{
  "id": 8654395,
  "name": "MERCHANTS NATIONAL BANK v. JAMES HOWARD and PERCY W. WELLS",
  "name_abbreviation": "Merchants National Bank v. Howard",
  "decision_date": "1924-11-12",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "543",
  "last_page": "550",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "188 N.C. 543"
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  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "N.C.",
    "id": 9292,
    "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 5,
    "name_long": "North Carolina",
    "name": "N.C."
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  "cites_to": [
    {
      "cite": "187 N. C., 515",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
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        8654278
      ],
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    {
      "cite": "174 N. C., 477",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        11254459
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      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/174/0477-01"
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T18:44:41.585516+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
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  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "MERCHANTS NATIONAL BANK v. JAMES HOWARD and PERCY W. WELLS."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "CONNOR, J.\nAssignments of error based upon exceptions appearing-in the case on appeal -relative to the first and third issues need not be considered, as plaintiff appellant consented, at the conclusion of all the evidence, that the court should instruct the jury to answer both these issues \u201cYes.\u201d The controversy between the parties was thus confined to matters involved in the second and fourth issues. Appellant relies upon its exceptions to evidence and instructions applicable to these issues for a reversal of the judgment and for a new trial.\nDefendants contend that the note upon which plaintiff seeks to recover in this action was the last of a series given by defendants and taken by plaintiff in renewal of the original note. The jury has found, by consent, that this note was procured by false and fraudulent representations made by Thomas E. Cooper to the maker, James Howard, and to the endorser, Percy W. Wells. This original note was negotiable in form and was purchased by plaintiff before maturity and for value. If, at the time it purchased this note, plaintiff had no notice of the false and fraudulent representations, by 'means of which its execution by the maker was procured, it was a holder in due course of the note, and could have enforced payment for the full amount thereof against all parties liable thereon. C. S., 3033 and 3038.\nThe note upon which this action is brought is not the note procured by false and fraudulent representations. That note was dated 27 May, 1922, and was due ninety days after date. The note sued on was dated 23 December, 1922, and was due sixty days after date. Both are for $5,000.\nIn apt time plaintiff tendered an issue, as follows: \u201cDid defendants negotiate the note sued on direct with plaintiff ?\u201d\nTo the refusal of the court to submit this issue, plaintiff excepted.\nIn apt time plaintiff requested the court to instruct the jury as follows: \u201cIf you find from the evidence, by its greater weight, that the note sued on was given to secure the payment of the first note and to get an extension of time, then the court charges you that defendants would be liable.\u201d\nTo the refusal of the court to give this instruction plaintiff excepted.\nBy these exceptions plaintiff presents its contention that defenses available to defendants in an action upon the original note, dated 27 May, 1922, and purchased by plaintiff, cannot be set up and maintained in an action upon the note dated 23 December, 1922, which was executed by defendants and delivered to plaintiff.\nThese exceptions, however, cannot now be urged by plaintiff as grounds for a new trial. Plaintiff did not except to the first issue, which was predicated upon the proposition that the note in controversy was given as a renewal of the original note, which was procured by false and fraudulent representations. This issue was answered \u201cYes,\u201d by consent.\nPlaintiff\u2019s evidence shows that the note, sued on was a renewal of the original note. Col. James E. Young, vice-president of plaintiff bank, testified that the first note, for ninety days, was discounted for the Commercial Bank on 31 May, 1922; that there was a renewal in August for sixty days, and again a renewal in October for sixty days. \u201cThis present note was received 30 December, 1922. . I conducted most of the correspondence. I know that, after the first time, we renewed it without any regard to the bank. The first note was agreed to be taken up in J une, and after this we looked into the financial standing of the parties; and while we were trying to collect it we were forced from time to time to renew, bacause we could not make collection. Nothing has ever been paid on the note.\u201d\nThese exceptions cannot be sustained. There was no error in refusing to submit the issue tendered, or in refusing to give the instruction requested.