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115 Ark. 226

Cochran v. Shull

Supreme Court of Arkansas

Decided November 9, 1914

Supreme Court of Arkansas · decided 1914-11-09

Cowling, Judge; STATEMENT BY THE COUBT. Appellant instituted this suit against the appellee on a promissory note for $374.70, payable in installments of $62.45 each, due respectively in two, four, sis, eight, ten and twelve months after date. Appellee denied liability ■on the note sued on. The appellant introduced the note, which was for value received and made payable to the order of the Equitable Manufacturing Company, and was endorsed as follows: “Pay to the order of J. 0.

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently February 1931

2 state decisions

Relies on Graham v. Remmel · American Sales Book Co. v. Whitaker · Barr Cash & Package Carrier Co. v. Brooks-Ozan Mercantile Co.

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

affirmed · Decided 1914-11-09

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Wood, J.,

¶1(after stating the facts). In Barr C. & P. Co. v. Brooks-Ozan Merc. Co., 82 Ark. 219, we held that parol evidence was admissible to prove that a written contract was executed upon condition that it was not to be a completed contract until certain precedent conditions had been fulfilled. And in American Sales Book Co. v. Whitaker, 100 Ark. 360-365, we said; “Parol evidence is admissible to show that a written instrument was not signed or delivered as a concluded contract, but was only signed and delivered to be held pending the happening of a contingency or the performance of some condition, and that subsequently such contingency did not happen, or such condition was not performed, and therefore that the written instrument did not become effective as a completed contract.” See, also, Graham v. Remmel, 76 Ark. 140.

¶2The appellee showed here that the order and note were not to be sent to the company for a day or two, until he had an opportunity to look over copies of the same and determine whether they were satisfactory, and if not satisfactory, that he might countermand the order. The company’s agent who took the order and note violated this agreement by immediately sending in the order and note. This was a fraud upon the appellee.

¶3“Evidence of illegality or fraud in the origin or transfer of commercial paper throws on the holder the burden of proving his good faith.” 2 Randolph on Commercial Paper, § 1026. See, also, Daniel on Negotiable Instruments, § 815.

¶4The presumption which the law merchant raises in favor of the holder, in due course, of commercial paper was overcome by the proof on -the part of the appellee, and shifted the burden to the appellant to show that he was the holder for value. Ark. Natl. Bank v. Martin, 110 Ark. 578-587.

¶5The judgment is therefore correct, and it is affirmed.

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