66
78 FEDERAL REPORTER.
deposit of the bonds to be protected is surely most reMonable. If notice of the fullest kind possible is given to all bondholders, and all are invited to come into the association upon the same terms, and the privilege is not withdrawn until there is a really valid reaSDn for doing so, there can be no just complaint by those whose inaction has left them outside that they do not share in the benefits of those who are inside the association, and have taken the risks of its succes,s or failure. Wetmore v. Railroad Co., 1 McCrary, 466-473, 3 Fed. 177. It is urged that the attorney of the committee who attended the sale acted in such manner as to chill competition and drive off bidders, so as to get the road at the minimum bid. Of this there is no proof. During the evening of the day before the sale, in conversation with those who were interested in the foreclosure, the attorney of the committee stated that he was prepared to bid up to a sum sufficient to pay the first consolidated mortgage bonds in full. This was a fact, and he was under no obligation to conceal it. On the contrary, as it was a fact, and not a mere pretense, the disclosure of it enabled all parties to know what they might expect, and prepare themselves. The validity of the sale is not before us. The only question before us is whether the associated bondholders, or their committee, have S() acted towards this petitioner as to give him the equity he is attempting to assert against them. 'rhe other point urged in behalf of the petitioner is that he is entitled to set up his surrendered bonds of the mortgage of 1868. The mortgage of 1868 was made to secure an issue of bonds amounting to £620,000 sterling, all of which, exoept bonds to the value of about $145,000, had been surrendered and canceled, and the first consolidated mortgage bonds issued in lieu thereof. These exchanges were made in good faith, and it is difficult to see upon wha:t ground the court below could have been asked to set aside the transaction. Bv the fifteenth clause of the foreclosure decree passed November 23, 1892, it was adjudged that the fund arising from the sale should be applied to the payment of costs and the two prior mortgages in full, and the balance to the payment of the first consolidated mortgage bonds in full, if sufficient, and if not, then pro rata. The petitioner, with all the other first consQlidated bondholders, is entitled to that distribution, and he failed to show grounds upon which the circuit court could have granted him more. 'rhe decree is affirmed. YORKSHIRE !NV. & AMERICAN MORTG.
co.,
Limited, v. FOWLER et al. January 22, 1897.)
(Circuit Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
PRINCIPAL AND AGENT-FIDUCIARY RELATION-MORTGAGE INVESTMENT AXD GUARANTY CO:"TllACT-INSOl,VENCY.
The J. Co., which was engaged in the United States in the business of loaning money on real·estate mortgages, and selling such mortgages, and the Y. Co., which was engaged in England in the business of investing money in such mortgages, and selling its debentures, entered into a contract by which it was agreed that the J. Co. should guaranty the payment of a certain rate of interest on all mortgages sold to the Y. Co., and also on the cash balances of
YORKSHIRE IKV. & AMERICAN MORTG. CO. V. FOWLER.
57
the Y. Co. in the bands of the J. Co., and on all sums advanced by the Y. 00, for the purchase of mortgages, as soon as received by the J. Co. The J. Co. also guarantied the payment of the principal of the mortgages sold to the Y. Co., within two years after maturity. J. Co. was to have the right to substitute new securities, from time to time, for those sold to the Y. Co., and the Y. Co. might refuse any mortgage not deemed good. The J. Co. reserved the right to terminate the contract on 60 days' notice. Under this contract'the Y. Co. remitted funds from time to time to the J. Co., and sent to it the maturing mortgages; being credited with such funds and with the face of the mortgages, and interest being paid on its balances, which were sometimes large. The J. Co. forwarded mortgages to the Y. Co. at its convenience,-BometimeB when not in fnnds from the Y. Co. The mortgages were all made to the J. Co., and assigned to the Y. Co. J. Co. kept no separate investment account for the Y. Co., but mingled the funds received from it with its other funds. The Y. Co. never inquired about the specific investment of its funds, nor about the payment of the mortgages, and did not attempt to instruct or control the J. Co. in respect to the investments. Hela, that the relation hetween the two companies was not fiduciary, but merely that of debtor and creditor, and the Y. Co. was not entitled, upon the insolvency of the J. Co., to a preference in payment of the balance due it, as a trust fund in the hands of the J. Co. for investment as the agent of the Y. Co. Bnwn, District Judge, considered the .Y. Co. entitled to the returned mortgages remaining on hand and in statu quo at the time of the receivership, and to the proceeds thereof collected by the receivers.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. George S. Coleman, John C. F. Gardner, and Harrie M. Humphreys, for appellant. Arthur H. Masten and Edward Van Ingen, for appellees. Before WALLACE and SHIPMAN, Circuit Judges, and BROWN, District Judge. WALLACE, Circuit Judge. On the 28th day of September, 1893, an action was commenced in the circuit court of the United States for the Southern district of New York by Benjamin N. Fowler and others against the Jarvis-Conklin Mortgage Trust Company, for the administration of the estate of the insolvent defendant, and for the appointment of receivers of its property and assets; and upon that day receivers were appointed, who took possession of the property and assets, and proceeded to execute their trust. Subsequently the Yorkshire Investment & American Mortgage Company filed a proof of claim against the insolvent company for the sum of $155,947.48, insisting that, to the extent of that claim, they were entitled to a preference over the other creditors of the in· solvent company, upon the theory of an equitable lien. The receivers filed their objections to the claim, admitting that the insolvent corporation was indebted in the sum stated, but denying that the claim was entitled to any preference over the claims of the general creditors. The issue thus raised was referred by the court to a special master. The master reported against the claim, and the exceptions to his report filed by the claimant were overruled by the court. The report of the master contains a careful sum· mary of the facts in the case, and a very satisfactory presentation of the legal principles involved, and was adopted by the circuit
