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New Orleans and Carrollton Railroad Company v. Mills et al.

Louisiana Supreme Court1847-09
2 La. Ann. 824

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion

majority opinion

The judgment of the court was pronounced by

King, J.

The defendants are sued as the1 maker and endorsers of a promissory note. The- maker and- first endorser made no defence to the action, and a judgment was rendered against them-, of which-there is no complaint.. Briggs, the second endorser, pleads in defence that he has been discharged from his liability, in consequence of the- failure of the plaintiffs to cause the note to- be1 protested, or to notify him of its dishonor. The demand against him was rejected1 in the- court below, and the plaintiffs have appealed.

The-note on which-the suit is brought beaiS date the 3d of November, 1843, and was made- payable twelve months thereafter. At its maturity it was not protested-, but, on the 8th of November, 1844!, several days after maturity,. Briggsi- at the request of the maker, gave the following written waiver: “ Mr. N. Durand and I are the endorsers on a note executed by Thomas Mills in the Carrollton Bank, and have agreecf to waive a protest on the same.” This-waiver, if is contended, is equivalent to a promise made by the defendant subsequent to his discharge to pay the note. If under the evidence this could be considered as a subsequent promise to pay, it was incumbent on the plaintiff to show that it was made by the defendant with a fill!1 knowledge of his discharge. Story, on Prom. Notes, § 361. 12 La. 468. No such proof has been adduced; but, on the contrary, we are- satisfied from the evidence, that Briggs was ignorant of his discharge at the date- of this waiver, and made it under the belief that the note hndnot yet matured:. The fact of his making a waiver of protest, instead of a direct renewal of his obligation, would, of itself, in the absence of other testimony, be a strong circumstance to show that such was the impression under which he acted. Judgment affirmed.