, 20 Vt. 499; Donnerberg v. Oppenheimer, 15 Wash. 290 (46 Pac. 254); National Exchange Bank v. McElfish Clay Mfg. Co., 48 W. Va. 406 (37 S. E. 541); Robinson v. Lair, 31 Iowa, 9; Baskin v. Crews, 66 Mo. App. 22; First National Bank v. Cummings (Okl.), 171 Pac. 862 (L. R. A. 1918D, 1099).

It would seem that the part of the indorsement, “notice of protest waived,” is negligible, because in Section 7910, Or. L., it is said that protest is not required except in case of foreign bills of exchange. In view of this enactment it is not apparent how the rights of a party can he affected favorably or adversely or at all by the waiver of notice of .something which is not required. Really, it appears that the only effectual part of the writing is couched in the words, “payment guaranteed.” It is clear from the pleadings that the payee intended to effect a negotiation of the instrument, that is, to pass the title from himself to a new holder. Indeed, he admits that he transferred the note. To whom he does not say, but the averment of the complaint is that he transferred it to the plaintiff. In brief, in our judgment, the complaint is sufficient to allow the plaintiff to prove that the defendant signed the indorsement. The language thereof does not limit, but on the contrary expands his liability into a condition where he is not entitled to notice of nonpayment or of demand on the maker for payment.

3. If the plaintiff can prove, as we think he has a right to under the pleadings, that the defendant Schiffman signed the quoted indorsement on the back of the notes, we have a situation where he assumed to pay the notes as an indorser who has waived demand and notice of nonpayment. Granting that he guarantees payment of the notes, in the language of Delsman v. Friedlander, 40 Or. 33, 35 (66 Pac. 297), “primarily, it may be stated as a legal proposition sustained and established by the very great weight pf judicial opinion that a guaranty of the payment of a note or other obligation is an absolute undertaking to pay it when due, and that no demand or notice of nonpayment is necessary or requisite to fix the liability of the guarantor”: Citing numerous authorities. It is not an instance where a stranger to the instrument guarantees its payment, which would he a collateral undertaking. It is a case of a payee, an actual party to the note, assuming a position in negotiating the same whereby he waives all further action on the part of the holder in fixing the liability of him who includes a guaranty in his indorsement.

4. The plaintiff has stated a case which if he proves, he is entitled to recover from Schiffman the amount due on the notes. The execution of the indorsement is denied. Signatures do not prove themselves, and it is incumbent upon the plaintiff in the face of the traverse of his complaint to offer evidence of the genuineness of Schiffman’s indorsement, if in fact the latter signed the same.

Of course, we have considered the pleadings as they now stand. The complaint does not state whether the transfer of the notes was effected before or after maturity or whether the present plaintiff took them without notice of defenses against them so as to exclude such defenses. Neither does the answer pretend to set up any defense except denial of the negotiation of the note in a manner to make the answering defendant liable. In brief, with the pleadings in their present state, the plaintiff is entitled to prove that Schiffman signed the writing alleged to be on the back of the note.

The judgment of the Circuit Court is reversed and the cause remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent herewith. Bevebsed.