Debuys v. Mollere
Debuys v. Mollere
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court. In this suit the plaintiff claims from the defendant $302 11. The petition contains two counts, one on a negociable note, charging the defendant as endorser, to the amount of $160: the other on an account stated amounting to $142 11. The cause was submitted to a jury, in the district court, who found for the plaintiff, only on the latter count; and judgment being accordingly rendered, he appealed.
Another, to the admission of parol evidence, to prove the subsequent promise on the existing pleadings of the cause. And a third, to an opinion of the judge a quo expressed to the jury.
We are of opinion that there is no error in allowing the testimony, to go to the jury, by which a promise, by the endorser to pay, made subsequent to the protest, was proven. The judgment to be rendered in the case depends on his liability as such; and not exclusively on the subsequent promise.
Whether the judge did or did not err, in his charge to the jury, it is unnecessary to determine, because the whole cause is now fairly
The evidence in the case shews that the defendant, subsequent to the protest of the note, agreed to secure to the plaintiff the amount specified in it by a mortgage on his property, which for some cause or other was not executed. This agreement is equivalent to a promise to pay; and it only remains to ascertain the legal effect of such a promise. The appellee must have known whether he was duly notified of the protest. If he were not, by promising to pay, he waved the advantage which such negligence would otherwise have given. But the promise itself is prima facie evidence of due notice; thus, if he did not receive regular notice, he is liable under his subsequent promise; and if such promise afford evidence of proper notice, he is then most clearly bound by his endorsement, because he never was in a situation to be discharged from the liability which it created. See Chitty on bills, Am. ed. 1821, p. 303, 304 & 305, and the authorities there referred to.
It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreeed, that the judgment of the district court
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.