\nThe issue tendered by plaintiff was inconsistent with the first issue submitted without objection by plaintiff. Plaintiff, by its consent that this issue should be answered \u201cYes,\u201d admitted that the note sued on was a renewal of the original note, which was procured by false and fraudulent representations. Indeed, all the evidence was to this effect. There is no evidence that the note sued on was taken in payment of the original note.\nThe note sued on, being a renewal of the original note, any defense available to defendants in an action on the original note is available in this action. The defense relied upon by defendants is, that plaintiff took the original note with notice that same was procured from defendants by false and fraudulent representations, and that note sued on is a renewal of the original note. This is a good and valid defense, not only as against the original note, but also as against any note given and accepted in renewal thereof.\n\u201cWhere a note is given merely in renewal of another note, and not in payment, the renewal does not extinguish the original debt or in any way change the debt, except by postponing the time for payment; and as a general rule the holder is entitled to the same rights and remedies as if he was proceeding on the original note.\u201d 8 C. J., p. 443, sec. 656; Bank v. Hall, 174 N. C., 477; Grace v. Strickland, ante, 369.\n\u201cAs between tbe original parties and as against transferees, wbo are not bona fide purchasers for value, a renewal note is open to all defenses which might have been made against the original note, at least in so far as they relate to consideration, such as want or failure of consideration, fraud, usury, gambling debts, or other illegality. This does not apply, however, where a note is taken in payment and not in renewal. It is a defense to renewal notes that the signatures of the makers were obtained by fraud of the payee, in an action by the payee.\u201d 8 C. J., sec. 658. A defense available as against a payee is available as against a purchaser or transferee who is not a holder in due course. C. S., 3039.\nThe note sued on in this action is a renewal of a note procured from defendants by false and fraudulent representations made to defendants by Thomas E. Cooper. This original note was purchased by plaintiff for value and before maturity. It became material, therefore, to determine whether or not plaintiff had notice, at the time it purchased the original note, of such false and fraudulent representations. This question is involved in the second issue. O. S., 3033 and 3038.\nThe contention of defendants is that the false and fraudulent representations, by means of which the note was procured, were made by Thomas E. Cooper, vice-president and member of the discount committee of plaintiff bank, and that said Cooper presented the note to the committee and acted as a member of the committee in making the purchase; that knowledge of Cooper is imputed to plaintiff bank.\nPlaintiff\u2019s contention is that Thomas E. Cooper had a personal interest in the note of defendants, and in the sale of the stock for which note was given, and that therefore his knowledge of the fraud cannot be imputed to plaintiff.\nThese contentions were presented to the jury by the court in an instruction, as follows: \u201cIt is admitted in this case that at the time the original note was bought by the Merchants National Bank, Thomas E. Cooper was vice-president of the bank and a member of its discount committee, and took part in the purchase of the note. The court charges the jury, if they find from the evidence that the original note was obtained by fraudulent misrepresentations of T. E. Cooper, and that it was sold by T. E. Cooper to plaintiff, or that it was sold to the Commercial National Bank, and -that bank sold or discounted said note to plaintiff, and that in the discounting or purchase of said note, said T. E. Cooper was a member of the discount committee and acted in the discounting of the note, then plaintiff bank had notice of the fraud, unless you find from the evidence that'Thomas E. Cooper was personally interested in the sale of the stock to defendant Howard and handled the note Howard gave originally. In the latter case the court charges you that what Thomas E. Cooper knew would not be notice to plaintiff bank. So that, if yon find from tbe evidence that Tbomas E. Cooper was personally interested in tbe sale of tbe stock to Howard and in tbe note Howard gave originally, tben you will answer tbe second issue No.\u2019 But if you do not find from tbe evidence that Tbomas E. Cooper was personally interested in tbe sale of tbe stock to Howard, and in tbe note Howard gave originally, tben you will further consider tbe case, and determine, independent of those considerations, whether plaintiff bank bad actual knowledge of tbe fraud, or knowledge of such facts that its action in taking tbe instrument amounted to bad faith.\n\u201cOn that question, if you find by tbe greater weight of tbe evidence that tbe plaintiff bank bad no notice of tbe fraud, or no knowledge of such facts that its action in taking tbe instrument amounted to bad faith, then you should answer tbe second issue No.\u2019 Unless you so find, answer it \u2018Yes.