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3 Miss. 902

Winn v. Levy

Mississippi Supreme Court

Decided January 15, 1838

Mississippi Supreme Court · decided 1838-01-15

This was an action by M. A. Levy, against the plaintiff in erról-as endorser of three several promissory notes, for the sum of 863 dollars 56 cents, each, bearing date July 11, 1836, and maturing at six, seven and eight months. Judgment was had in the court below by default, for 2626 dollars, being the aggregate amount of the three notes, with interest.

Decided 1838-01-15

Mr. Chief Justice Shakkev

¶1delivered the opinion of the court.

¶2The declaration contains three counts, on three several promissory notes, against A. M. Winn, as endorser. The notes were all payable at the Planters’ bank at Vicksburg. The one mentioned in the second count, is described as having fallen due on the 14th of February, 1837, and “it was not presented for payment until the 2d of March, thereafter.” The said Winn suffered judgment by default to be taken against him; and brings his writ of error to correct the judgment for the error above stated.

¶3As endorser, he was entitled to have payment demanded at the maturity of the note, and to notice on failure to pay, but by suffering judgment by default, he has lost his oportunity of contesting the right to recover. He was advised, by the endorsement on the writ, of the nature of the claim against him, and if it was not just, it was his duty to have made his defence. By suffering *904judgment by default, he admitted that there was cause of action, and he could not have been ignorant of what the recovery against him would be. The second count would have been bad on demurrer but the defect would have been cured by verdict, and it seems to be the object of the statute, as nearly as possible', to place all judgments by default, on an equality with judgments on verdict. The statute speaks of judgment by non sum informatus and nil dicit, and there is no material difference, if there is any at all, between judgment on nil dicit, and by default. We think, therefore, that this objection cannot now be reached.

¶4The judgment must be affirmed.

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