Case ID: wis_24/html/0607-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Dixon, O. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Mehlberg vs. Tisher, impleaded with, others.
    Bnm os' Exchange: Essential requisites— When acceptance of it is payment of debt— No funds in drawee's hands — Evidence of that fact.
    
    
      1. It is not essential to the validity of a bill of exchange that it should be made payable to order or bearer, or on a day certain, or at a particular place, or have the words “ value received.”
    2. The taking of a bill of exchange on a previous indebtedness of drawer to payee, is prima facie a payment of the debt.
    3. Such taking is absolute payment if payee or holder neglects to take proper steps to obtain payment of the bill, or to charge the drawer with liability on it if not paid.
    4. Notice of non-acceptance or non-payment is not required in order to charge the drawer, if he has no funds or effects in the drawee’s hands; but the burden of proving that fact is on the holder.
    5. Evidence that the drawees told the holder, on presentation of the bill, that “ they had no money to pay it,” is not competent, being mere hearsay.
    APPEAL from tlie Circuit Court for Winnebago County.
    Action, commenced in a justice’s court, for labor performed by the plaintiff for the defendants Rich, Hoxie and Tisher, upon certain logs, and to enforce a lien upon the logs. The justice rendered a judgment against Tisher alone for the amount claimed, and adjudged that plaintiff had a lien upon the logs for that amount. Tisher appealed to the circuit court, where the cause was tried de novo. Plaintiff testified that he worked upon the logs in question, for Tisher, under a contract. “I settled with Tisher when I got through; he owed me $69.20. He gaye me this paper to go to Hoxie and draw my pay.” The paper referred to was put in evidence, and, after the date, is as follows: “ To Hoxie and Rich: Please pay to Chas. Mehlberg the sum of $69.20, and charge to me. Chas. Tishee.” Witness added: “ The order was not paid. They told me they had no money to pay it.” On cross-examination he-said: “I saw Tisher the same day, after I presented the order, and talked with him. * * Don’t know whether we said any tiling about this order. I Rave never bad any conversation with bim abont tbe order since presenting it to Hoxie.” Tisher moved for a nonsuit, on tbe gronnd, among others, tbat plaintiíf’s evidence as to bis acceptance of tbe order, and bis laches in failing to give Tisher notice of its non-payment, showed tbat be bad no canse of action. Motion denied. Afterward the conrt permitted tbe complaint to be amended by striking out tbe names of Rich and Hoxie as defendants; and, -upon a finding of facts in favor of tbe plaintiíf, rendered judgment as demanded-; from which tbe defendants appealed.
    
      Q. Ooolbaugh, for appellant,
    to tbe point that plaintiff, by accepting tbe order and neglecting to take tbe steps necessary to charge'Tisher as drawer, bad lost bis canse of action, cited Holmes v. IP damp, 1 Johns. 34 ; Burdiclt v. Oreen, 15 id. 247 ; 8outhwicTc v. 8ax, 9 Wend. 122 ; Dayton v. Trull, 23 id.’ 346; Eastman v. Porter, 14 Wis. 39 ; Edwards on Bills, 185, 187.
    
      Gary <& Burnell, for respondent:
    If plaintiíf bad taken Tisher’’ s note instead of bis mere order, tbe action would still lie, unless it was taken in discharge of tbe amount due. Laws of 1860, cb. 215, § 15. This order was not so taken. If it bad been, payment must be specially pleaded. Yan Santv. PL 455, cb. 5, § 3. This was not a bill of exchange; it was not negotiable. Plaintiff has lost no rights upon bis original cause of action by failure to give notice of non-payment of tbe order, because be never claimed under it, or sought to bold him on it. Besides, Tisher was not entitled to notice, because be bad no funds in tbe drawee’s bands. Edwards on Bills, 640.
   Dixon, O. J.

Tbe written instrument drawn up, signed and delivered by tbe defendant Tisher to tbe plaintiff, and directed to Hoxie and Rich, requesting them to pay to tbe plaintiff tbe sum of sixty-nine dollars and twenty cents, and charge to Tisher, the drawer, was a bill of exchange. It is not essential to the validity of a bill of exchange that it should be made payable to order, or bearer, or have the words “ valne received,” or be payable at a day certain, or at any particular place. Kendall v. Galvin, 15 Maine, 131; Arnold v. Sprague, 34 Vt. 402; and Dayton v. Trull, 23 Wend. 345, and cases cited. The taking of a bill of exchange on a previous indebtedness of the drawer to the payee, is prima facie payment of the debt. It is absolute payment, if the payee, or holder, through his own negligence, fails to take proper steps to obtain payment of the bill, or, if not paid, to charge the drawer with liability upon it; as, if the payee or holder fails to present it within the proper time, or, presenting it, fails to give proper notice of its non-acceptance or non-payment in cases where such notice is required. These principles are well settled, as will be seen from the authorities above referred to.

The bill here was presented for acceptance and payment, and both were refused; but no notice thereof was given to the defendant Tisher. This was a discharge of the debt sued upon, unless it can be shown that the case was one in which such notice was not required. The general'rule is that notice must be given. To this rule there are some exceptions ; one of which is, where the drawer has no funds or effects in the hands of the drawee. It is claimed that the case falls within this exception, and that it was so shown on the trial. The bill of exceptions purports to contain all the evidence, and the only proof appearing on this subject is the testimony of the plaintiff, who stated that the drawees told him “they had no money to pay it.” This was no evidence to establish the fact. It was mere hearsay, and not competent to be received or considered for that purpose. It was let in, undoubtedly, through mistake or inadvertence, and not with a view to showing that there were no funds or effects belonging to the drawer in the bands of tbe drawees. Tbe burden of showing that there were no snob funds or effects, rests upon tbe plaintiff; and until that fact is made out by good and sufficient evidence, there can be no recovery against tbe defendant Tisher in this action.

By the Court. — Judgment reversed, and a venire de now awarded.