White v. Tarbell
White v. Tarbell
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
We see no objection to the declaration, which can prevail on general demurrer.
The note is declared upon as a note payable to Luther Perigo or bearer, and the declaration avers that the plaintiff is the bona fide owner and bearer of said note. Though it was once doubted in this state, yet it has long been the settled law that, upon a note payable as this is, the bearer may maintain an action on it, in his own name, without an endorsement of it.
This declaration is much like the one in Dole v. Weeks in the 4th of Mass. 451, which was held well enough upon general demurrer. In that case, however, it was simply averred that the
But in Herrick v. Bennett, 8 Johns. 374, it was held sufficient to declare upon a note according to its terms, and, that when no time of payment is mentioned in the note, it is payable immediately and that this was a conclusion of law. So in the case of Sheehy v. Mandeville, 7 Cranch. 208, 217 ; the declaration alleged no time when the note was payable, and Ch. Justice Marshall says, “ the legal effect of the promissory note is stated, and that “ the effect on a note having no day of payment would he, that it was “ payable immediately.” See also Okie v. Spencer, 2 Wharton, 253, 260.
We think on the whole, then, that this declaration is according to the legal effect of the note, and is not declaring upon the evidence, as is said in the case in the second of Connecticut. We are to presume, upon the demurrer, that the plaintiff has stated his note according to its terms.
The judgment of the county court is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Charles White v. Daniel Tarbell, Jr.
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- A declaration upon a promissory note, payable to L. P. or bearer, in which the only averment of the transfer, and of the plaintiff 5s title, is an averment that the plaintiff “ is thebona-fide owner and bearer of said note,” — and in which no time is alleged when the note was payable, is sufficient on general demurrer.