Lennon v. Brainard
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Lennon v. Brainard
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiff procured a draft of defendants, bankers, upon the First National Bank of Chicago, for $100, dated January 9,1882, and payable to her own order. On the same day, it was indorsed by her, through her husband, who acted for her and used her name, as follows: “Pay Chas. Eaymond, Boston.” He testifies positively that the draft was, after it, was so indorsed, carefully in
The principal question here is whether the court erred in such disposition of the case upon the evidence. The defendants contend that there is evidence in the case tending to prove negligence on the part of the plaintiff in forwarding the draft, which caused or contributed to the fraudulent misappropriation and negotiation thereof, and that this question should have been submitted to the jury. The draft was, according to the plaintiff’s evidence, inclosed in a letter directing “Chas. A. Raymond” to apply the amount upon plaintiff’s indebtedness to him. If the evidence in her behalf was true, then the letter was wrongfully delivered, or intercepted by some one other than the person addressed; and the fraudulent and unauthorized indorsement of “Chas. Raymond” is as much a forgery as if the draft had been correctly indorsed by plaintiff, and the letter had been intercepted, or the draft stolen and negotiated through a forgery of the name of “Chas. A. Raymond.” There is no proof that it in fact came into the possession of any one identified as “Chas. Raymond.” It
No case was made for a new trial on the ground of newly-discovered evidence. At the December term, 1884, the action was continued to the June term, 1885, on the application of the defendants, to enable them to prove the residence of Charles Baymond, which it was alleged was No. 6 Sumner street, Charlestown, a suburb of Boston. But it is clear that there is no sufficient evidence of diligence on the part of the defendants to procure the desired testimony at the June term, and the motion for a new trial on that ground was properly denied.
The testimony is clear and explicit on the part of the plaintiff that the letter inclosing the draft was addressed, “Chas. A. Baymond,” at his place of business, Boston; and that the address was taken from one of his bill-heads, placed before the writer at that time. There was no conflict in the evidence, and there is no presumption, therefore, that the draft miscarried, and fell into the hands of some one whose address was, “Chas. Baymond, Boston,” through the mistake or carelessness of the plaintiff. Since the indorsement of “Chas. Baymond” appears to be a forgery, the payment was unauthorized, and the plaintiff, upon the record as it exists, was entitled to recover, and a verdict was properly directed.
Order affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- A. G. Lennon v. J. C. Brainard and another
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