\u2019 \u201d\nTo this instruction plaintiff excepted. Tbe exception is not sustained. Tbe instruction is a clear and accurate statement of the law applicable to facts as admitted by the parties and as the jury might find them to be from the evidence. \u201cOrdinarily, a bank is presumed to have notice of matters which are known to its president, upon the theory that be will in the line of bis duty communicate to the bank such information as be has; but the law recognizes the frailty of human nature, and when the president has a personal interest to serve, or is acting in a transaction in bis own behalf, the presumption does not obtain that be will communicate matters to the bank which are detrimental to him.\u201d Bank v. Wells, 187 N. C., 515.\nThere was conflicting evidence as to tbe relation of Tbomas E. Cooper to tbe original note purchased by tbe plaintiff and as to bis relations to tbe stock which be sold to defendants. It was within tbe province of tbe jury to find tbe facts from tbe evidence with respect to these matters, and his Honor properly so instructed tbe jury.\nThere was also evidence from which tbe jury might find that tbe discount committee of plaintiff bank knew tbe relations of Tbomas E. Cooper to tbe Commercial National .Bank and to tbe defendants; that be bad formerly lived in Wilmington, tbe home of defendants; that be was tben a director of said bank, and bad formerly been one of its officers; that negotiations were tben in progress for him to sever bis relations with plaintiff and to return to Wilmington as president of tbe Commercial National Bank, and that tbe result of these negotiations was dependent upon the sale of tbe stock in said bank owned by W. B. Cooper, bis brother.\nAlthough tbe jury might find from tbe evidence that Tbomas E. Cooper bad a personal interest in tbe note which be presented for discount for tbe Commercial Bank, tbe jury might also find from tbe evidence that tbe discount committee bad notice of sucb interest. Tbomas E. Cooper did not, as vice-president or as a member of tbe discount committee of plaintiff bank, purchase tbe note in wbicb be bad a personal interest. He presented tbe note to tbe full committee, and tbe committee purchased tbe note, as it bad authority to do. Whatever knowledge or notice this committee bad as to tbe personal interest of Tbomas E. Cooper in tbe note, tbe plaintiff bad. Tbe court charged tbe jury that, independently as to whether they found that Tbomas E. Cooper was personally interested in tbe note or in tbe sale of tbe stock to defendant Howard, they would further consider tbe case and determine whether or not tbe plaintiff bad actual knowledge of tb\u00e9 fraud, or knowledge of sucb facts that its action in taking tbe note amounted to bad faith. This was a correct instruction, and tbe exception to it cannot be sustained.\nUpon tbe fourth issue tbe court instructed tbe jury as follows: \u201cSo that, gentlemen, with respect to tbe fourth issue, if you find from tbe evidence, and by tbe greater weight of it, that tbe defendants, at tbe time of tbe execution of tbe renewal note sued on, bad knowledge of tbe said alleged fraud, you will answer tbe issue \u2018Yes.\u2019 Unless you so find, answer it \u2018No.\u2019 \u201d\nPlaintiff\u2019s exception to this instruction cannot be sustained. Tbe law upon wbicb this instruction is based is stated in 8 Corpus Juris, p. 444, as follows: \u201cOne who gives a note in renewal of another note, with knowledge at tbe time of a partial failure of tbe consideration for tbe original note, or of false representations by tbe payee, waives sucb defense and cannot set it up to defeat or to reduce tbe recovery on tbe renewal note.\u201d\nIt is admitted that plaintiff is a bolder of tbe note, wbicb is negotiable on its face. Tbe title of tbe person who negotiated tbe note to plaintiff having been shown to be defective, tbe burden is on plaintiff to prove that it is a bolder in due course. O. S., 3040. Upon tbe answers to tbe first, second, and third issues, plaintiff was not a bolder in due course of tbe original note. Tbe burden of proof is upon plaintiff to show that defendants bad notice of tbe fraud at time of execution of renewal note; otherwise, tbe defense to tbe original note is available as a defense to tbe renewal note.\nPlaintiff\u2019s contention as to tbe facts and tbe law involved in this action have been submitted to tbe jury in a trial free from error as to matters of law or legal inference. This Court has jurisdiction to review upon appeal the decisions of tbe Superior Court upon matters of law and legal inference. Constitution of N. C., Art. IY, see. 8. We find\nNo error.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "CONNOR, J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Albert L. Cox, Wright & Stevens, and John H. Kerr, Jr., for plaintiff.",
