Case ID: pa_131/html/0362-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Per Curt am:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

JOHN MAGINN v. DOLLAR SAVINGS BANK.
    APPEAL BY PLAINTIFF FROM THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS NO. 1 OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
    Argued November 11, 1889
    Decided January 6, 1890.
    1. The holder of an unaccepted check or draft cannot maintain thereon an action in his own name against the drawee, even though the check or draft be drawn for an entire balance due from the drawee to the drawer: Saylor v. Bushong, 100 Pa. 27.
    2. Moreover, “ no person within this state shall be charged, as an acceptor on a bill of exchange, draft or order drawn for the payment of money, exceeding twenty dollars, unless his acceptance shall be in writing, signed by himself, or his lawful agent:” Act of May 10, 1881, P. L. 17.
    Before Paxson, C. J., Sterrett, Green, Clark, Williams, McCollum and Mitchell, JJ.
    No. 264 October Term 1889, Sup. Ct.; court below, No. 1-8 December Term 1887, C. P. No. 1.
    On September 10, 1887, John Maginn brought assumpsit against the Dollar Savings Bank, to recover a check or order drawn upon the defendant by James McCartney, payable to the order of John Maginn, dated July 19, 1887, for $631. Issue.
    
      At tbe trial on May 22,1889, before Collier, J., the plaintiff testified that on July 19, 1887, he received the cheek in suit from James McCartney, stating the circumstances, under which he received it, as follows: “He told me he had money in the Dollar Savings Bank; he hadn’t enough to satisfy the full claim, and I told him I would take what was there and give him fair time for the balance. He said he thought he had in all about enough, and he went down to the Dollar Savings Bank, and the gentleman behind the counter that had charge of the books, he had his book there, whether M’Cartney carried the book there or not I do not know, and he had the book and went all through, and he had $681 in ; when M’Cartney made a note (check) and I retained M’Cartney’s note, only the bank said they had to have some one to guarantee he was the party had the money there.”
    He further testified that the check was one of the bank checks; was obtained in the bank building, and that one of the persons in the bank in charge of the books told him that the check would become payable in seven weeks.
    H. F. McGrady testified for the plaintiff that he presented the check on the day that it became due, and that payment was refused on the ground that McCartney had notified the bank not to pay the check.
    At the close of the plaintiff’s testimony in chief, the court on motion of the defendant entered judgment of nonsuit, with leave, etc. A rule to show cause why the judgment of non-suit should not be lifted was subsequently discharged, and judgment having been entered on the verdict, the plaintiff took this appeal, assigning for error the orders entering the judgment of nonsuit and discharging the rule to show cause why the judgment should not be lifted.
    
      Mr. If. F. McG-rady and Mr. J. F. McDonald, for the appellant.
    Counsel cited: Bispham’s Eq., §§ 167, 172; Nesmith v. Drum, 8 W. & S. 9; Chase v. Petroleum Bank, 66 Pa. 169; Greenfield’s Eat., 24 Pa. 232; Hill v. Epley, 31 Pa. 331; Bank of Mt. Joy v. Gish, 72 Pa. 13; Lloyd v. McCaffrey, 46 Pa. 410; Attorney General v. Insurance Co., 71 N. Y. 325 (27 Am. Rep. 55); Phoenix Iron Co. v. Philadelphia, 2 W. N. 596; Caldwell v. Hartupee, 70 Pa. 74; East Lewisburg L. & M. Co. v. Marsh, 91 Pa. 96; Power’s App., 63 Pa. 445; McWilliams v. Nisley, 2 S. & R. 507; Bayler v. Commonwealth, 40 Pa.37; Sharpless v. Welsh, 4 Dall. 279.
    
      Mr. Ross W- Sterret (with him Mr. G. W. Guthrie, Mr. J. M. Kennedy and Mr. Jas. G. Doty), for the appellee.
    Counsel cited: Saylor v. Bushong, 100 Pa. 23; Act of May 10, 1881, P. L. 17.
   Per Curt am:

• It was held in Saylor v. Bushong, 100 Pa. 23, that the holder of a check cannot maintain an action thereon in his own name against the drawees, though they have sufficient funds of the drawer, if they refuse to accept it. . This is familar law. It is claimed, however, that the case in hand does not come within this rule, for the reason that the check or order in controversy was for the entire balance due McCartney by the Dollar Savings Bank, upon which it was drawn, and that said order was an equitable assignment of the fund. If we treat it as an equitable assignment, it is clear that Maginn could not sue thereon in his own name. But there is a more serious difficulty in the way. The act of May 10,1881, P. L. 17, provides “ that no person within this state shall be charged, as an acceptor on a bill of exchange, draft, or order drawn for the payment of money, exceeding twenty dollars, unless his acceptance shall be in writing, signed by himself, or his lawful agent.” The paper upon which this suit is brought is a draft or order for the payment of money exceeding twenty dollars, and there is no evidence that the bank on which it was drawn accepted it in writing. The act is plain in its terms, and is a flat bar to a recovery in this action.

Judgment affirmed.