Court Opinion

ID: 7187726
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 16:54:00.327276+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:16:07.005109
License: Public Domain

Howell, J.
The defendant, universal heir and legatee of her deceased husband, D. S. Graham, has appealed from a judgment against her on a note for $2100, made payable on the first April, 1862, on which the following endorsements appear:
“New Orleans, March 1.'
“I hereby agree, and the payment of this note is extended for twelve months from the first day of April next
“ PATSY E. WALKER.”
“ I hereby waive demand, protest and notice of protest, and consent to the above extension of twelve months.
“D. S. GKAHAM.
“March 1, 1862.”
“Received on account of the within note one hundred dollars, at Mobile, Ala., this thirteenth day of February, 1864.
“ PATSY E. WALKER.”
It is contended by the appellant that the waiver of D. S. Graham, the endorser, related to the maturity of the note as fixed on its face, and not to the extended maturity.
*210This, in our opinion, is a forced interpretation of the agreement, and is not sustained by the sections of Story on Notes referred to. Sections 271, 272, 279, 295, 358, 301, 366.
As the extension, wit!)out the consent of the endois'r, would have released him, a presentment and notice at the original date of maturity would have had no legal effect, and tho parties are not presumed to have done a vain thing. The endorser consented to the prolongation and waived the demand, protest and notice at the nfew date of maturity.
We do not agree with defendant’s counsel that to make'tho agreement for an extension between the maker and holder valid, the endorser was required first to waive presentment and notice at the old date. A simple consent to the extension would have held him conditionally bound, with the obligation on tho part of tho holder to pursue the steps at the new date of maturity necessary to bind an endorser. It was this obligation, of which the holder was relieved by the waiver made.
, The appellant is entitled to reduction of the judgment for the credit on the note, with costs of appeal. C. P. art. 903. The plaintiff asked for the judgment as rendered, and introduced the note in evidence with the credit on it. It vfas her duty, as much as that of defendant, to have the correction made below. To hold otherwise would justify plaintiffs in demanding and recovering more than their own evidence sustains. This case differs from that of Baudoin v. Tete, 10 A. 69, quoted by plaintiffs to relieve them from costs.
It is therefore ordered that the judgment appealed from bo reversed, and that plaintiff, Mrs. Patsy R. Walker, recover of tho defendant, Mrs. D. S. Graham, widow of D. S. Graham, deceased, the sum of two thousand dollars, with eight per cent, interest oil two thousand one hundred dollars, from April 1, 1862, until February 13, ..1364, and like interest from said last date on two thousand dollars until paid, and costs of the lower court. Costs of appeal to be paid by plaintiff and appellee.