NOTICE OF DISHONOR. A notice given to a drawer or indorser of a bill, or an miorser of a negotiable note, by a subsequent party, that it has been dishonored either by non-acceptance in the case of a bill, or by non-payment in the case of an accepted bill or a note.
2. The notice must contain a description of the bill or note, 5 Cush. Mass. 546 ; 14 Conn. 362 ; 1 Fla. 301 ; 1 Wisc. 264, suffi cient to leave no doubt in the mind of the in dorser, as a reasonable man, what note was intended. 3 Mete. Mass. 495 ; 5 Cush. Mass. 546 ; 7 Ala. N. s. 205 ; 12 N. Y. 551 ; 19 id. 518 ; 26 Me. 45 ; 11 Wheat. 431. See 10 N. Y. 279 ; 11 Mees. & W. Exch. 809 ; 5 Humphr. Tenn. 335. As to what is a mis-description, see 7 Exch. 578 ; 1 Mann. & G. 76 ; 11 Mees. & W. Exch. 809 ; 15 id. 231 ; 9 Q. B. 609 ; 9 Pet. 33 ; 11 Wheat. 431 ; 17 How. 606 ; 1 N. Y. 413 ; 7 id. 19 ; 13 Miss. 44 ; 19 id. 382 ; 2 Mich. 238 ; 12 Mass. 6 ; 2 Penn. St. 355 ; 14 id. 483 ; 2 Ohio St. 345.
3. It must also contain a clear statement of the dishonor of the bill, 7 Bingh. 530; 1 Bingh. N. c. 194 ; 3 id. 368 ; 2 Clark & F. Hou. L. 93 ; 2 Mees. & W. Exch. 799 ; 11 C.
B. 1011 ; 3 Mete. Mass. 495 ; 18 Conn. 361 ; and something more than the mere fact of non-acceptance or non-payment must be stated, 3 Bingh. N. c. 688 ; 10 Ad. & E. 125 ; 8 Carr. & P. 355 ; 2 Q. B. 388 ; 14 Mees. & W. Exch. 44 ; 11 Wheat. 431 ; 3 Mete. Mass. 495 ; 9 id. 174 ; 5 Barb. N. Y. 490 ; 1 Speers, So. C. 244 ; 2 Ohio St. 345 ; 3 Md. 202, 251 ; 6 ,id. 5; 11 id. 148 ; 1 Litt. Ky. 194; 2 Hawks, No. C. 560 ; 5 How. Miss. 552 ; ex cept in some cases, 5 Cush. Mass. 546 ; 1 Md. 59, 504 ; 4 id. 409, as to the effect of the use of the word protested. 11 Wheat. 431 ; 9 Pet. 33 ; 7 Ala. x. s. 205 ; 2 Dougl. Mich. 495 ; 1 N. Y. 413 ; 10 id. 279 ; 19 Me. 31 ; 23 id. 392 ; 10 N. H. 526 ; 9 Rob. La. 161 ; 14 Conn. 362 ; 5 Cush. Mass. 546 ; 1 Wisc. 264 ; 4 N. J. 71. See some cases where the notice was held sufficient, 2 Mees. & W. Exch. 109, 799; 6 id. 400 ; 7 id. 515 ; 14 id. 7, 44 ; 6 Ad. & E. 499 ; 10 id. 131 ; 2 Q. B. 421 ; 1 Ell. & B. 801 ; 5 C. B. 687 ; 1 Hurlst. & W. Exch. 3 ; and others where it was held insufficient. 2 Exch. 719 ; 1 Ell. & B. 801 ; 4 Barnew. & C. 339 ; 10 Ad. & E. 125 ; 7 Bingh. 530 ; 3 Bingh. Dr. c. 688 ; 8 Carr. & P. 355 ; 2 Q. B. 388 ; 1 Mann. & G. 76.
As to whether there must be a statement that the party to whom the notice is sent is looked to for payment, see 1 Term, 169 ; 11 Mees. & W. Exch. 372 ; 2 Exch. 719 ., 2 Q.
B. 388, 419 ; 14 id. 200 ; 7 C. B. 400 ; 4 Dowl. & L. 744.
4. The notice is generally in writing, but may bs oral. 4 Wend. N. Y. 566 ; 16 Barb. N. Y. 146 ; 3 Mete. Mass. 495 ; 8 Mo. 336 ; 7 C. B. 400 ; 11 id. 1011; 2 Mees. & W. Exch. 348 ; 8 Carr. & P. 355 ; 1 Hurlst. & W. Exch. 3. It need not be personally served, but may be sent by mail, 7 East, 385 ; Wheat. 102 ; Mass. 316 ; .14 id. 116 ; 1 Pick. Mass. 401; 28 Vt. 316 ; 15 Md. 285 ; 5 Penn. St. 178 ; 1 Conn. 329 ; 2 R. I. 467 ; 23 Mo. 213 ; 13 N. Y. 549; otherwise, perhaps, if the parties live in the same town, see 5 Mete. Mass. 352 ; 10 Johns. N. Y. 490 ; 20 id. 372 ; 3 McLean, C.
