Williams-Thompson Co. v. Williams

W. L. Williams was indebted to the Williams-Thompson Company, a corporation. On January 25, 1909, in settlement of this debt, he gave to the corporation a negotiable promissory note, signed by himself as principal and by six others (the present defendants, Williams himself not being found or served), who signed apparently as joint makers, but in fact as sureties. On the next day after the note was signed and after the original transaction was closed, one of the sureties, named Harris, came to the officer of the corporation who had taken the note and stated that he wished to “come off” the…