Court Opinion

ID: 6560589
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 19:15:06.135427+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:56:31.292470
License: Public Domain

Wells, J.
The conclusions to which we have arrived in respect to the pleadings upon which the other issues in this case were found seem to render it necessary to consider whether the circumstance upon which the defense was based, to wit, the alleged invalidity of the promissory note declared upon, may be shown under the general issue. In general, the defense of illegality may be made under this plea, but here the alleged illegality consists in a violation of a statute of a foreign jurisdiction, which presents a somewhat different question, and one upon which the authorities are not numerous. In Smith v. Whittaker, 23 Ill. 368, where, under the plea of non assumpsit, the defendant to an action upon a promissory note attempted to show that the instrument was made in a foreign State, and that the rate of interest reserved therein was greater than that allowed by the statute of the foreign State, it was held *310inadmissible. “The provisions of a foreign law,” say the court, “isa fact which, must be pleaded.” The same rule was applied in Mason v. Dousay, 35 Ill. 425, where, in an action upon a parol acceptance of a bill of exchange, the defendant, under the plea of non assumpsit, attempted to show that the question of his liability was governed by the law of another State, and that under the statute of that State a parol acceptance was invalid. These are the only reported cases which have come to our notice, wherein the precise question now under consideration was presented. Decisions upon a somewhat analogous question are not, however, wanting. In Faut v. Miller, 17 Gratt. 67, which was ah action of debt upon a Maryland contract, the supreme court of Virginia held that a special plea of usury was defective in not setting forth what the law of Maryland was. In Chumasero v. Gilbert, 24 Ill. 294, the plaintiff, who declared upon a promissory note, payable in New York city, attempted to recover interest according to the law of New York ; but this was held inadmissible, the declaration not having set forth the law. In Holmes v. Boughton, 10 Wend. 75, the defendant plead former recovery for the same cause of action in the county court of Rutland county, Vermont, and certain proceedings in execution thereon which were averred to be “ according to the laws of the State of Vermont, and fully authorized thereby.” On demurrer it was held that the proceedings under the execution upon the Vermont judgment not being according to the common law, the plea was defective for not setting forth the law of that State by which it was authorized. The decision in this case is based upon the authority of Colleth v. Keith, 2 East, 261, and Walker v. Maxwell, 1 Mass. 103. To the same effect are the cases of Peck v. Hibbard, 26 Vt. 268, and Bingham v. Earl Wormington, 3 M. G. & S. 133. Upon principle it would seem that where, as in this case, the plaintiff declares specially upon a contract which the defendant would avoid as in contravention of the law of another State, he ought to plead specially the fact that the contract was made abroad, and show the law of the foreign jurisdiction.
*311The declaration in such case sufficiently advises him of the particular contract which is the foundation of the action. He is enabled, therefore, to set forth the foreign law, tender an issue thereon, and prepare himself to maintain that issue. The rule, therefore, works no hardship upon him, whereas, to receive such a defense under non assumpsit, may possibly entrap the plaintiff into the trial of. an issue for which he is in no way prepared. We conclude, therefore, that the plea of the general issue does not present this defense.
The second plea averred that before the said time when, etc., the legislature of the State of Iowa had by a certain statute, which was set forth, prohibited the sale of intoxicating liquors, save imported liquors (which were permitted to be sold in the original package), and that the promissory note mentioned in the declaration was given in consideration of certain intoxicating liquors sold by the plaintiff to the defendant, at the State of Iowa, the same not being imported liquors, contrary to the form of the statute, etc. To this plea the plaintiff replied, first, that the said supposed statute was not, at the said time when, etc., of force within the State of Iowa, and upon this was joined the second issue. The defendant upon the trial gave testimony sufficient to maintain this issue, which was not afterward rebutted. As to this issue, therefore, the verdict was against the evidence. But the defendant did not bring this to the attention of the court below, his motion for a new trial going upon other grounds, and he cannot be heard to make this objection for the first time in this court. By his second replication to the same plea, the plaintiff averred that after the enactment of the said supposed statute the legislature of the State of Iowa, by a certain other statute amendatory thereto, had enacted that any person, not of certain specified •classes, might buy and sell intoxicating liquors, for mechanical, medicinal, culinary and sacramental purposes, upon first obtaining from the county judge a license thereunto ; and that before the said time when, etc., they had procured from the circuit court a license to buy and sell *312for the purposes aforesaid, under and by virtue of which said permit, the goods and chattels which were the consideration of the said promissory note were sold to the said defendant. To this replication defendant rejoined that the said goods and chattels were not sold by virtue of the permit, in the said replication mentioned, nor for the purposes for which the same was granted, concluding to the country; and hereon was joined the third issue.
By this rejoinder, the defendant passed by the allegations of the replication as to the supposed amendments of the statute (and so admits them), and traverses
1. The plaintiff’s allegation that the liquors which were the consideration of the note were sold by virtue of the said permit; and
2. (What was not alleged, except impliedly) that they were sold for the purposes mentioned in the permit. Now it is doubtful whether the first point of the traverse going to the virtute eujus is not ill (1 Ch. Pl. 612); but whether well or ill, inasmuch as the permit emanated from the circuit court, which had no authority in the premises, and was therefore void, the issue presented hereby was entirely immaterial.
The second traverse was also upon an immaterial point; for, whether the liquors were sold for the purposes mentioned in the statute, or for other purposes, was of no consequence, unless plaintiff had the authority which the law required ; or, unless, possibly, either the plaintiffs or the defendant had such license. An unlicensed person could no more sell for a lawful than for an unlawful purpose; but that either the plaintiff or defendant were lawfully licensed was nowhere alleged. As to both points, the issue joined upon this replication was, therefore, an immaterial one ; and a verdict thereon, whether for the plaintiffs or for the defendant, could determine nothing. It is all one whether as to this point the jury found in accordance with the evidence or against it, and inasmuch as all the instructions which were given were directed to the controversy upon this issue alone, it is unimportant whether they *313correctly express the law or not. The errors, therefore, are not well assigned. Plaintiff in error having failed to present in the record the issue upon which he sought to make his defense, we have debated with some solicitude whether we should not award a repleader. But, inasmuch as one material issue, to wit, that joined upon the plea of the general issue, was found for the plaintiff, it seems from the authorities that the plaintiff is entitled to judgment upon this. Payne v. Barnet, 2 A. K. Marsh. 314; Hartfield v. Patten, Hemp. 271; Pegram v. United States, 1 Brock. 265.
The judgment must be

Affirmed.