First State Bank of Lemmon v. McMahon

WHITING, J.

Suit on promissory note given by defendant to. plaintiff. Verdict was directed for plaintiff. The ground of the motion to direct verdict was that defendant’s “testimony shows that defendant was an accommodation maker of the note, and that the plaintiff is a holder for value of said note, * * * and that under the law the defendant is liable as an original maker of the note.” From a judgment for plaintiff this appeal was taken.

Appellant contends that defendant was not an “accommodation maker” of the note; and, as we read respondent’s brief, it concedes that to be the fact. The final question, however, is not whether the ground urged for the directed verdict was sufficient to sustain the action of the court, but whether such action was correct, even though its justification must be based on other grounds.

[1] If defendant was not an “accommodation maker,” then what was he? Under plaintiff’s evidence, defendant was, as between himself and one H., the principal debtor, and H. but a surety; but the trial court, in directing a verdict, had to construe the evidence most favorably to defendant. According to defendant, back in 1911, he had a-transaction with H., then his attorney, under which he was to pay H. $30, but, not having the money, told H. that, if be could get the money on his, H.’s note, he, the defendant, would sign such note; that H. gave a note for $100 to plaintiff, which forwarded it to another bank, to procure defendant’s signature thereto; that he was called into the latter bank to sign the note; that he explained that he was not to sign a note for more than $30; and that he was induced to sign this note above the signature of H. upon the assurance that he never would be holden upon same. From time to time renewal notes were given, each covering the principal and interest due on the *80 date of the particular renewal note, and each one of these renewal notes, unless it be the first, signed only by the defendant. Defendant contends that, while he gave all these renewal notes, he was at all times and at every time, except when he executed the last note, assured that the payee would not hold him upon the note, but would look solely to H. for the debt. It is undisputed that H. received $100 from plaintiff at the time he signed the original note, and that this money was advanced under an understanding with H. that defendant would either sign such note or would give his own note secured to take up H.’s. note.

•Certainly it must be conceded that, when appellant promised to sign H.’s note for $30 provided H. could get some one to advance the money on it, if H. had given his note for the $30 only, and the $30 had been advanced him thereon upon the understanding above referred to—such previous advancement would have been a good consideration for defendant’s signature to the note—as between defendant and H., defendant would have been the principal, and H. but a surety. Under the admitted facts, defendant was, as to H., the principal to the extent of $30, andi is in no position to urge want of consideration.

[2] Even though there had been no benefit coming 'to .him under the • original transaction, and even though the $100 had been, as it was, paid over to H. before defendant attached his signature-to such note, yet, the advancement made to H. being made on the strength of H.’s agreement ..that defendant would sign the note, defendant would have become at once liable even though he had been ignorant, which he was. not, of the understanding between H. and the payee of the note (8 C. J. 212, 250, 257), unless the promise of the payee to look solely to H. for payment released defendant from all liability. Respondent contends that pa)ree’s officers were without power to bind the payee by any such promise; and, furthermore, that the seeking to prove such an agreement was an effort to vary the terms of a written instrument by parol.

[3] Respondent is right. When defendant signed such note, it apparently became a writing upon which he was obligated as a party thereto — it was the reduction into writing of the agreement of the parties, and therefore superseded all oral • negotiations. Defendant might prove by parol the 'capacity in which he signe.d-; *81 he might even prove that he was an accommodation party and only liable as such; he might prove that he became a party to such note through fraud or undue influence; he might prove no consideration; but he could not prove that, although his name was attached to such note, he had, because of some oral- agreement preceding the writing, never become a party to the contract which such writing evidenced. Thompson v. McKee, 5 Dak. 172 , 37 N. W. 367 . Having executed to the bank a note for which he had received a consideration to the extent of at least $30, no executive officer or officers of. the bank, other- than the board of directors, had authority thereafter to bind the bank, by an' agreement made without consideration, to release defendant from liability on such contract. Mead v. Pettigrew, 11 S. D. 529, 78 N. W. 945 . The case of Thompson v. McKee, supra, was, in its facts, peculiarly analogous to the facts of this case as claimed by defendant. See, also, notes 28 L. R. A. (N. S.) 501.

The judgment appealed from is affirmed.