Moodie v. Morrall
Moodie v. Morrall
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court.
I have considered this first ground, and have no hesitation in saying, that in my opinion the notice was sufficient of the non-payment by the drawer, to the endorser. Charleston being the place where the note was drawn and endorsed, shall be presumed to be the residence of both
With respect to the second ground, of giving day to the maker of the note, and taking a new security, I have no doubt, from the best view I can take of the subject, that it exonerated and discharged the endorser, as it had an evident tendency to put off to a distant and remote period the payment of the money he was so highly interested in seeing speedily discharged. It is scarcely to be presumed that any man would be so incautious and unwise as to endorse a note or bill unless he believed that the maker was able to take it up and pay the amount immediately, upon a failure of payment or acceptance; and unless he believed also that the holder would lose no time in his endeavours to recover without loss of time from the maker, in case of nonpayment. Any delay, therefore, on’the part of the holder, in his attempts to recover against the principal, is an injury done to the endorser as a collateral undertaker, and • lessens hi& chance of indemnity; for these reasons, the law enjoins great punctuality and diligence on the part of every holder of a bill or note. Hence it results, that every indulgence given by such holder, by giving further day, or taking a new .security, releases the endorser.
In our own Courts it has been determined so
This doctrine appears to have been confirmed by a great variety of authorities. Chitty on Bills, 619 ; 8 East's Rep. 576; 3 Bos. & Puller, 362; and 3 Esp. Rep. 46 and 49; and many other authorities.
The case under consideration is a remarkable one. Instead of taking a new bill for the speedy payment of the money, or any other' security likely to be fulfilled in a short period, which might in some cases have been some kind of excuse for a reasonable delay, twelve months are given for payment of part of the debt by the holder, and two years for the residue. This appears to me to be so much out of the line of all mercantile transactions, as totally to have
I am therefore of opinion, that the verdict of the Jury should remain at rest, and that there should be no new trial.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.