Case Name: Emerson, Sr., v. Opp et al.
Court: Appellate Court of Indiana
Jurisdiction: Indiana
Decision Date: 1893-09-29
Citations: 9 Ind. App. 581
Docket Number: No. 936
Parties: Emerson, Sr., v. Opp et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: Indiana Court of Appeals Reports
Volume: 9
Pages: 581–587

Head Matter:
No. 936.
Emerson, Sr., v. Opp et al.
Appellate Court Practice. — Record—Failure to Show the Filing of an Answer. — Issue.—Where the transcript of the record does not show the filing of an answer, but throughout the proceedings and trial the answer of non est factum was treated and considered by the parties, and also by the court, as a part of the record, it will be so considered on appeal.
Same. — Petition for Rehearing . — New Question. — New questions in a petition for a rehearing will not be considered when they are such as might have been presented on the original hearing.
Same.' — Appellant’s Brief Must Present Errors Relied on. — When Gourt Will Not Search Record. — The appellate tribunal will not go beyond the brief of appellant to search the record for reasons or errors that have not been pointed out, on which to reverse the judgment; and the silence of the appellant on any point is construed as a waiver of such point.
Promissory Note. — Material Alteration. — Additional Signatures. — Burden of Proof. — -If the maker of a note delivers the same to the payee, and the payee, through another person, and in the absence of the maker, procures other signatures to the note, it is incumbent on the holder of the note to show that such material alteration was made with the knowledge and consent of the maker of the note.
Same. — Alteration.—Ratification.—In such case, an express promise by the maker, after maturity of the note, to the holder thereof, with knowledge of such alteration, to pay the note, constitutes a ratification of the alteration.
From the Benton Circuit Court.
C. M. Snyder, D. Fraser and W. H. Isham, for appellant.
M. H. Walker and G. H. Gray, for appellees.

Opinion:
Davis, J.
This was an action instituted in the court below by the appellee, John Opp, against James Emerson, Senior, appellant, and his sons George T. Emerson and James A. Emerson, on a note purporting to have been executed by all three of the Emersons.
The complaint was filed in vacation, on the 24th day of October, 1891. The November term commenced on the second Monday, the 11th day of the month. The defendants were, on the first day of the term, ruled to answer the complaint on the 4th day of the term. The clerk recites that the answers, which are set out in the transcript, were filed on the 16th day of November, "but no order-book entry was ever entered thereof."
The appellant's answer, so filed, was a non est factum. As judgment was rendered in favor of the other defendants, who are joined as appellees herein, it is not necessary to consider the answers filed by them.
On the trial the jury returned a verdict, finding the facts specially, in substance and effect, so far as material to the questions involved in this appeal, that said Opp, in 1875, made a loan of money to appellant, for which debt he executed his note bearing interest; that the note in suit was executed by him in renewal of the debt, and was afterwards changed at the instance of Opp, by pro- ' curing the signatures of the sons of appellant thereto; that, after the maturity of the note, appellant, with full knowledge of such change, promised and agreed to pay it.
Judgment was rendered against appellant for $1,-327.66, the amount due on the note.
Several questions arise on the errors assigned and the argument of counsel, which we will proceed to determine.
It is contended by counsel for appellee that the cause was tried without an issue, for the reason that the answer of appellant is not shown to have been made a part of the record by an order-book entry.
In Gilbert v. Hall, 115 Ind. 549, Judge Mitchell says: "Where proceedings or motions are required to be taken or made in a cause during its progress in term time, such motion and proceedings must be presented to the court, and its attention called thereto, and not merely filed in the clerk's office."
There are many cases in which it has been held that when a defendant pleads an affirmative answer, and the trial is entered upon and proceeded with, without a reply, his answer will be deemed to be denied; but, so far as our investigation has extended, we have not found any case where the doctrine has been applied on failure to answer the complaint. If this principle, however, was applicable, and the case should be treated as though an answer of general denial had been filed, the appellant would not have been entitled to prove the nonexecution of the note under a general denial.
