BROOKS-WATERFIEJ.D CO. V. BROOKOVER.
699
as the plea of a former adjudication has been strenuously urged in this court, and as the title to a large body of land is affected by the litigation, we have deemed it advisable to consider the merits of the additional defense which has in this case been interposed. For both of the reasons heretofore indicated, the action of the circuit court in dismissing the bill is approved, and its decree is therefore affirmed. BROOKS---\YA'rEHFIELD co. v. BROOKOVER et al.
(Circuit Court, S. D. Ohio, W. D. May 12, 1893.) No. 4,337.
1.
CREDITOUS' BILL-COl,LATERAL TO SECURE ADVANCES-PRIORITIES.
Defendants deposited a note with a commission merchant as collateral security for advances to be used in the purchase of tobacco to be consigned to him for sale, and advances were made pursuant to the agreement. Thereafter, and while the agreement was in force, a creditors' bill was brought against defendants, and the commission merchant was served with process, in order to subject the note as assets in his hands. Held, that as to advances made in good faith before the suit was brought, he was entitled to hold the note as collateral for their repayment, whether they were used for the purchase of tobacco or not. As to advances made after he was served with however, the pendency of the suit amounted to an equitable attachment of the note in his hands, and he was entitled to hold it as collateral for the repayment of only so much of such advances as was actually used by defendants in the purchase of tobacco to be consigned to him. The net proceeds of sales of tobacco so consigned should be applied to the payment of advances made before the merchant was served with process, and of so much of the advances made thereafter as was act1lillly used in tlle purchase of tobacco; and he could not appropriate such proceeds wholly to the payment 0·£ such subsequent advances, and so rehnburse himself therefor, without regard to whether they were used by defendant according to the agreement or not.
2.
SAME-ADVANCES PENDING SUIT.
3.
SAME-ApPLICATION OF PROFITS.
In Equity. Creditors' bill, brought by the Brooks-Waterfield Company against Robert C. Brookover and others. On exceptions to master's report. Exceptions sustained. Ramsey, Maxwell & Ramsey, for complainant. Avery & Avery and Joseph W. O'Hara, for defendants. SAGE, District Judge. There are 24 exceptions. It is not neces:sary to consider them in detail. Among the assets of the defend:ants Brookover & Co., which the bill seeks to apply to the payment of the complainant's judgment, is a promissory note for $2,219.60, pledged as collateral to H. H. Hoffman, a leaf tobacco merchant of Cincinnati, to secure future advances for the purchase of tobacco by defendants, to be consigned by them to him for sale. Hoffman was made a party defendant, and served with process May 6, 1890. He filed his answer July 7, 1890. By its terms, the agreement between Brookover & Co. and Hoffman, which was made January 18, 1890, was to continue until the close of the tobacco .season of that year; that is to say, until the following December
700 ai' January.
FEDERAL REPOR'rER,
vol. 55.
