Moses Wanzer, Plaintiff in error, v. Tullius C. Tupper and John H. Rollins, under the Firm of Tupper & Rollins

Moses Wanzer, Plaintiff in error, v. Tullius C. Tupper and John H. Rollins, under the Firm of Tupper & Rollins. By the statutes of Mississippi, the holder of an inland bill of exchange is entitled to recover of an indorser the amount due on the bill, with interest, upon giving the customary proof of default and notice. A protest is necessary only for the purpose of enabling him to recover the five per cent, damages given by the act. The case of Bailey v. Dozier (6 Howard, 23) confirmed. This case was brought up, by writ of error, from the Circuit Court of the United States for the Southern District of Mississippi. It was an action brought by Wanzer upon a bill of exchange drawn by him upon Silverbury & Co., accepted by drawees, and indorsed by Tupper & Rollins to Wanzer. The cause was tried in the Circuit Court in November, 1846, when the court refused to permit the bill, although admitted to be an inland bill of exchange, to be given in evidence to' the jury, because there was no valid protest thereof. It is unnecessary to state any further facts in the case. It was argued in this court by Mr. Coxe, for the plaintiff in error, no counsel appearing for the defendants. [MAJORITY — Mr. Chief Justice TANEY] Mr. Chief Justice TANEY delivered the .opinion of the-court. In this case, the .Circuit Court for the Southern District of Mississippi decided, that the holder of an inland bill of exchange drawn and accepted in that State was not entitled to recover against the indorser, unless the bill had been regularly protested for non-payment. This decision was made before the case of Bailey v. Dozier, reported in 6 Howard, 23, came before this court. In that case the court held, upon full consideration of the question, that, under the statute of Mississippi, the holder of an inland bill of exchange was entitled to recover of an indorser the amount due on the bill, with interest, upon giving the customary proof of default and notice; and that the protest was necessary only for the purpose of enabling him to recover the five per cent, damages given by the act. The case of Bailey v. Dozier must govern this, and the judgment in the Circuit Court is therefore reversed. Order. This cause came-on to be heard on the transcript of the record from the Circuit Court of the United States for the Southern District of Mississippi, and was argued by counsel. On consideration whereof, it is now here ordered and adjudged by this court, that the judgment of the said Circuit Court in this cause be, and the same is hereby, reversed, with costs, and that this cause be, and the same is hereby, remanded to the said Circuit Court, with directions to award a venire facias de novo.