In actions brought by a corporation or by any persons as copartners, or by the endorsees of any such corporation or copartners, upon any written instrument for the payment of money only, executed by the defendant to such corporation by its corporate name, or to such copartners by their firm name, the production in evidence of the instrument upon which the action is brought shall be prima facie evidence of the existence of such corporation, or that the persons named as payees in such instrument are, and at the time of its execution were, such copartners.