Every contract on a negotiable note is incomplete and revocable until its delivery. As between the immediate parties, and also a remote party other than a holder in due course, the delivery, in order to be effectual, must be made either by the authority of the party making, drawing, accepting or indorsing as the case may be. The delivery may be shown to have been conditional, or for a special purpose only, and not for the purpose of transferring the property of the note. But where the note is in the hands of a holder in due course, a valid delivery thereof by all parties prior to him is conclusively presumed.
When the language of a note is ambiguous the following rules of construction are applied: (a) if there is a discrepancy between the words and figures in expressing the amount, the words control, if the words are ambiguous or uncertain, reference may be had to the figures to fix the amount; (b) if the note provides for paying interest without specifying the date from which it is to run, the interest runs from the date of the note, if this is undated, from the issue of it; (c) if not dated a note will be considered as dated from the time of issue; (d) if there is a conflict between the written and printed provisions, the former will prevail; (e) if it is doubtful whether the instrument is a bill or note, the holder may elect which it shall be; (f) it is not clear in what capacity the person making the note intended to sign he is to be deemed an indorser; (g) when a note containing the words "I promise to pay" is signed by two or more persons, they are deemed to be jointly and severally liable thereon.
The signature of any party may be made by a duly authorized agent. No particular form of appointment is necessary for this purpose, and the authority of the agent may be established as in other cases of agency. If, however, one signs as agent without disclosing his principal, he is personally liable. Thus, a husband signed a note in his own name without adding more. As he had disclosed no principal, he was personally bound, and his wife, for whom he claimed to have signed the note, was not liable. The maker of a note added to his signature, "Pastor of St. Frances' church." This was regarded as his personal note, all besides his name were words merely of description. A person signed a note thus: "Estate of William R. Clark by William R. Clark, Jr., Trustee." As he was not authorized to borrow on behalf of the trust and give a note as trustee, he was individually liable notwithstanding the form of the note.