58
"'Vitnesseth, that first party and its predecessors, Jarvis-Conklin & have prior hereto sold to second party coupon bonds secured by mortgages and deeds of trust which are first liens upon real estate lying in the said state of Kansas and other states, and said parties are desirous that first party shall continue to sell and assign, and second party to purchase, such bonds, mortgages, and deeds of trust: "Now, therefore, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, as well as for other good and valuable consideration, the said parties agree all follows: "First party guaranties to second party the payment of principal and interest upon all bonds, mortgages, and deeds of trust, as well upon all such as are now owned by second party and sold to it in the past, as hereinbefore set forth, as upon all such as shall be in the future, and during the continuance of this contraCT, sold by the first party to second party. "The interest which the first party guaranties is at the rate of six and twothirds per cent. per annum, payable semiannually on the first days of January and .July in each year, notwithstanding the rate of interest provided to be paid by the bonds, mortgages, or deeds of trust may be at a different rate. "]'irst party guaranties the payment to second party of interest at the rate of six and two-thirds per cent. per annum upon all cash balances in favor of second party in the hands of first party at the date of this contract (.January I, 1888); and the payments of interest which second party shall receive ou bonds,
court without any further opinion. From the order overruling those exceptions, and adjudging that the claimant was not entitled to the preference, the claimant has appealed. This order is, in effect. a final decree upon matters distinct from the general subject of litigation involved in the original action, and may therefore be reviewed, although the original action may not have proceeded to a final decree. Trustees v. Greenough, 105 U. S. 527; Central Trust Co. v. Grant Locomotive Works, 135 U. S. 224, 10 Sup. Ct. 736. The theory of the lien claimed by the investment company is tha t the sum of $155,947.48 consisted of moneys belonging to it which were a trust fund in the hands of the insolvent corporation, being the proceeds of securities intrusted to that corporation for collection, and moneys which had been placed in its hands to inYest in securities a,s an agent. A careful study of the evidence in the record has satisfied us that whatever may have been the character of the relations between the parties prior to the 1st day of January, 1888, after that time they were not fiduciary, and, as to the moneys in the hands of the Jarvis-Conklin Company, they were those of ordinary debtor and creditor. Prior to that time the two corporations had dealing together in bonds and mortgages. The Jarvis-Conklin Company was engaged in the business of loaning money upon bond and mortgage on lands in the western portion of the United States, and selling the bonds and mortgages to purchasers; and the Yorksbire Company had been investing its money in the purchase of these bonds and mortgages, and selling its own debentures. The busi· ness between the two corporations had assumed large proportions. January 1, 1888, the two oorporations entered into a written contract, wherein the Jarvis-Conklin Company was named as the party of the first part, and the Yorkshire Oompany as the party of the second part, which was as follows: "'l'his agreement * * * * * * * * * * *
YORKSHIRE
mv.
&: AMERICAN MORTG. CO. V. FOWLER.
59
mortgages, and deeds of trust sold them as hereinbefore provided shall be so paid that second party shall receive interest at the rate of six and two-thirds pel cent. per annum upon all snms of money advanced for the purchase of such bonds, mortgages, and deeds of trust, fl'Olll the date that such money is received by first party at the office of London and Westminster Bank, Limited, Lothbury, E. C" London, England. "The guaranty herein made by first party as to the principal sum of said bonds, mortgages, and deeds of trust is that the same shall be paid within two years from the maturity thereof; and second party waives all demand, notice, and protest. "This guaranty shall not extend to any remittances made after the expiration of sixty days from the mailing by first party to second party, postage prepaid, at its address, 48 Market street, Bradford, England, a written notice that first party will 110t receive any further moneys on the above terms. "First party shall have the privilege at any time of substituting other securities in place of those owned by second party, or renewing any loan owned by second party, provided second party shall be satisfied such SUbstituted securities or renewals are of eqnal value with those for which they are exchanged. "Second party shall at all times have the privilege of refusing any mortgages or deeds of trust which are, in its judgment, not sufficient or suitable security. "This agreement shall be in force and effect from the date hereof to December 81, 1889; but the termination of this contract at that date shall not be so construed as to invalidate the guaranty herein made for payment of principal llnd interest maturing after December 31, 1889."
