Home Savings Bank v. McLaren
Home Savings Bank v. McLaren
Opinion of the Court
On June 24, 1891, Charles P. Toll gave a promissory note for $288 to McLaren, the defendant, who indorsed and sold it to the plaintiff, the Home Savings Bank. On January 23, 1892, the defendant signed a writing, reading as follows, viz.:
“ Whereas, the Home Savings Bank, of Detroit, Michigan, is the holder and owner of a note made by Charles P. Toll, and indorsed by the undersigned, which note is for the sum of two hundred and eighty-eight ($288.00) dollars, and bears date June 24, 1891, due four months after date: Therefore, for and in consideration of the benefit accruing to me, the undersigned, I hereby consent that said the Home Savings Bank may accept such security, and grant such extensions of time, for the payment of said note as its officers may deem proper, and that the same shall not in any way affect my liability on said note.
[Signed] “ John P. McLaren.”
Two days later, Toll gave a bond to the plaintiff, conditioned that he should pay to the plaintiff the sums of money due to it upon the following promissory notes, viz.:
The above facts are undisputed, and no exceptions were taken to the court’s findings of fact. Based upon them, the court proceeded to render judgment against defendant for the full amount of the note, with interest and costs. Defendant contended that the foregoing operated as a payment of his note, at least in part, and requested a judgment in his favor; failing this, a judgment against him for 22 per cent, of the note and interest; or, failing that, a judgment against him for 47.1 per cent, of the note and interest. They were all refused.
The writing signed by the defendant shows upon its face that the permission to grant extension of time, and accept security, without affecting his liability upon the note, was for and in consideration of the benefit accruing to him. The only benefit apparent is such protection as the security should afford, but it is now said that this was not intended' as a security for his benefit, but merely for the benefit of the plaintiff, who, nevertheless, insists that the defendant is bound by the writing. In English v. Carney, 25 Mich. 178, it was claimed that security should not be ratably applied in favor of an indorser, and it was there said that the right to have the mortgage apply pro rata to the several notes would seem to have been the'intent of the parties at the time the indorsement was made, “ as there was nothing tending to show that Maxwell would have indorsed it had it not been secured by the mortgage, and he must therefore be regarded as relying upon the security of the mortgage in making the indorsement.” The same and more may be said in this case, for the defendant evidently relied upon the proposed security as an advantage to him, for which he was willing to part with some of the legal rights of an indorser.
We do not attempt to determine the rights of the defendants in the foreclosure case, because the facts and parties are not fully before us, and, further, the decree
The judgment is reversed, and a judgment entered here for 1180.68, with interest from November 28, 1896,, and costs of the circuit court. The defendant will recover costs of this court.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- HOME SAVINGS BANK v. McLAREN
- Status
- Published