Union Bank of Louisiana v. Fonteneau
Union Bank of Louisiana v. Fonteneau
Opinion of the Court
This is an action on a promissory note against the maker and endorsers thereof. The endorsers plead their discharge, in consequence of the want of proper presentment, and demand of payment of the note, at the place therein indicated, and of due notice of protest.
The District Court.gave judgment in favor of he plaintiffs, against the maker and the first endorser for the amount sued for, and discharged the second endorser from liability; and from this judgment, the first endorser, Michael Boyce, has appealed.
The protest of the note sued on was made on the 7th of June, 1842, and the notary states, in his certificate of notice, which is dated the ninth of the same month, “that the parties to said note have been duly notified of the protest thereof, by letters to them by me written and addressed, dated on the day of said protest, and served on them respectively in the manner following, to wit: Michael Boyce, Esq., Natchitoches, La., personally; Hre. Bordelon, Esq., Natchitoches, La., and put into the post-office at Natchitoches in presence of the undersigned witnesses this day,1' &c.
The testimony further shows, that on the day of the protest, the notary presented the note to Michael Boyce, the first endorser, saying, that unless it was paid or arranged, it would be immediately protested, and that Boyce answered, that it would have to be protested. The note was presented to Boyce, at the ’ request of St. Amans, because the latter had already told Boyce that a note, upon which he was endorser, would be that day protested ; and Boyce had answered that he did not recollect having signed it. The note was then put into the hands of the notary, who, after having presented it for payment at the City Bank, held the above-mentioned conversation with Boyce, but it was before the protest, at about four o’clock, P. M., after business hours. The notice of protest was served upon Boyce personally, on the ninth of June, in the town of Natchitoches, where he lives.
Under this evidence, it is pretty clear, that even supposing the demand for payment to have been properly made, under the circumstances, at a place where the note sued on was not made payable, which appears to us to be very questionable, due and
It is, therefore, ordered and decreed, that the judgment of the District Court be avoided and reversed; and that ours be for the defendant and appellant, with costs in both courts.
This appears to be a mistake. The testimony of Williams shows, that “ the office of the Union Bank is under the same roof, and part of the building occupied by the cashier” of the Union Bank. The City Bank and Union Bank are proved to have been in different streets. — R.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.