Court Opinion

ID: 6406795
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-25 11:49:35.801252+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:51:14.286423
License: Public Domain

Shaw C. J.
delivered the opinion of the Court. The peculiar features of this action are, that the plaintiffs 'claim of the second indorser, from whom they immediately took the note. The question is, whether the forgery of the in*534dursement of the name of a prior party, is a good defence to the note ; and the Court are of opinion that it is not.
In general it is not necessary for the holder to prove the signature of any party prior to the party whom he sues. The reason seems to be obvious, that the party defendant, by his indorsement, has admitted the ability and the signature of all prior parties. Bayley on Bills, 313 ; Critchlow v. Parry, 2 Campb. 182. The effect of the engagement of the indorser is, that if the prior parties do not pay the note according to its tenor upon due presentment, upon notice to him, he will. It is therefore a rule upon this subject, that a plaintiff is under no obligation to prove the signature of those prior to the party intended to be charged. It is very different where he claims against the acceptor of a bill or maker of a note. They respectively promise to pay to the payee or his order, and until he has made such order by his indorsement, the plaintiff .can establish no title, and to prove such order, he must prove the genuineness of his signature. Smith v. Chester, 1 T. R. 654 ; Lambert v. Pack, 1 Salk. 127. So an acceptor is bound, though the bill be forged. Jengs v. Fawler, 2 Strange, 946.
The circumstance that this bill was offered for discount, by Brown, makes no difference ; the plaintiffs had a right to look to their immediate indorser, and if satisfied to take the note on his credit, he is liable to them ; and it was for him to see that he has a good remedy over against those who purport to be prior parties.

Defendant defaulted.