Case Name: GEORGE CLARKE v. SELANAH M. PATRICK and Another
Court: Minnesota Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Minnesota
Decision Date: 1895-02-13
Citations: 60 Minn. 269
Docket Number: No. 9109
Parties: GEORGE CLARKE v. SELANAH M. PATRICK and Another.
Judges: 
Reporter: Minnesota Reports
Volume: 60
Pages: 269–269

Head Matter:
GEORGE CLARKE v. SELANAH M. PATRICK and Another.
February 13, 1895.
No. 9109.
Indorsement of Note — Parol Evidence.
Held, the legal effect of a blank indorsement of a promissory note cannot be varied by parol merely because it is accompanied by a written assignment of the note, and a mortgage securing the same.
Action upon a certain mortgage note, and a coupon interest note-attached thereto, made by the defendant Patrick in favor of the defendant Watson, and by the latter sold and indorsed to plaintiff,The defense is stated in the opinion. From a judgment of the district court for Kamsey county, Kelly, J., entered upon the pleadings against the defendant Watson, he appealed.
C. D. é Thos. D. O’Brien, for appellant.
Briggs & Countryman, for respondent.
Reported in 62 N. W. 284.

Opinion:
CANTY, J.
This is an action against the defendant as indorser of a negotiable promissory note. The answer admits the making of the note to defendant, and the indorsement of it by him to plaintiff' for a valuable consideration before maturity, as alleged in the complaint; but alleges that the transaction between the parties was a sale by defendant to plaintiff of the note and a mortgage securing' the same, which was evidenced by a written assignment, and that said indorsement was not intended by the parties as a guaranty of payment of the note, but was made merely in aid of said assignment. Such written assignment is not inconsistent with defendant's liability as indorser, and it is well settled that the legal effect of an indorsement cannot be thus varied by parol. The answer states no defense, and judgment on the pleadings was properly ordered for plantiff.
The judgment appealed from is affirmed.