Conceding that the transcript of the record before us does not show the filing of appellant's answer, yet in view of the fact that throughout the proceedings and trial the answer of non est factum was treated and considered by the parties, and also the court, as a part of the record, we will so regard it on this appeal. Earnhart v. Robertson, 10 Ind. 8.
It is agreed by counsel that the addition of names to a promissory note after the same has been signed and delivered by the maker of the note, without his knowledge or consent, will discharge him from liability on the note. Bowers, Admr., v. Briggs, 20 Ind. 139.
It is further agreed that the special finding of the jury, eliminating the contradictory statements therein, contains no finding of fact as to whether the appellant did or did not consent to, or authorize, the alteration of this note.
The question is, upon whom, then, rested the burden of proof? If the appellant was required to show that the additional signatures to the note were made without consent, judgment was rightfully entered against h'im. If, upon the contrary, after a material alteration was made in the note, sufficient to render it voidable, the burden of the proof was upon the appellee claiming under it, to explain this alteration, then the facts found were not sufficient in law to authorize this judgment (unless the facts show such ratification as ¡binds appellant), because the alteration in this respect is wholly unexplained.
The authorities on this proposition, as we understand them, sustain appellant's position.
In Eckert v. Louis, 84 Ind. 99, Judge Howk says: "When once it appeared that the notes in suit were altered after their execution, the presumption arose, and would continue until the contrary was shown, that the alteration was made by the appellees." Bowman v. Mitchell, 79 Ind. 84; Brooks v. Allen, 62 Ind. 401.
It is true the burden of proof as to the alteration rested on the appellant. Meikel v. State Savings Institution of Chicago, 36 Ind. 355; Insurance Co. of North America v. Brim, 111 Ind. 281.
But when appellant established the fact that after he had signed and delivered the note to appellee, the appellee, through his son, and in the absence of appellant, procured the other signatures to the note, it was incumbent on the holder of the note to show that such material alteration was made with the knowledge and consent of appellant.
The remaining question is, do the facts found by the jury establish a ratification of the note by appellant?
It is found in the verdict, that appellant, after the maturity of the note, and before the' commencement of the suit, with full knowledge of the fact that the names of his sons had been subscribed as makers to the note, promised to pay the same.
In this case, appellant had borrowed the money of appellee, for which he executed the note in suit. The note was afterwards changed in the material respect indicated, .but the appellant owes the debt. The note, it is true, can not be enforced against him, unless he affirms and ratifies the change which was made after he signed it.
Did his direct and express promise which he made to the holder of the note constitute such ratification?
As applicable to the case in hand, we adopt the following: "With some exceptions, not necessary to be adverted to here, the general proposition is, however, undoubtedly correct, that he who may authorize in the beginning, may ratify in the end." First Nat'l Bank v. Gay, 63 Mo. 33, 21 Am. Rep. 430. See, also, Negley v. Lindsay, 67 Pa. St. 217, 5 Am. Rep. 427; Catlett v. Trustees of M. E. Church, 62 Ind. 365; Love v. Wells, 25 Ind. 503; Heady v. Boden, 4 Ind. App. 475.
It is well settled as a general rule, that void contracts can not be ratified; and that the addition of another name as maker to a note, by the payee or holder, after its delivery and execution by the maker, renders it void: but if the maker consents to such change, the obligation continues binding. Therefore, may he not, under the circumstances of this case, ratify and confirm such change?
It should be borne in mind that appellant received and retained the consideration mentioned in the note; that his name was not forged; that he signed the note. Further, the promise to pay in this case was not made for the purpose of concealing any crime or suppressing a prosecution.
The reasoning of Judge Mitchell, in Henry v. Heeb, 114 Ind. 275, it seems to us, enunciates the correct principles applicable to such cases.
In this case, it does not appear that there was any purpose to commit a crime, and public policy does not, in our opinion, forbid the adoption or ratification of the change, by appellant; nor can it be said to be without consider ation, in view of the fact that appellant has and retains the borrowed money.
Filed Sept. 29, 1893.
It appears to us, that the cause has been fairly tried and determined in the court below. Section 658, R. S. 1881.
Judgment affirmed, at costs of appellant.