John Woods & Sons v. Carl/Opinion of the Court

MR. JUSTICE PECKHAM delivered the opinion of the court:

This action was brought in the proper court of the State of Arkansas by the plaintiffs in error to recover the amount of a promissory note, which was given by the defendant in error on the sale to him of a patented machine and of the right to the patent in the State of Arkansas. Before the [p359] maturity of the note it was indorsed by the payee and transferred to plaintiffs in error. The note was not executed as provided for by the statute of that State relating to the sale of rights under a patent. Act of April 23, 1891, Kirby's Dig., sec. 513. The section reads as follows:

The defendant set up the violation of the statute as a defense. The verdict was for the defendant, and the judgment entered thereon having been affirmed by the Supreme Court, the plaintiffs have brought the case here by writ of error.

The sole question involved is the validity of the statute. The opinion of the Supreme Court of Arkansas is reported in 75 Arkansas, 328. See also Wyatt v. Wallace, 67 Arkansas, 575; State v. Cook, 107 Tennessee, 499. This case is governed by the immediately preceding one, although the statute of Arkansas renders the note void if given for a patent right if the note does not show on its face for what it was given. The difference is not so material as to call for a different decision. The judgment is

Affirmed.

MR. JUSTICE DAY dissents.