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10 Abb. Pr. 379

Chesebrough v. Tompkins

New York Court of Appeals

Decided April 15, 1870

New York Court of Appeals · decided 1870-04-15

Douglas Chesebrough sued Thomas H. Tompkins and George N. Palmer upon a promissory note made by Tompkins to Palmer’s order, and by him transferred. It was proved on the trial that Tompkins had made the note as payment for some shares in a patented article owned by Palmer, and had given it to one Brown, Palmer’s agent, who had indorsed Palmer’s name upon it.

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently June 1895

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1870-04-15

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By the Court.—Rapallo, J.

¶1The nonsuit was granted on the ground that the plaintiff showed no title to the note. The only witness called to prove the authority of Brown to indorse and transfer the note, was Palmer, the payee.

¶2He testified, in substance, that Brown was authorized by him to sell certain patent rights, and to receive notes in payment, and transfer them so as not to make him (Palmer) liable in any way. On cross-examination, however, he testified that he furnished Brown with printed blank notes, all payable to bearer, to be used in that business; that Brown had authority to take and transfer such notes, and no others; that he had no authority to make notes payable to order, and write Palmer’s name upon them. On further cross-examination, it appeared that Brown’s authority was in writing.

¶3The writing, though called for, was not produced, and the defendant moved on that ground to strike out the oral evidence which had been given as to Brown’s authority.

¶4The case does not disclose what disposition was made of this motion. But inasmuch as the judge non-suited the plaintiff on the ground of want of title, and held that there was no evidence to submit to the jury *381on that point, it would, if necessary to support his decision, be intended that he granted the motion to strike out, and regarded the oral evidence of authority as excluded.

¶5In that view of the case, there was no evidence whatever of title to the note, and the nonsuit was properly granted.

¶6The judgment should be affirmed with costs.

¶7Judgment affirmed.

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