      "Bellamy & Bellamy and Rountree & Carr for defendants."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "MERCHANTS NATIONAL BANK v. JAMES HOWARD and PERCY W. WELLS.\n(Filed 12 November, 1924.)\n1. Bills and Notes \u2014 Negotiable Instruments \u2014 Due Course \u2014 Infirmity\u2014 Notice \u2014 Statutes.\nWhere a purchaser of a note is one before maturity for value, but with notice of an infirmity therein which would render it invalid, he is not such a holder in due course that would sustain his action thereon. C. S., 3033, 3038, 3039.\n3.Same \u2014 Renewals.\nA note taken in renewal does not extinguish the original note, and those who acquire the latter with knowledge of the infirmity that would vitiate the former may not recover thereon.\n3. Issues \u2014 Admissions\u2014Appeal and Error.\nWhere an issue has been answered with the consent of the parties to the action, one of them may not urge for error a position that is contradictory to the issue thus answered.\n4. Same \u2014 Burden of Proof.\nWhere. there is evidence that a note sued on was affected by an infirmity that would vitiate it, the burden of proof is on one claiming to be a holder in due course without notice, to establish his position before the jury by the greater weight of the evidence. O. S., 3040.\n5. Same \u2014 Banks and Banking \u2014 Officers\u2014Interest.\nWhere the discount committee of a bank accepts and discounts a note at the request of its officer and member thereof, and the officer is interested therein, the principle of imputed knowledge of the officer of the infirmity of the instrument that would vitiate the note does not apply, and upon conflicting evidence the issue so raised is for the jury to determine under proper instructions of the judge.\n6. Appeal and Error \u2014 Constitutional law \u2014 Review.\nOn appeal to the Supreme Court, only error as to the law or legal inferences are reviewable upon the record in the case. Const., Art. IYr sec. 8. i\nAppeal by plaintiff from Calvert, J., at April Term, 1924, of New HaNOVEB.\nTbe execution of tbe note set out in tbe complaint by defendant, James Howard, and tbe endorsement by defendant, Percy W. Wells, are admitted. Defendants, in tbeir answer to tbe complaint, allege tbat tbe execution of tbe original note for wbicb tbe note sued on is a renewal,, was procured by false and fraudulent representations, and tbat same was therefore without consideration, null and void. Plaintiff replies by alleging tbat it was a bolder of tbe note in due course, having purchased tbe same for value, before maturity, and without notice of any infirmity in tbe instrument, or defect in tbe title of tbe person from whom it purchased tbe note.\nTbe note set out in tbe complaint and offered in evidence by plaintiff, is dated 23 December, 1922, is for $5,000, and is due 60 days after date. It is signed by James Howard and is payable to bis order, at tbe Commercial National Bank, Wilmington, N. O. It is endorsed by both defendants and has not been paid.\nOn '27 May, 1922, James Howard executed bis note for $5,000, due 90 days after date. This note was endorsed by Percy W. Wells, and was payable either to tbe order of tbe maker or to tbe Commercial National Bank. Tbe consideration for this note was 50 shares of tbe capital stock of tbe Commercial National Bank of Wilmington, N. C., sold to Howard by Thomas E. Cooper, a director of said bank and subsequently its president. James Howard was induced to purchase the stock and to give his note for the purchase price by representations made to him by Thomas E. Cooper.\nOn 3T May, 1922, this original note was purchased by plaintiff. It was presented to the discount committee of plaintiff by Thomas E. Cooper, at that time a member of the committee and also vice-president of the bank. The note was discounted for the Commercial National Bank. Plaintiff paid face value for the note, less discount at 6 per cent. This original note was not paid at maturity, and a note executed by Howard and endorsed by Wells was -taken by plaintiff in renewal. There were several renewals, the last being the note upon which this action is brought.\nThe issues submitted to the jury were as follows:\n1. Was the original note for which the note in controversy was given as a renewal procured by fraud and misrepresentation as alleged in the answer?\n2. If so, did plaintiff, Merchants National Bank, at the time of the purchase of said note have notice of such alleged fraud ?\n3. Did plaintiff, Merchants National Bank, purchase such original note for value and before maturity?\n4. If so, did defendants at.time of execution of the renewal note sued on have notice of such alleged fraud?\n5. What amount, if any, is plaintiff entitled to recover of the defendants ?\nAt the conclusion of the evidence it was agreed that the court should charge the jury to answer the first and third issues \u201cYes,\u201d and that the answer to the fifth issue should be reserved and answered by the court. Only the second and fourth issues were therefore submitted to the jury. These were answered \u201cYes\u201d and \u201cNo,\u201d respectively.\nIt is therefore established by the verdict that the original note was procured by false and fraudulent representations, and that the note in controversy was given in renewal of this note; that plaintiff had notice, at the time it purchased the original note, of the fraud, but that it paid value for the note and purchased it before maturity; that defendants had no notice, at the time of the execution of the renewal note sued on, that the representations by which the original note was procured were false and fraudulent.\nJudgment was rendered that plaintiff recover nothing of defendants. To this judgment plaintiff excepted, and appealed therefrom to the Supreme Court. Assignments of error are set out in the opinion.\nAlbert L. Cox, Wright & Stevens, and John H. Kerr, Jr., for plaintiff.\nBellamy & Bellamy and Rountree & Carr for defendants."
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}