Coppell v. Phillipson

Headnote

Negotiable Instruments—Bona Pide Holder.

C. & Co., doing business in Mexico, were accustomed to draw on'defendant in New York, who would accept their drafts, and credit them with goods they shipped to him from time to time. These drafts would not be drawn against any particular shipment. In a letter notifying defendant of the shipment of a large quantity of coffee C. & Co. mentioned that they had drawn on him in favor of a Mexican bank, which would cash the draft on receiving telegraphic advice of acceptance. The bank indorsed the draft generally to plaintiffs, its New York correspondents, and, defendant having accepted it without objection, plaintiffs immediately telegraphed to the bank, which thereupon paid C. & Co. the face value of the draft, and plaintiffs credited the bank with the amount of it. The course of dealing between the bank and plaintiffs was for the former to make remittances from time to time to plaintiffs, and then draw on them. Meld, that plaintiffs were bona fide holders of the draft.

Appeal from circuit court, New York county.

Action by George Coppell and others against Paul Phillipson to recover on an acceptance of'defendant. Plaintiffs are bankers under the firm name of Maitland, Phelps & Co. Defendant, in 1888, was engaged in business in New York under the name of P. Phillipson & Co. He had had for some time previous extensive dealings with a firm in Vera Cruz, Mexico, known as Caraza & Co. The course of business between them was that Caraza & Co. would draw on P. Phillipson & Co., and the defendant would accept these drafts, keeping an open running account with Caraza & Co., in which he credited them with goods which they shipped to him from time to time. The drafts do not seem to have been drawn against any particular shipment, nor were the bills of lading or invoices annexed to the drafts. On October 9, 1888, Caraza & Co. notified the defendant (in a letter relating also to many other transactions) that they had procured some coffee he had telegraphed for, and would ship it, weather permitting, by the steamer Saratoga; and they inclosed invoices giving the weight and price of the coffee, and charging defendant $25,583.81 in all for these goods. In another part of the letter, and without any reference to the .shipment of coffee, Caraza & Co. notified the defendant that they had

drawn on him for $7,000 in favor of the National Bank of Mexico, in Yera Cruz. They added that the bank had taken this draft, and would cash it on receiving telegraphic advice of acceptance. On October 11, 1888, Caraza telegraphed: “Saratoga takes 400 bags only; cause, bad weather.” On October 16, 1888, they telegraphed again: “400, Saratoga, your consignment, are shipping rest in Spanish to the same address. ” And on October 19, 1888, they telegraphed: “On account of bad weather cannot ship rest, will do so in next Spanish.” On the same day, October 19, 1888, the defendant accepted the draft in suit: The defendant says that the rest of the coffee was not shipped, but there is no evidence whatever to show the reason of non-shipment. The draft, as above stated, was drawn on the defendant in favor of the Yera Cruz branch of the National Bank of Mexico. It is dated October 9, 1888. The bank on the same day indorsed the draft generally to the plaintiffs, who were its correspondents in New York. The course of business between the National Bank and the plaintiffs was that the bank made remittances from time to time to the plaintiffs, and drew on them. It was proved that the course of business corresponded to the usual course of business between a bank and its customers. The draft in suit was duly accepted by the defendant on October 9, 1888, without objection, and without notifying plaintiffs of the telegrams from Caraza & Co. The plaintiffs immediately telegraphed to the National Bank that the draft was accepted, and the National Bank on the next day, October 20,1888, in reliance upon the telegram, cashed the draft by paying Caraza & Co. its face and 34 per cent, premium, in Mexican currency. The draft, by its terms, became due on November 12, 1888. It was not paid, and this action was begun in December, 1888. The complaint is in the usual form. The answer puts in issue the copartnership of the plaintiffs and the indorsement of the draft to them. It further sets up that the draft was not accepted for value; that the plaintiffs are not the real parties in interest, and the draft, if indorsed to them at all, was only indorsed for collection, and not otherwise; that the draft was neither drawn, indorsed, nor accepted for value, and the consideration for acceptance wholly failed, inasmuch as Caraza & Co. had induced the defendant to accept the draft by false and fraudulent statements in regard to the shipment of certain coffee. Upon the trial the facts above set forth were proved, when defendant moved to dismiss the complaint on the ground that the plaintiffs were not the real parties in interest, which was denied. Defendant then asked that judgment be directed in his favor, on the ground that the drafts were procured by fraudulent representations, and plaintiffs 'were not holders for value, which was denied. Defendant then asked to go to the jury upon the question of fraud and want of consideration, which was also denied. The learned judge directed a verdict for the plaintiffs, and the defendant excepted to all these rulings. Judgment was entered for $7,850.84, and defendant appeals;