Johnston v. McGinn, 15 N.C. 277, 4 Dev. 277 (1833)

Dec. 1833 · Supreme Court of North Carolina

15 N.C. 277, 4 Dev. 277

William Johnston v. McGinn and Graham.

What is reasonable notice to an endorser, depends on the local situation and respective occupation and pursuits of the parties, and is to bo judged of by the court.

The cases of London v. Howard, 2 Hay. 332 and Austin v. Hodman, 1 Hawks, 195, cited and approved.

This was a warrant brought by the endorsee of a promissory note, against the endorsers, tried before Seaweed, Judge, at Mecklenburg Spring term, 1833. The question was whether legal notice had been given to the endorsers, of the nonpayment of the note by the maker. The note had been made on the 3d of December, 1827, payable one day after date; and it was endorsed to the plaintiff on the 14th of December, 1827. The plaintiff who lived SO miles from the endorsers, on the 31st of December, 1827", brought a warrant jointly against the maker and endorser, and obtained judgment, (but at wj)a(¡ t¡me (¡ie caso did not state,) from which judgment the defendant appealed ; and at November County Court, 1828, the plaintiff was nonsuited. In a day or two after the nonsuit, the plaintiff brought this warrant against the endorsers. The court in its direction to the jury, instructed them, that the warrant and proceedings in the suit against the maker and endorsers, were in law a demand upon the maker, and notice to the endorser of the nonpayment, and that they were looked to for payment. There was a verdict and judgment for the plaintiff, and the defendants appealed.

Where the parties resided 30 miles apart, the from the Time of the endorse-pient to the service of notice on the endorser, held too long.

JJe'oereux for the plaintiff.

No counsel appeared for the defendants.

Daniei, Judge

After stating the case as above, proceeded :

The general rule is, that the endorsee must prove that lie has used all due diligence in demanding jiayment of the maker, and afterwards in giving notice to the endorser of the default of the maker, and that he is looked to for payment. Whether due diligence has been used is a question of law, but depends on facts, such as the situation of the parties, their ¡daces of abode and (he facility of communication, Derbyshire v. Parker, 6 East. 3. 2 Cowp. 602. Tindel v. Brown, 1 T. R. 167. The courts of this State have said, uhat shall bo reasonable notice depends on the local situation and respective occupation and pursuits of the parties, of which it seems the court is to judge; London v. Howard, 2 Hay. 332. Austin v. Rodman, Hawks 195. The parties in this case, resided thirty miles from each other; and on the seventeenth _ v„ , «ay alter tite endorsement, the plaintiff issued his war-railt’ join^3r’ against the maker and endorsers, which was executed by the constable on all of them ; but, whether on tile maker first, and then on the endorsers, does -,r , . , „ 11 ot appear. We do not learn from the case, at what time the trial of the warrant took place, it might have been thirty days after the date, which time added to the seventeen days that elapsed after the endorsement, before the warrant was issued, would make forty-seven days ¡between the date of the endorsement, and the date of the notice to the endorsers. After such a length of time, it appears to us, that the endorsers would have been discharged from their liability.

™ • . of the Christian fonTin°awamm" is a fatal defect,’ anu,;llch an <?ne as this court has no power to supment7 anioni'

The service of the warrant on the maker, was certainly a demand of payment of him; but at what time this was done, does not appear; nor does the time that the endorsers had notice thereof appear, so as to enable the court to judge, whether due diligence had been used or not. There must be a new trial. The plaintiff should not regret this, because if a new trial was refused, we do not see how we could render judgment against the defendant, upon the warrant brought against “McGinn and Graham,” without an amendment, which we are not authorised to allow. Yfe think therefore, the judgment 700 should be reversed and a new trial granted.

Per Curiam — Judgment reversed.