C. 96 ; 1 Conn. 367 ; 28 lc. II. 302 ; 15 IVIe 141 ; 15 M I. 285 ; 3 Rob. La. 261 ; 6 Blackf. Ind. 312 , 3 Jones, No. C. 387 ; 3 Ala. N. s. S4 ; 3 Hafr. Del. 419 ; 8 Ohio, 507 ; 1 Par sons, Notes & B. 482, notej; or left in the care of a suitable person, representing the party to be notified. 15 Me. 207 ; 2 Johns. N. Y. :174 ; 20 Miss. 332 ; 16 Pick. Mass.392; 14 La. 494 ; 19 111. 598; Holt, 476.
5. It should he sent to the place where it will most probably find the party to be noti fied most promptly, 6 Metc. Mass. 1, 7 ; 1 Pet. 578 : 2 id. 543, whether the place of business, 1 Pet. 578 ; 3 McLean, C. C. 96 ; 5 Metc. Mass. 212, 352 ; 11 Johns. N. Y. 231 ; 15 Me. 139 ; 8 Watts & S. Penn.138 ; 5 Penn. St. 178 ; 3 Harr. Del. 419 ; 6 Blackf. Ind. 312 ; 5 Humphr. Tenn. 403 ; 3 Rob. La. 261 ; 1 La. Ann. 95 ; 1 Maule & S. 545, or place of residence. 4 Wash. C. C. 464 ; 28 Vt. 316 ; 1 Conn. 329. When sent by mail, it should be to the post-office to which the party usually resorts. 2 Pet. 543 ; 4 Wend. N. Y. 328 ; 5 Den. N. Y. 329 ; 5 Penn. St. 160 ; 3 McLean, C. C. 91 ; 15 La. 38 ; 4 Humphr. Tenn. 86 ; 3 Ga. 486 ; 11 Md. 486 ; 3 Ohio, 307 ; 8 Mo. 443 ; 6 Mete. Mass. 106 ; 6 Harr. & J. Md. 172. See 2 Pet. 543 ; 8 Cush. Mass. 425 ; 2 Heist. N. J. 130.
Every person who, by and immediately npon the dishonor of the note or bill, and only upon such dishonor, becomes liable to an ac tion either on the paper or on the considera tion for which the paper was given, is entitled to immediate notice. 1 Parsons, Notes & B. 499. The holder need give notice only to the parties and to the indorser whom he intends to hold liable. 25 Barb. N. Y. 138 ; 2 Johns, N. Y. 204 ; 19 Me. 62 ; 16 Mart. La. 220 ; 11 La. Ann. 137 ; 1 Ohio St. 206 ; 1 Rich. So. C. 369 ; 5 Miss. 272 ; 17 Ala. 258 ; 15 Mees. & W. Exch. 231.
G. Notice may be given by any party to a note or bill not primarily liable thereon as regards third parties, and not discharged from liability on it at the time notice is given. 8 Mo. 336 ; 23 id. 213 ; 16 Serg. & R. Penn. 157 ; 3 Da,n. Ky. 126 ; 5 Miss. 272 ; 17 Ala. 258 ; 3 Wend. N. Y. 173 ; 25 Barb. N.
Y. 138 ; 15 Md. 150 ; 15 La. 321 ; 14 Mass. 116 ; 2 Campb. 373 ; 4 id. 87 ; 5 Maule & S. 68 ; 3 Ad. & E. 193 ; 9 C. B. 46 ; 13 id. 249 ; 15 Mees. & W. Exch. 231. It may be by the holder's agent, 4 How. 336 ; 11 Rob. La. 454 ; 8 Mo. 704 ; 7 Ala. N. s. 205 ; 4 Dowl. & L. 744 ; 15 Mees. & W. Exch. 231 ; an indorsee for collection, 2 Hall, N. Y. 112 ; 3 N. Y. 243 ; a notary, see 2 How. 66; the adminis trator or executor of a deceased person. Story, Prom. Notes, 304.
The notice must be forwarded as early as by a mail of the day after the dishonor which does not start at an unreasonably early hour.
9 N. H. 558 ; 2 Harr. N. J. 587; 24 111e. 458 ; 2 R. I. 437 ; 24 Penn. St. 148 ; 4 N. J. 71 ; 1 Ohio St. 206 ; 6 id. 542 ; 9 Miss. 261, 644 ; 11 id. 445 ; 13 Ark. 645; 14 id. 230 ; 7 Gill & Md. 78 ; 4 Wash. C. C. 464; 2 Stor. C.
C. 416 ; 4 Bingh. 715.
Consult Bayley, Byles, Chitty, Story, on Bills of Exchange ; Story, Promissory Notes, Parsons, Notes & Bills.