Case Name: Bank of the Metropolis v. Joseph Walker
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1822-04
Citations: 2 Cranch 294
Docket Number: 
Parties: Bank of the Metropolis v. Joseph Walker.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 2
Pages: 294–295

Head Matter:
Bank of the Metropolis v. Joseph Walker.
If payment of a promissory note be demanded of the maker on the third day of grace, after banking hours, and notice of the non-payment he given to the indorser on the next day, the demand is not too soon nor the notice too late.
Assumpsit against the last indorser of Toppan Webster’s note for $1000, due 10th, 13th January, 1819. All the parties lived near the Bank of the Metropolis, in the city of Washington. Payment was demanded of the maker, by a notary public, on the 13th of January, the last day of grace, after three o’clock, P. M., and notice of non-payment was given to the defendant on the next day, viz.: on the 14th of January.
A verdict for the plaintiff was taken subject to the opinion of the Court, upon the said facts, whether the demand and notice were competent and sufficient in law to charge the defendant in this action with the payment of the said sum of $1000, in the said note mentioned.
The note was not made payable at any bank, and it was proved to be the practice of some of the notaries in this district to give notice on the day of the demand of payment, and of others to give notice on the next day.
Mr. Jones, for the defendant,
cited Chitty on Bills, 318, &c. The note must be paid on the third day of grace, when demanded. If not then paid it is dishonored, and notice should be given immediately. All the parties lived within a few minutes’ walk of each other. Notice should be given on the same day. Tassel v. Leíais, 1 Lord Raym. 743. In Lenox v. Roberts, 1 Wheat. 373, the Supreme Court of the United States said, that notice must be given by mail on the third day of grace. See also 6 East, 3; 15 East, 291, and Chitty on Bills, 401, Ed. 1821, by Cary.

Opinion:
The Court
stopped Mr. Lear, in reply, and said that the demand and notice were sufficient.