Case Name: LOVE et al. v. REDWINE
Court: Court of Appeals of Georgia
Jurisdiction: Georgia
Decision Date: 1918-04-09
Citations: 22 Ga. App. 160
Docket Number: 9307
Parties: LOVE et al. v. REDWINE.
Judges: Broyles, P. J., and Bloodworlh, J., concur.
Reporter: Georgia Appeals Reports
Volume: 22
Pages: 160–162

Head Matter:
9307.
LOVE et al. v. REDWINE.
1. The maker of the note set up no defense and showed no reason why, for his protection or ,to let in any defense, he should be permitted to inquire into the title to the note, and the court did not err in directing a verdict as to him.
2. As to the indorser (payqe) : the testimony tended to show that the note was transferred by him to the plaintiff’s husband, and that if the plaintiff ever became the holder of the note at all, it was after maturity. The testimony tended also to sustain the plea of failure of consideration, filed by the indorser. The issues thus raised should have been submitted to a jury, and the court erred in directing a verdict as to the indorser.
Decided April 9, 1918.
Complaint; from Douglas superior court—Judge Bartlett. July 30, 1917. ' .
E. L. Bedwine brought suit against Peter Love and T. J. Blair on a promissory note, alleging that Love gave the note to Blair, and .that Blair assigned and transferred it to the plaintiff,.and that the plaintiff was the holder and owner of the note. The defendants filed a plea, admitting the execution of the note, but denying that the plaintiff was the owner, and alleging that it was indorsed by Blair to TV. H. Bedwine in consideration of the transfer to Blair by TV. II. Bedwine of certain shares of the Tennessee Oil Company stock, which TV. II. Bedwine was to turn over to him; that TV. H. Bedwine represented that the Tennessee Oil Company was perfectly solvent, and he (Blair) could make a large amount of money by buying the stock; and, upon thes'e representations, which he believed, he delivered this note to Bedwine; that the representations were false and fraudulent, and the stock was never delivered tó him, and he received no consideration for the transfer of the note, and that the title to the note remained in him, and he asked that the court so decree.- It was further alleged that if he transferred this note to E. L. Bedwine, he (Blair) did not know it, and that all the' transactions he had about the note were made with TV. H. Bedwine, and that if TV. H. Bedwine was not acting 'for himself; he was acting as the agent of E. L. Bedwine, and made the statements as her agent.
The trial judge directed a verdict for the plaintiff, and the defendants excepted.
J. S. James, TV. A. James,, for plaintiffs in error.
J. B. Hutcheson, contra.

Opinion:
Harwell, J.
(After stating the foregoing facts.) The maker of'the note, Love, sets up no defense against the note, which recites that it is given by Love to Blair as part purchase-price for forty acres of land. The plea, so far as Love is concerned, shows no reason why he should inquire into the title of the holder, Bedwine, for his protection or to 'let in any defense which he -seeks to make. "The title of the holder of a note can not be inquired into, unless it is necessary for the protection of the defendant, or to let.in the defense which he seeks to make." Civil Code (1910), § 4290. Tyson v. Bray, 117 Ga. 689 (45 S. E. 74); Miles v. Bank of Harlem, 139 G.a. 498 (77 S. E. 579); Bomar v. Equitable Mortgage Go., 111 Ga. 143 (36 S. E. 601); Johnson v. Cobb, 100 Ga. 139 (38 S. E. 72). See also 8 Corpus Juris, 799, 800, § 1057, 1058; 1 Dan. Neg. Inst. § 174 (a).
Blair, the payee and indorser, by liis plea does, as to any recovery against him, set up a good defense. He claims that W. H. Bedwine, the husband of the plaintiff, is the real holder of the note, and that if the plaintiff ever became the holder of the note at all, it was after maturity. He further claims that the consideration of the transfer of the note by him to W. H. Bedwine was the purchase of certain shares of oil-company stock which has Rever been delivered to him. The testimony of Blair tended to sustain his contentions, and the court therefore erred in directing a verdict against him. That portion of Blair's plea which sets up that the title to the note is in him, and asks a decree of the court to that effect, it is not necessary to consider. It is not improper to suggest, however, that if his contentions are correct, he should have some means of preventing the payment of the proceeds of this note over to the plaintiff. •
In accordance with the foregoing, ruling, the judgment is affirmed as to the defendant Love, and reversed as to the defendant Blair.
Broyles, P. J., and Bloodworlh, J., concur.