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9 Ala. App. 212

Bell v. Birmingham

Alabama Court of Appeals

Decided June 21, 1913

Alabama Court of Appeals · decided 1913-06-21

Heard before Hon. Hugh D. Merrill. Assumpsit I)}’ J. Iv. Birmingham against N. E. Bell. Judgment for plaintiff and defendant- appeals. The marginal figures were no part of the note, and the Avriting in the body controls. — Prim, et al. v. Ha-mill, 134 Ala. 652; 58 Am. Dec. 333; 53 Am. Dec. 652; 8 Am. St. Rep. 164; 4 A. & E. Enc. of LaAV, 130.

Relies on State ex rel. Leese v. Atchison & Nebraska Railroad · Syprian S. Smith v. Joseph Smith · Prim & Kimbell v. Hammel

Reversed and remanded · Decided 1913-06-21

THOMAS, J.- —

¶1The complaint declared on a promissory note for $440, and the instrument introduced in evidence to sustain the averment was a promissory note; but, while it had the figures and dollar mark, “$440.00,” Avritten on the upper left-hand margin of the instrument, at the place usual in common practice, yet it had, in the body of the instrument, as the amounts promised to be paid, “four and forty one/100 dollars.” The defendant (appellant), who had filed, among other pleas, a plea of the general issue, objected to the introduction in evidence by plaintiff of this instrument, on the ground of a variance, contending that while the note or bond single sued on was described in the complaint as one for $440, the one introduced in evidence Avas only for $4.41. We are of opinion that the objection should have been sustained, for the reason that, as said by our Supreme Court, “it is a well-settled proposition of laAV that in a bill or note, where [as here] the figures in the margin do not correspond Avith the amount written in *214the body, the latter will always control. It has been held that the marginal figures are no part of the bill or note.” — Prim & Kimbell v. Hammel, 134 Ala. 655, 32 South. 1007, 92 Am. St. Rep. 52. See, also, Payne v. Clarke Bros., 19 Mo. 152, 59 Am. Dec. 333; State v. Atchison & Neb. R. R. Co., 24 Neb. 143, 38 N. W. 43, 8 Am. St. Rep. 164; Smith v. Smith, 1 R. I. 398, 53 Am. Dec. 652; 1 Randolph on Com. Paper, § 105; 4 Am. & Eng. Ency. Law, p. 130..

¶2This being true, the terms of the instrument here sued on are clear and unambiguous. It is a note for $4.41. Parol evidence is not, therefore, admissible either for the purpose of varying its terms or of aiding in its interpretation. — Smith v. Smith, 1 R. I. 398, 53 Am. Dec. 652, and authorities supra. Hence the contention of appellee that, by reason of such evidence introduced by him (permitted by the court over the objection of appellant) , the note should be construed as one for $440, is clearly without merit.

¶3The judgment of the lower court is reversed, and ihe cause .remanded.

¶4Reversed and remanded.

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