Yeager v. Farwell, 80 U.S. 6 (1871)
U.S. Supreme Court
Yeager v. Farwell, 80 U.S. 13 Wall. 6 6 (1871)Yeager v. Farwell
80 U.S. (13 Wall.) 6
Syllabus
1. A., residing in St. Louis and treating through B., of the same place, for a loan of money from C., in Boston, got a promise from C. of the money wanted, A.'s own note and a mortgage by him on real estate near St. Louis being contemplated and agreed on as the security to be given. C. relied wholly on B. to look after the sufficiency of the security (which he desired "first and foremost" should be ample) and after the preparation of the note and mortgage, all of which B. assumed to do. Having
had both note and mortgage executed by A. B. sent them to C. with a slight departure in the note from the agreement, and, in addition, a slight informality in the mortgage. No money being yet advanced by C. he returned both papers to B. in order to have the informality in the mortgage corrected, and, at the same time, requested B. to endorse the note, saying: "This will do you no harm, and will be an accommodation to me." B. did endorse the note. The mortgaged property having proved insufficient to pay the debt, B., on suit brought by C., was held liable as endorser.
2. On the last day of grace, B., in St. Louis, wrote to C., in Boston (which letter, of course, C. did not got until some days after the said last, day of grace), saying that A. could not take up the note, expressing regret therefor, and adding that he, B., held himself "responsible for the payment of the note," and should see that "it was done at an early day." Held that he was liable as endorser, although no demand of payment had been made of A., or notice given to him, B., and though, thus in point of fact, B. (except insofar as it may have been prevented by his letter) had been, as endorser, discharged.
3. When an endorser of a matured note, not knowing whether demand has or has not been made of the maker, writes to the holder, stating that the maker is unable to pay, expressing regret that this is so, and promising, himself, to pay the note, such endorser will be held to have waived proof of demand and notice, and will be held liable as endorser, although quite without reference to his letter, and before any receipt of it, no demand of payment was made or notice of dishonor given.
Yeager & Co., shippers of flour in St. Louis and intimately associated with one Kerckhoff, a miller of that place, who was then building a mill and needing $15,000 to complete it, wrote to Farwell & Co., flour commission merchants and capitalists, of Boston, intimate correspondents of their own, telling them what Kerckhoff was doing; that he wanted $15,000; that he would give security by trust deed on a valuable farm near St. Louis; that the security was good, and urging them to lend him the amount, "for, say one or two years, or even one year, after which," says the letter, "we would make the advances ourselves." As an inducement for "coming to a favorable conclusion on their proposition," they request Farwell & Co. to bear in mind that they, Farwell & Co., will get, as flour commission merchants in Boston, a large share of the business of the new mill.
Farwell & Co. did not (so far as their real wishes were expressed in their letters) seem much disposed to lend the money; at least they wanted 13 percent interest. However, on some remonstrance at such a rate from Yeager & Co., who proposed 10 percent, they conclude "to come as near the wishes of Yeager & Co. as they can," and to lend the money at 12 percent, provided, "first and foremost," they can feel that the farm is good and ample security beyond a question, for which certainty they say that they rely on Yeager & Co. "The rate of interest," they add, "in itself is no object, for we can use our money to better advantage in Boston; but, desiring very much," they continue,
"to accommodate you, and for the further consideration of getting a large share of the business of the new mill, we are willing to lend you the money on the above terms, but shall be very glad if you can obtain it more cheaply."
Yeager & Co. now directed a note for the $15,000 and a trust deed of the farm to be prepared, and both were executed and the deed put on record. For some reason, the rate of interest on both was put at 10 percent instead of 12, the rate agreed on. There were also certain clerical errors in the deed of trust, showing some carelessness in the preparation of it. Farwell & Co., on receiving the papers, and not having themselves as yet advanced any part of the money (though Yeager & Co. had advanced about $4,000 to Kerckhoff as on account of the $15,000), noted the departure from the rate of interest proposed, as also the clerical errors in the deed. They accordingly returned both papers to Yeager & Co., saying, in regard to the interest, that unless a new note should be made, the drafts on them by Kerckhoff must be for 2 percent less, and requesting, unconditionally, that one of the clerical errors, deemed by them more important, in the deed, should be rectified, remarking that they think it better to have it put right "in the beginning." In the letter enclosing the papers they add:
"And, too, we will thank your Mr. Yeager to endorse the notes in the name of your firm, or his individual name, as may
be preferred. This will do him no harm, and will be an accommodation to us."
Yeager did accordingly endorse the note with his firm's name, and the clerical error in the deed and in the record of it was corrected. After this, the balance of the $15,000 was advanced by Farwell & Co. to Kerckhoff as drawn for by him.
The note, which by its terms was payable at one of the banks in Boston, fell due October 15 to 18, 1867, but it was not paid, neither was demand of payment made, or any notice of dishonor given to the endorsers, Yeager & Co.
On the 18th of October, 1867, the last day of grace, Yeager & Co., not knowing, of course, what had or had not been, or would or would not be then done in or about the note in Boston, wrote this letter from St. Louis to Farwell & Co.:
"ST. LOUIS, October 18, 1867"
"GENTLEMEN:"
"Mr. Kerckhoff fully expected to be able to place funds in our hands in time for us to have them with you today to meet his note of $15,000, but owing to the stringency of the money market, he has been unable thus far to complete arrangements to raise the money so as to have it in your hands today; but in a week or ten days it will be forthcoming, and he assures us it will be done without fail, and feels very sorry that circumstances were such as to prevent his meeting the note at maturity. We also feel very much annoyed about it, but we hold ourselves responsible for the payment of this note, and shall see that it is done at an early day. Thanking you for your many acts of kindness to us, we are"
"Yours, very truly,"
"YEAGER & CO."
Of course, this letter did not reach Boston until some days after the last day of grace.
The note not being paid, the farm was sold under the trust deed, but did not bring enough to pay the sum due on the note. Thereupon Farwell & Co. sued Yeager & Co., in assumpsit, as endorsers of the note. The defenses were:
1. That the endorsement was made at the instance and
special request of the plaintiffs, after the note had passed into their possession, solely as an accommodation to them, and without any value or consideration whatever.
2. That if this was not so, and if Yeager & Co. had ever been liable as endorsers, they had been discharged by want of demand on the maker, and notice of nonpayment to them.
The plaintiffs disclaimed all demand on the defendants as guarantors.
The court charged
"that if Yeager & Co. placed their names on the back of the note before the negotiations for the loan by the plaintiffs was closed, or before the plaintiffs advanced any money on the said loan, they were liable as endorsers."
Verdict and judgment accordingly, and writ of error here.
