Case ID: scl_30/html/0034-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Richardson, J.'", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Patsey Glenn, admi’x of J. B. Glenn, vs. J. R. B. Sims.
    
    If the payee of a joint and several sealed note signs and seals it as one of the obligors, the note is extinguished, and neither he nor his administrator can maintain an action thereon.
    
      Before Evans, J. at Union, Fall Term, 1844.
    This was an action on a joint and several sealed note, drawn by the defendant and several others. The intestate, J. B. Glenn, was the payee, and was also one of the obligors of the note. The defendant pleaded specially, in bar of the action, that the payee was one of the obligors. The presiding judge held that the defence would not avail him, and the plaintiff had a verdict. The defendant appealed, on the ground that the plea in bar should have been sustained.
    
      Dawkins 6f Thomson,
    
    for the motion, cited 2 Mill, 428. 1 Speers, 240. 1 Ld. Ray, 575; and contended that the note was extinguished when it was signed by the payee.
    
      Herndon, contra.
   Curia, per

Richardson, J.'

The plaintiff sues in the right of J. B. Glenn, and the question is, could J. B. Glenn himself have maintained such an action.' One would surmise that, the contract sued upon was intended to indicate the liability of all the signers to the Glenn Spring Company. But, from the form of the contract adopted, Glenn’s position was this; he and fifteen other persons signed the written instrument called a note, and made' it payable to himself, J. B. Glenn. Upon this note, his representative brings suit against J. R. B. Sims, one of the joint and several signers.

But if any one was liable to Glenn, upon the note, he was himself equally liable. J. B. Glenn is therefore promiser and promisee, and liable, like each of his joint promisers, for the whole amount of the so called note.

He evidently, then, united, in his own person, both the character of plaintiff and defendant, being maker and payee too. Such a position is ’ inconsistent; satisfaction lies in his own hands; he has only to do what he promised, and the note is discharged. If the defendant, Sims, had paid it, it could be no more. They are presented as if co-partners. Such a case is very like that of a testator making his debtor his executor. The executor cannot sue himself at law. Such action is released by the appointment and acceptance of the executor; 1 Com. Digest, 336 Toller, 230 ; or that of a feme sole taking her own debtor to husband; or where one of two femes sole marries'their obligor, the action at law is released. 2 Coke Lit. 264 b. See, also, our own decision in the case of Livingston, executor of Bostick, against himself as ordinary of Abbeville district, 2 Mills C. R. 428. In all such cases, the proper relief is administered by the Court of Equity, which has power to proceed upon the original contract, as in this case, perhaps, to contribute or pay for the use of the Glenn Spring Company; while this court is confined to the written form to which such contract has been reduced, without regard to parties who may be truly concerned in the recovery of the debt.

The special plea in bar must, therefore, prevail, and the judgment be arrested.

QNeall, Butler and Wardlaw, JJ. concurred.