Case ID: nc_60-2/html/0253-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PeaiisoN, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

JOHN W. B. WATSON vs. MOSES A. BLEDSOE.
    A bond for a certain sum of money payable to A or order with interest from a day preceding its date, is payable immediately, although it purports to be given for the price of bricks to be delivered at a subsequent day. The case of Goodloe vs. Taylor, 3 Hawks, 458, cited and approved.
    This was an action of covenant tried before Cilia am, Judge, at Wake Superior Court, Fall Term, 1863, in which the plaintiff declared on. an instrument under seal of the tenor following:
    With interest from the 14th day of November, A. D., 1854, I promise to pay to J. W. B. Watson, or order, live hundred dollars for one hundred thousand bricks, .to be delivered during the month of March or April next, as the Baid Bledsoe may-determine, and he pay for the hauling. Witness my hand and seal this December 19th, 1854.
    M. A. BLEDSOE, L. S. '
    On the trial the plaintiff proved the execution of the instrument declared on and stopped his case. The defendant moved to nonsuit the plaintiff, which motion was denied by the Judge. The defendant then offered evidence to prove thaiythe plaintiff bad delivered only á part of the bricks. The evidence was rejected by the Judge. Yeidict and judgment lor the $500, with interest from 15th Nov. 1864.
    
      Mason and Foivle for the plaintiff.
    
      K. P. and R. II. Battle for the defendant.
   PeaiisoN, C. J.

The general rule is, when by a cqntraet of sale, an' article is to be delivered at a future day, the payment of the price and the delivery of the thing are to be concurrent acts, and the promises are held to be ‘ ‘ dependent,' ’ on fcbe ground that each party is supposed to intend to hold on to his own, as a mode of compelling payment on■ tlie other side. fBut if the purchaser agrees to pay the price 'before the day on which the thing is to be delivered, the promises are held to be “ independent,’' because that circumstance shows that he relies on his remedy by- action to compel performance on the part of the vendor, 1 Saund. Rep. 320, note Pordage vs. Cole.

The question is does the bond oblige the' defendant to pay before the bricks are delivered?. If it had been drawn “one day after daté,’’ which isa form usual in the country, or “on demand” I promise, &c.. there cpuld have been no question about it. We are of opinion that the bond is a present promise to pay on the day of its date ; it purports' to be such, and although the fact that the bricks which are to be delivered in.March or April, are set out as the consideration, instead of the usual words “for value received/' would, were there no other facts,' qualify the promise to pay and give it the meaning of “I am to pay 0500 for 100,000 bricks, to bo delivered, &c. We are satisfied from the other facts on the face of the instrument that it is, as it purports to be, a present promise to pay, and - was not intended to be dependent upon the delivery of the bricks.

1. It is in the usual form of a negotiable bond, payable to J. W. B. Watson or .“order ;”' so the parties intended it to be negotiable, which is inconsistent with the intention that it should be dependent on the delivery' of the bricks ; for if so,, it is not negotiable, Goodloe vs. Taylor, 3 Hawks, 458 ; so the feet that it is expressly payable to order, must be rejected, or the fact that it refers to the bricks as the consideration, must be taken as a mere memorandum or surplusage, and the words of the insi-rument are to he taken most strongly against the ohliger, for they are his words.

"2. The defendant obliges himself to pay interest from the 15th day of November, 1854. 'This shows that it is' not the ordinary transaction of the purchase of an article to be delivered at a futir:*' day and to be paid for when delivered ; for the price would not bear interest'until it, was due; so the face of the instrument proves that the price was not only payable on the day of its date, but, according to the contract, was payable before, viz : 'on the 15th Nov., 1854, and back interest is to be paid for the forbearance to collect. ' Judgment affirmed.