In the absence of statute, a negotiable instrument which has been altered materially is unenforceable, even in the hands of a bona fide holder without notice who takes for value and before maturity.1 While in some of the cases in which a bona fide holder has not been allowed to recover on an altered negotiable instrument, the alteration was apparent on the face of the instrument,2 the doctrine does not rest upon this ground. As long as the maker has not been negligent in giving opportunity for alteration,3 alteration discharges the instrument, even if it is so skilfully done as to deceive a prudent man.4

225.

United States. Wood v. Steele, 73 U. S. (6 Wall.) 80, 18 L. ed. 725.

Arkansas. Fordyce v. Kosminski, 49 Ark. 40, 4 Am. St. Rep. 18, 3 S. W. 892.

District of Columbia. Ofenstein v Bryan, 20 D. C. App. 1.

Illinois. Merritt v. Boyden, 191 111. 136, 85 Am. St. Rep. 246, 60 N. E. 907; Keller v. State Bank, - 111. -, 127 N. E. 94.

Iowa. Knoxville National Bank v. Clark, 51 la. 2G4, 33 Am. Rep. 129, 1 N. W. 491; Derr v. Keaough, 96 la. 397, 65 N. W. 339.

Kansas. Herington Bank v. Wan-gerin, 65 Kan. 423, 59 L. R. A. 717, 70 Pac. 330.

Kentucky. Blakey v. Johnson, 76 Ky. (13 Bush.) 197, 26 Am. Rep. 254.

Massachusetts. Wade v. Withington, 83 Mass. (1 All.) 561; Greenfield Savings Bank v. Stowell, 123 Mass. 196, 25 Am. Rep. 67.

Michigan. Stevens v. Venema, 202 Mich. 232, L. R. A. 1918F, 1145, 168 N.

W. 531.

Minnesota. Seebold v. Tatlie, 76 Minn. 131, 78 N. W. 967.

Mississippi. Simmons v. Atkinson-Lampton Co., 69 Miss. 862, 23 L. R. A. 599, 12 So 263.

Nebraska. Bothell v. Schweitzer, 84 Neb. 271, 133 Am. St. Rep. 623, 22 L. R. A. (N.S.) 263, 120 N. W. 1129.

Ohio. Newman v. King, 54 O. S. 273, 56 Am. St. Rep. 705, 35 L. R. A. 471, 43 N. E. 683.

Oklahoma. Cox v. Kirkwood, 69 Okla. 183, 158 Pac. 930; Wayne County National Bank v. Kneeland, - Okla. -, 161 Pac. 193; Voris v. Birdsall, -Okla. -, 162 Pac. 951.

Pennsylvania. Citizens' National Bank v. Williams, 174 Pa. St. 66, 35 L. R. A. 464, 34 Atl. 304.

South Dakota, Rochford v. McGee, 16 S. D. 606, 102 Am. St. Rep. 719, 61 L. R. A. 335, 94 N. W. 695; Holbart v. Lauritson, 34 S. D. 267, L. R. A. 1915A, 106, 148 N. W. 19.

Tennessee. Moss v. Maddux, 108 Tenn. 405, 67 S. W. 855.

Texas. Farmers' & Merchants' National Bank v. Novich, 89 Tex. 381, 34 S. W. 914.

West Virginia. Ohio Valley Bank v. Lockwood, 13 W. Va. 392, 31 Am. Rep. 768.

Wisconsin. Hecht v. Shenners, 126 Wis. 27, 105 N. W. 309.

2 Citizens' National Bank v. Williams, 174 Pa. St. 66, 35 L. R. A. 464, 34 Atl. 304.

3 Farmers' & Merchants' National Bank v. Novich, 80 Tex. 381, 34 S. W. 914.