Lewis v. Hodapp

• Decision Date: 08 January 1896
• Citation: 42 N.E. 649,14 Ind.App. 111
• Parties: LEWIS v. HODAPP.
• Court: Indiana Appellate Court

14 Ind.App. 111

42 N.E. 649

LEWIS

v.HODAPP.

Appellate Court of Indiana.

Jan. 8, 1896.

Appeal from circuit court, Ohio county; A. C. Downey, judge.

Action by Thomas Lewis against Wendell Hodapp. There was a judgment for defendant, and plaintiff appeals. Affirmed.

Coles & Hall, for appellant. Rodman L. Davis and John L. Davis, for appellee.

DAVIS, J.

The appellant instituted this action on a note against one James Bailey, Jr., and the appellee. Bailey made default. The appellee answered in two paragraphs: (1) General denial; (2) non est factum. The appellant replied to the answer of non est factum in two paragraphs. A demurrer was sustained to each paragraph of reply. These rulings are the basis of the only errors assigned in this court.

The substance of the second paragraph of the reply is that the note was signed by the appellee, or by said Bailey with full authority from him. Ordinarily, a special answer of non est factum closes the issues, and neither requires, nor, strictly speaking, admits, of a replication. Webb v. Corbin, 78 Ind. 403. The substance of the answer is that the appellee did not execute the note sued on, and that his signature thereto was false and forged. Any facts tending to prove that the note was signed by him, or by said Bailey with full authority from him, were admissible in evidence under the plea of non est factum. No new issue was tendered by the second paragraph of the reply. Whether the appellee signed the note or authorized another to sign it for him was the issue tendered by the plea of non est factum. Therefore, in any event, there was no error in sustaining the demurrer to the second paragraph of the reply. O'Donahue v. Creager, 117 Ind. 372, 20 N. E. 267;Ratliff v. Stretch, 117 Ind. 527, 20 N. E. 438; Mays v. Hedges, 79 Ind. 228.

The theory of the first paragraph of the reply is that appellee was estopped from pleading the defense set up in the answer of non est factum. A person whose name has been forged to a note may be estopped by his admissions, upon which others may have changed their relations, from pleading the truth of the matter to their detriment. Henry v. Heeb, 114 Ind. 275, 16 N. E. 606. It is a familiar rule that an estoppel must be specially and strictly pleaded. No intendments are made in favor of a plea of estoppel. Troyer v. Dyar, 102 Ind. 396, 1 N. E. 728. The substance of the first paragraph of the reply is that, after the maturity of the note, the appellant asked the appellee about its payment; and that the appellee, with full knowledge that his name was on the note, admitted his liability thereon, and that he would stand good for it, which statements and admissions the appellant believed; that said Bailey then owned property of the value of $1,000 subject to execution, out of which he could and would have secured the payment of the note; and that appellant, without any knowledge that appellee's signature was forged, extended the time of payment, and that said Bailey has absconded, and...