Prior to the service of process upon him, h:ad advanced to Brookover & Co. $7,329, and had on hand in tobacco, at the purchase price, and in cash, proceeds of sale of tobacco, $4,186.21; and Brookover & Co. had on hand of the advances, or had expended for purposes other than the purchase of tobacco, $3,133.58. Hoffman advanced, after 'May 6, 1890, an additional sum, including interest and expenses, of $2,955. Brookover & Co.'s total purchases of tobacco prior to M.ay G, 1890, were $4,186.42; after that date, $1,913.22; and the expenses incidental to the business were $642.78; making a total of $6,742.-12. The total amount of sales made by them and by Hoffman, and, since tlw institution of this suit, by the receiver herein, is $8,135. This sl.alement, taken from the master's report, shows a profit on the purchases and sales of tobacco during the year of $1,392.58. As to the advances made by Hoffman for the purchase of tobacco before he was served with process, he is entitled to hold the note as eollateral for their repayment, whether they were actually rlsed for that purpose or not. As to advances made after the serviee of process, he can hold the collateral only for such as were actually used for the purchase of tobacco. With reference to prior advanees, it is only necessary to show that they were made in good faith, because Brookover & Co. were bound by their receipt of the money, and could not release the collateral by proving their misuse of it; and the complainant is subject to all equities existing betweeen tll(> parties at the date of bringing their suit. With reference to subsequent advances, the pendency of the suit amounted to an equitable attachment of the collateral in Hoffman's hands, and limirp(l his claim to the terms of his agreement; and therefore he could rely upon the collateral only to the extent to which those advanees were actually .applied to the purehase of tobaceo. It is claimed, however, on behalf of Hoffman, that the profits on the purchases of tobacco are sufficient to reimburse the advances made by him -after M,ay 6, 1890, and not used by Brookover & Co. for the purchase of tobacco, and that they should be so applied. This claim is not well founded. After Hoffman was served with process, he still had the right to make advances according to the terms of the contmct; but he was bound to see to their application. As to the advances not applied to the purchase of tobacco, he can have no recourse on the collateral, and must be remitted to his right as a general creditor. The proper application of the net proceeds of the sales of tobacco is to pay the advances made before May 6, 1890, and such of the advances made thereafter as were llsed for the purchase of tobacco. Interest will be allowed on the advances, and incidental of the purchases of tobfwro will be reckoned as part of the cost. If counsel eannot agree upon the amounts, there will be a recommittal to the master to state them. All findings of the special master inconsistent with this <minion are set aside; also the finding that the partnership Of Brookover & Co. was limited. Whatever may have bpen the interests of the partners inter sese, they were, as to the public, and as to those with whom they dealt, general partners.
BALTIMORE & O. RY.
co. v.
PITTSBURGH, C. & ST. L. RY. CO.
701
BALTIMORE & O. RY. CO. v. PIT'l'SBURGH, C. & ST. L. RY. CO. (Circuit Court, S. D. Ohio, E. D. May 10, 1893.) No. 259.
RES JUDICATA-EsTOPPEL-CONTRACT.
The P. Co. brought its bill in equity against the B. Co., praying an account of profits arising from their joint ownership and operation of a section of railway under a contract executed by their predecessors in ownership. A decree was entered in favor of the P. Co. for profits arising from the passenger traffic under the contract, but the suit was dismissed, without prejudice, as to all questions relating to profits from local freights. Afterwards the B. Co. brought its bill for an accounting by the P. Co. for local freights. Held, that the P. Co., having obtained the benefit of the contract in its suit against the B. Co., was estopped to deny the validity of such contract in the second suit, and that the dismissal of the former suit, in respect to the freights, without prejudice, did not affect the estoppel. A contract relating to local freight business "from and to N. and C., with stations 011 the line of said road between those points," does not inelude the carriage of freights from one intermediate station to another such station.
CONTRAC'1'-COKST1WCTION.
In Equity. Bill by the Baltimore & Ohio Railway Company against the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railway Company for an accounting, under a contract, as to certain freight businf'ss carried on over a piece of railroad owned by them jointly. Heard on respondent's exceptions to the special master's supplemental report. Exceptions sustained in part, and overruled in part. ,J. H. Collins, for complainant. Harrison, Olds & Henderson, for respondent. SAGE, District Judge. The first 10 exceptions go to the whole case. 'rhey amount to an application for a rehearing, and present the questions whether the agreement mentioned in the bill, upon the validity of which the complainant's right to an accounting necessarily depends, ever had any binding force or effect; and whether, if it was or would have been otherwise valid, it was, in respect to the subject-matter for which an accounting is sought, ultra vires, illegal, and void; and, finally, the order for an accounting, and the findings of the court therein embodied, are erroneous, and should not have been made. The complainant and respondent are joint owners of the railway between Columbus and Newark, Ohio,-the complainant, as lessee of one undivided one-half of the same; and the respondent, as the owner of the other undivided one-half. The agreement referred to in the exceptions was made by and between the Central Ohio Railroad Company and the Steubenville & Indiana Railroad Company. By its terms, the railroad between Columbus and l\eWfll'k was to be known as the Columbus & Newark Division of both said roads, and to be under their joint control. It was provided in the thirteenth and fifteenth paragraphs of the contract that the local freight business should be done by the Central Ohio Railroad