Smith v. Robinson
Smith v. Robinson
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court. ,
This is an action on a promissory note: there was judgment by default, and the defendant appealed after an unsuccessful attempt to have the judgment set aside.
The statement of facts shows the note was subscribed by the defendant. Two names appear before his, but the note is joint and several, and it was payable at the counting-house of M. White, who handed it to the attorney who brought the
There is no evidence of any demand at the place at which the note is payable; but the plaintiff's attorney has contended that his having received the note from White, is evidence of its having been in the possession of White for collection; and the presumption is strong, that White was not absent from his own counting-house, on the day of payment, and there could not be any necessity of his making a demand from himself; and the counsel has cited numerous authorities, to show there was no necessity for such a demand. In Miller vs.. Croghan, 3 Martin, N. S. 423, we concurred, in the opinion of our learned brother, from whose judgment the present appeal is taken, that in the case of a note payable, at a particular place, a demand there was a condition precedent to the plaintiff’s right of recovery.
We admitted, however, that there were many and very respectable authorities in support of the contrary doctrine; that it was a most controverted question, and we gave that judgment which, in our opinion, was called for, by analogy . . , , . , - , . to principles and a greater weight of authority. Having settled the law, as far as it can be settled by a single decision, we have nevertheless reconsidered our decision; and it has not appeared to us tliat it ought to be disturbed.
It does not appear, at vihat time White received the note. The suit was not brought till eight months after the maturity of the note. It is true the defendant did not pretend he had called at White’s countin-house, to pay the note, but he gave it as his opinion, that this was the business of Bynum the principal, rather than the defendant, who was only a surety. The note bears no date of the place where it was executed; the plaintiff resides in another State and the principal, it is said, on Red-River. Nothing shows the presence of the plaintiff, nor of any body authorized by him,
It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the District Court be annulled, avoided and reversed; and proceeding to give such a judgment as, in our opinion, ought to have been given below; it is ordered that there be judgment in favour of the defendant, as in the case of a non-suit, with costs in both courts.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- SMITH v. ROBINSON
- Status
- Published