M'Mahan v. Grant
M'Mahan v. Grant
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
On the 22d of February, 1837, Grant purchased of the late Dr. M'Mahan (whose estate is now represented by plaintiff) a lot of ground for fifteen thousand dollars. In the deed of sale he agreed to assume the payment of a note, of three thousand five hundred dollars yet due by M'Mahan, to his own vendor William M'Cawley, and bearing mortgage
After deducting the costs, the judge below applied the proceeds of the sale equally to the payment of the assumed note of three thousand five hundred dollars, and the first note of four thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars under protest, and gave judgment against Grant for the whole balance unpaid. As to Turnell, he was decreed to pay four hundred and sixty-two dollars ahd twenty-five cents, the balance thus found to remain due’on the first note endorsed by him, but he was entirely released from all liability on the second note, on the ground that it had not been duly protested.
From this judgment the plaintiff has appealed. She urges that it is erroneous so far as relates to Turnell:
1. In discharging him from the payment of the second note of four thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars.
2. In applying proportionally the proceeds of the adjudica¿{on pay assumed note of three thousand five hundred dollars, and that of four thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars.
I. It is contended on the part of the appellant, that although the second note has not been protested, yet under the peculiar circumstances of this case, Turnell should be held responsible for its amount; that about the time of the maturity of this note, he had, as it were, made the debt his own, and by his acts and whole course of conduct had induced plaintiff to consider the protest of the note as unnecessary. We think the judge acted correctly in releasing this endorser. The record shows that a few days after the sheriff’s sale some negotiations, took place between the plaintiff’s agent and Turnell. The latter appeared anxious to have the benefit of the adjudication made to plaintiff at eight thousand dollars, in order to save himself from too heavy a loss; being unable to procure the cash required by plaintiff, he had offer- * . . , ed to transfer certain notes and bank stocks in lieu or cash, and time was to be allowed him to pay the balance due ; this proposition had not been accepted, nor had any other arrangement been made, or understanding had in ^e matter when this note fell due. Nothing could have induced the plaintiff or her agent to believe that Turnell had waived his rights as endorser, and that it bad become unnecessary to protest the note. It is more reasonable to infer, from all the circumstances, that this note having been filed with the others in the suit for the seizure of the property, maturity was overlooked by plaintiff’s agent. In fact, one 0f thenQ st,ates positively, that had the note been in his t r J . possession, he would have caused it to be protested. Pending negotiations with an endorser before maturity, which may or rnay not fipen into an agreement, cannot be considered as a waiver of the formalities necessary to fix his respon- ..... Slblllty. ,
II. As to the imputation of the proceeds of the sheriff’s sale, it is clear that the assumed note of three thousand five hundred dollars bore the first mortgage on the property sold,
The judgment of the court below, as rendered against Turnell, is, therefore, reversed ; and it is ordered and adjudged, that the plaintiff do recover of the said Turnell, éight hundred and three dollars and one cent, with legal interest from the 28th January, 1839, until paid, with costs in both courts.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- M'MAHAN v. GRANT AND TURNELL
- Status
- Published