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18 La. 119

Stetson v. Stackhouse

Supreme Court of Louisiana

Decided April 15, 1841

Supreme Court of Louisiana · decided 1841-04-15

This is an action by the holder of a promissory note signed by Wm. Stackhouse & Co. payable to the order of Greenbury Dorsey, six months after the 20th December, 1838, for $5163, Dorsey, the payee and endorser is also a member of the firm of Wm.

Decided 1841-04-15

Morphy, J.

¶1delivered the opinion of the court.

¶2This suit is brought on a promissory note drawn by Wm. Stackhouse & Co. to the order of and endorsed by Greenbury Dorsey. The petition alleges that the said firm consists of defendant, S. Stackhouse and Greenbury Dorsey. Thede-fence set up is that this note was given to the payee without consideration and entirely for his use and benefit, in order to enable said Dorsey whose credit was had, to raise money upon *121it; that it was agreed if he used the note, he would pay its amount when due, and that plaintiff took the'note with a full knowledge of all these circumstances. There was a judgment below in favor of defendant, which was afterwards changed into one of non-suit, on a motion for a new trial. Plaintiff appealed.

The en(jorsee or Ilol<'er of a note who takes it after maturity holils it subject toallthe equities théSU1'Soriginal Pal'tles-So where S. ^mmodation10" ^¿bie°him to raise funds with an understand-ingthat thelat-itlif"he usedtf todthe Ppla?ntiff «fterit -was due, in his action to recover of the non-anited.

¶3It is admitted that long after the note sued on became due, it was pledged to the plaintiff to secure 'him against his endorsement on a bill of exchange drawn by Dorsey on one George Young of Cincinnati. It is well settled that the en- ° ° dorsee or pledgee of a note takes it after maturity subject to Hi . . , , , . , , , , .. n . all the equities to which it would have been liable between the original parties to it. The evidence shows that after the note was made, Stackhouse & Co. gave a mortgage on several slaves to secure its payment. The book-keeper of Dorsey testifies that he understood from the latter that he had obtained this note lo raise money with it, and that although it was usual for Dorsey to make an entry on his books of all' notes received by him, no mention whatever was- made of this particular note. From the evidence we incline to think with the Judge below that it was an accommodation note given to Dorsey to facilitate him in his business, and that the mortgage was given only to aid its negotiation. The defendant has at all events made a sufficient showing -to .throw upon the plaintiff the bur-then of proving a consideration, if any had existed. — This Was not even attempted to be done. If Stackhouse & Co. merely lent their name to Dorsey as drawers of this note which was made payable six months after date, it is clear that having failed to raise money on it before its maturity, his authority to dispose of it had ceased, and it should have been i i . .. " . .. ,, , returned to them. Besides, if it be true, as is alleged by the plaintiff himself, that Dorsey, the payee of this note was a member of the firm of Stackhouse & Co., this debt, admitting it to be real, must go into the settlement of the partnership . " accounts, and this defence which would' have been good against Dorsey must prevail 'against plaintiff who is in no *122better situation than he; having acquired ' this note after its maturity.

¶4The judgment of the Commercial Court is therefore affirmed with costs.

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