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27 Vt. 662

Powers v. Ball

Supreme Court of Vermont

Decided April 15, 1855

Supreme Court of Vermont · decided 1855-04-15

Promissory notes, Assumpsit upon a promissory note payable, two years from date, to Amos Beckwith or bearer. Plea, the general issue; trial by jury, December Term, 1854, — Poland, J. presiding. The plaintiff produced the note, and proved its execution.

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently November 1883

2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Exceptions by the defendant · Decided 1855-04-15

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¶1The opinion of the court was delivered by

Redfield, Ch. J.

¶2The only question made in the present case is whether the Iona fide holder of a promissory note for value, negotiated before due, is liable to be defeated, in a suit upon the note, by showing that the consideration of the note was fraudulent between the original parties. It is laid down in Story on Bills of Exchange § 188, “ that the partial or total failure of consideration, *663or even fraud between the antecedent, parties will be no defense or bar to the title of a bona fide holder.” The same rule is laid down in Chit, on Bills, ch. 3, p. 78-79. In Bailey on Bills, 499, 500, numerous English cases are cited in confirmation of the rule. And if any rule of law in regal'd to negotiable paper is well established, it is that a bona fide holder for value will be able to shut out all defenses, except certain statutory ones where the paper in its inception is declared absolutely void, as notes or bills given upon gambling and usurious considerations. And illegality, duress, fraud, and want or. failure of consideration are no defenses as against a bona fide holder for value. In Smith’s Mercantile Law, 320, it is said that the defenses of duress, fraud, &c., will not prevail agiinst a bona fide holder. We think the rule must be regarded as altogether settled.

¶3Judgment affirmed.

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