Suit by the appellees, as payees of a bill of exchange, against the appellants, as drawer and acceptor thereof. The hill had been indorsed by plaintiffs, and returned to them unpaid.
Kovtepeter, the drawer, answered that he, together with said payees, were but sureties of said acceptor, and known to each other as such; that is, that the acceptor was indebted to one Harrison, and to enable him to discharge the same, said bill was so drawn and accepted; and that upon its dishonor, he had paid to the holder his contributive share. Reply: that the debt to Harrison was the debt of the drawer and acceptor of the hill, who had made it as partners, and each contributed in procuring plaintiffs to lend their names, promising that the same should be met at maturity; and that Kortejpeter was not a mere surety or accommodation drawer.
This is the substance of the answer and reply, upon this point.
The Court, among other things, instructed the jury that “the defendants, as acceptor and drawer of the hill of exchange, are liable to the indorsers to reimburse them; and Kortejoeler is thus liable, notwithstanding he may have been but an accommodation drawer for Groas, (the acceptor,) and had no interest in common with him in relation to the bill, or die purpose for which its proceeds were designed; and if the plaintiffs, as such indorsers, have mutually contributed to paying off the hill (except the portion paid by Kortepoter,) the plaintiffs could 1iy mutual consent have their names inserted as payees of said bill, in the blank left for the name of the payee, and recover thereon jointly. But to entitle them to a *297judgment against Kortepeter, the plaintiffs must prove, in addition, the presentment of the bill, within the usual business hours, at, &c., and that notice had been given to him.” ,
D. McDonald and G. M. Walker, for the appellants. R. L. Walpole and K. Ferguson, for the appellees.This instruction was erroneous, for assuming as true, that the plaintiffs were not original parties to the bill, but indorsers only, and that a blank had been left in the bill, as to the name of the payee, which was filled after its dishonor, as indicated in the instruction. So far as the bill showed, or the pleadings, this was a controversy between the drawer and drawees of a bill, and the consideration could, therefore, be inquired into. 1 Parsons on Cont., p. 215, and note.
We are not able to perceive but that the jury, in returning their verdict for the plaintiffs, may have been misled by this charge.
.Per Ouriam.The judgment is reversed, with costs. Cause remanded, &c.