Miller v. American Gold Mining Co.
Miller v. American Gold Mining Co.
Opinion of the Court
It is contended that sections 196 and 197 of the Civil Code of Alaska define foreign and
Sections 196 and 197 of the Civil Code, despite the fact that they bear, as a title to each section, respectively, the designation “Damages on Foreign Bills” and “Damages on Inland Bills of Exchange,” merely make a division between or classification of different kinds of foreign bills of exchange from the point of view of damages which may be allowed; greater damages being allowed on bills of exchange which are drawn within the district of Alaska and made payable without the limits of the United States than upon bills drawn on some other state, for the very apparent reason that the rate of exchange is greater and the expenses and cost of collection will be larger between a foreign country and the United States than it would be between two states. Section 197, entitled “Damages on Inland Bills of Exchange,” is, despite the title, classification of foreign bills of exchange for the purpose fixing damages where the bills are drawn on a person in some state or territory of the United States. The damages this class of bills are fixed at a less sum than the former class, for the reason that the rates of exchange and the ex
It is a rule of the law chants, which has come to us from England and has been continued in the United States, too well known to require citation of authorities to support it, that in order to charge the maker or drawer of a foreign bill of exchange upon the refusal of payment by the acceptor the bill must be protested, as well as that notice of dishonor must be given to the drawer. The Alaska Code in no way changes, this rule, and it must be considered in force in the territory of Alaska, as elsewhere where statutory regulations have not made changes.
The first and fourth counts of allegations, I think, comply with the requirements of the law merchant, showing the drawing of the draft, its acceptance, its presentation for payment, and the refusal thereof, the due protest, and the notice of refusal or dishonor to the drawer, besides the other essentials. Under section 197,, supra, plaintiff is entitled to make the claim which he has made for interest and damages from the drawer, the defendant corporation. The demurrer to the first and fourth counts is not well taken, and should be overruled.
As to the second and third counts of the complaint, the' demurrer is well taken. Plaintiff has failed to allege the protest for nonpayment of the draft, which is essential to fix the liability of the drawer. 1 Daniel on Negotiable Inst. 7. The demurrer should be sustained to the second and third counts, despite the allegation in the complaint that notice of the refusal and dishonor was given .to the American Gold Mining Company, defendant. It is unquestionably essential,
Let an order be entered overruling the demurrer as to the first and fourth counts, and sustaining the demurrer as to the second and third counts, in the complaint.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- MILLER v. AMERICAN GOLD MINING CO.
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published