Case Name: R. H. Drawn v. W. P. Cherry
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1859-07
Citations: 14 La. Ann. 694
Docket Number: 
Parties: R. H. Drawn v. W. P. Cherry.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Annual Reports
Volume: 14
Pages: 694–695

Head Matter:
R. H. Drawn v. W. P. Cherry.
When the obligation is conditional, the party to whom it is transferred by endorsement before maturity, is bound to prove the performance of the condition before be can recover on it.
from the District Court of the Parish of Catahoula, Richardson, J.
R. K. Hendry, for plaintiff. Smith & Spencer, for defendant and appellant.

Opinion:
Cole, J.
This suit is instituted by plaintiff as third holder of the following note :
" $500. Bayou Sara, May 31st, 1856.
" Twelve months after date, I promise to pay James H. Muse, or order, five hundred dollars ; this note is given in consideration, that said Muse will assist in the prosecution of the State of Louisiana v. James R. and Leon D. Marks, and attend to the same, until brought to a final conclusion. Said note bears interest at the rate of eight per cent, per annum after due until paid.
(Signed) " Wh. P. Cherry.
(Endorsed) " James IT. Muse, D. P. Hardee."
There was judgment for plaintiff, and defendant has appealed.
The obligation sued upon was a conditional one; the consideration is, that " Muse will assist" in a certain prosecution.
Plaintiff has produced no proof of the execution of the consideration.
A part of the answer of ICernan to the second interrogatory, tending to prove the performance of the consideration, was properly ordered by the District Judge to be erased, because there was nothing in it responsive to the interrogatory, and the defendant had, therefore, no means of cross-examining the witness, upon this part of his answer. .
As the obligation was conditional, the endorsee, before maturity, is bound to prove the execution of the condition, the same as if he had received it after mar turity.
It is, therefore, orderded, adjudged arid decreed, that the judgment of the District Court be avoided and reversed; and that there be judgment against plaintiff, and in favor of defendant, as in case of nonsuit; and that plaintiff pay the costs of both courts.