Howe v. Hartness, Hill & Co.
Howe v. Hartness, Hill & Co.
Opinion of the Court
The certificate of deposit issued by the defendants, Hartness, Hill & Co., to the plaintiff’s debtor, contains an unconditional promise to pay to the order of E. C. Markham, four thousand dollars, in currency, with interest, upon presentation of the certificate, either by himself or his assignee. Such is clearly the legal import of its terms; and there can be no doubt that it possesses all the characteristics of a negotiable promissory note, unless the fact that it is payable in currency affects its negotiablity. The question, then, is, Whether a note drawn for a specified sum, payable in currency, is a note drawn for a sum of money, within the meaning of the statute.
In Dugan v. Campbell, 1 Ohio Rep. 115, it was said by the court, that the term “ currency ” means current money, where this interpretation is not controlled by the positive terms of the contract.
This authority might, perhaps, have justified the court below in excluding evidence explanatory of the term currency, in this case. But the plaintiff was permitted to show that
On a question affecting the character of commercial paper, we do. not feel at liberty to overrule these repeated adjudications, and ignore the general understanding of the business community. And so long as the general consent of mankind, in all business transactions, gives to current bank bills, the character of money, we see no good reason why courts, when the question is presented in a commercial point of view, should regard them otherwise.
But it is claimed that the certificate, if negotiable, was overdue when negotiated to the Peninsular Bank. This position we think can not be maintained. In England, a promissory note, payable on demand, with interest, does not become overdue by mere lapse of time. Baiough v. White, 4 B. & C. 325 (10 E. C. L. R. 345). But in this country, a note payable on demand, unless indorsed within a reasonable time, is considered as overdue and dishonored. What shall be regarded as reasonable time, must depend to a great extent on circumstances. In Ranger v. Cary and others, 1 Metc. 369, it was held that one month would not be unreasonable time. In the present case, the certificate was drawn bearing interest, showing that immediate presentation for payment was not con
The facts stated in the answer of the garnishees in the attachment suit, and which the court below has found to be true, clearly show that at the time of service of process upon them under the attachment proceedings, the certificate had passed completely beyond their control. It had been deposited in the postoffice, in an envelop, directed to Markham, the payee, in pursuance of his orders. This was, in law, a delivery to him, and the certificate thereby became his absolute property. It is true, that Hartness, Hill & Co., the garnishees, were, at the time, indebted to Markham; but their indebtedness was evidenced by a negotiable promissory note, then in his possession, and which, within a reasonable time, he might transfer so that his assignee would have the right to demand and enforce its payment by the makers. It was so negotiated by the payee, within two days after its date, and received by the Peninsular Bank, in the regular course of business, in good faith, and for a valuable consideration. As such assignee, the Peninsular Bank was not chargeable with constructive notice of the proceedings in attachment then pending. In the case of Stone v. Elliott, decided at the present term, we have held that the doctrine of lis pendens does not apply to negotiable paper before due. And the garnishees being, therefore, liable to the assignee, the court below properly held that they could not be made liable to account for the same debt to the attaching creditor, under the 206th section of the code.
Judgment of the court below affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.