Case Name: John H. Clapp, Resp't, v. John Collins et al., App'lts
Court: New York City Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1889-10-03
Citations: 26 N.Y. St. Rep. 95
Docket Number: 
Parties: John H. Clapp, Resp’t, v. John Collins et al., App’lts.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York State Reporter
Volume: 26
Pages: 95–95

Head Matter:
John H. Clapp, Resp’t, v. John Collins et al., App’lts.
(City Court of New York, General Term,
Filed October 3, 1889.)
Bills, notes and checks — Alteration — Married women.
It is not a material alteration of a note to write over the indorsement of a married woman thereon words charg.ng her separate estate, and such addition does not affect the validity of the instrument. TaddikenY. Cantrell, 69 N. Y., 597, distinguished.
Appeal from judgment on verdict in favor of plaintiff, directed by trial judge.
A. M. & G. Card, for app’lts; J. H. Clapp, for resp’t.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The plaintiff's right of action was admitted by the pleadings, and the defendants had the affirmative. That is a matter of little consequence, however, as the trial judge directed a verdict, and the real question is whether the direction was warranted or not. The only defense urged that requires serious notice is the plea that the note was altered by writing over the indorsement of Mrs. Collins that she charged her estate with the payment of-the note. Mo one seems to dispute the elementary rule that a material alteration, wrongfully made, destroys the instrument, for it ceases to be the contract the parties made. At the time Taddiken v. Cantrell, 69 N. Y., 597, was decided, the alteration charged would have been regarded as material, but since the Laws of 1884, Ch. 381, it must be regarded as immaterial. It did not enlarge the indorser's liability nor change her relation to the paper." It proved nothing against her that the very nature of the obligation did not imply without the addition. It was surplusage, nothing more. If Mrs. Collins, instead of being a married woman, had been a man engaged in .trade, no one would for a moment contend that the alleged alteration was of any consequence whatever. The act of 1884, supra, puts her on the same footing, so far as her contracts are concerned. The direction was right, and the judgment entered upon it must be affirmed, with costs.
McAdam, Ch. J., Nehrbas and McGown, JJ., concur.