Before the expiration of the year during which this contract waf; to continue, it was extended, with some slight modifications, for an indefinite period. Such extension agreement, so far as is material, was as follows: "It is therefore further agreed between the Jarvis-Conklin Mortgage Trust Company of Missouri, of the first part, 'and the Yorkshire Investment and American Mortgage Company, Limited, of the second part, that said contract shall be CODtinued in full force and effect, as to all its provisions, from the date hereof until such time as it shall be terminated by agreement, except that, on all money advanced after this date by second party under said contract, first party shall pay and guaranty a different rate of interest from that named in said contract, as follows: "On the first £100,000 at the rate of six and two-thirds per cent., on the second £100,000 at the rate of six and one-thiI-d per cent., and on ull further sums at the rate of six per cent., per annum."
Xo notice of ternlinatiQn was ever given, and these contracts were in force when receivers of the Jarvis-Conklin Company were appointed, on September 28, 1893. No other contracts, written or oral, were ever made between the two companies. Under these contracts the course of business pursued by the parties was as follows: The Yorkshire Company, from time to time, as it saw fit, would remit funds to the Jarvis-Conklin Company, without inquiry as to whether the latter had mortgages on hand for sale; and, as mortgages which it had bought were about to mature, it would send them to the Jarvis-Conklin Company. The advances, and the face of the maturing mortgages, would be at once credited, in the aceount between the parties, to the Yorkshire Company. The Jarvis-Conklin Company would, from time to time, send mortgages to the Yorkshire Company. These mortgages were all executed by the makers to the Jarvis-Conklin Company, and were accompanied by assignments from that company to the Yorkshire Company, and the great majority of them ranged in amount from $300 to $800.
60
Sometimes they were sent when the Jarvis-Conklin Company was not in funds from the Yorkshire Company, and in anticipation of receiving funds. Sometimes they were sent to fill o1.'ders for a specified amount from the Yorkshire Oompany. Sometimes, instead of new mortgages, the Jarvis-Oonklin Oompany sent extensions of the time of payment of matured or maturing mortgages,-always without any consultation with the Yorkshire Oompany. As the securities were forwarded, the Jarvis-Oonklin Oompany was credited in the account with their amount. The interest account between the two cO'l'porations was always adjusted so that the Yorkshire Company received the contract rate upon its balance of account. The Jarvis-Oonklin Oompany kept no separate investment account of the funds received from the Yorkshire Oompany, but mingled the funds with its general funds, and used them indiscriminately. 1\0 inquiry was ever made by the Yorkshire Oompany whether the matured mortgages were paid or not. At times there \vould be a large balance to the credit of the Yorkshire Company remaining for long periods. In 1891 there was a balance for several months of about $250,000. In the summer of 1893 there was a balance of about $450,000. On only two occasions were moneys sent by the Jarvis>-Oonklin Oompany to the Yorkshire Company, and on these occasions, although there was a much larger balance to the credit of the Yorkshire Oompany, the remittances were treated as made for the accommodation of the latter. Throughout the correspondence that took place during this period of five years, there were no instructions from the Yorkshire Oompany to the J arvisConklin Oompany, or consultations, about specific investments, or anything indicating that the Yorkshire Oomptwy expected the Jar· vis-Conklin Oompany to discharge any of the ordinary duties of an agent for investing its funds. There is not a scintilla of evidence in the record to indicate any understanding that the JarvisConklin Company should use the moneys of the Yorkshire Company for investment in securities specifically intended for that company. l'he .larvis-Conklin Company received no slillary or commissions, and had no power of attorney, or written or oral authorization defining its duties or regulating its conduct towards the Yorkshire Company in any way. These facts are wholly inconsistent with the theory that the Jarvis-Conklin Company was an agent for the Yorkshire Company. In a general sense, it was investing the funds of the Yorkshire Company. In doing this, however, it undertook no duty of fidelity towards the Yorkshire Oompany. 'l'he risks and the profits were its own. The contract implied that the Jarvis-Conklin Company would receive all the moneys the Yorkshire Company might advance, whatever their amount might be, and pay interest upon them, and its only protection from being overburdened was that afforded by the 60-days clause. The course of dealing between the two corporations, as well as the contract, contemplated that the Yorkshire Company should accept all mortgages the .larvis-Conklin Company should see fit to send, to the extent of the moneys advanced by the Yorkshire Company, provided only they were good securities.
YORKSHIRE INV. & AMERICAN MORTG. CO. V. FOWLER.
61
The Jarvis-Conklin Company did not undertake to procure mOl't· gages for the Yorkshire Company in any particular time, but the contract implied that it would do so within a reasonable time; and it was obviously desirable for it to do so speedily, and thereby save the running of interest. The case is one where an intending purchaser of securities advances money to the intending seller, not expecting to receive any particular securities, but to obtain such of a satisfactory character as the seller, from time to time, may elect to provide. Can it be doubted that the title to the money vests in the vendor as soon as a.s he receives it, or that his only obligation to the vendee is to provide the securities within a reasonable time? It is absurd to suppose that the Yorkshire Company did not understand that the Ja.rvis-Conklin Oompany was using the fund for its own benefit, or that it believed that the Jarvis-Conklin Company was allowing the large balances in its hands to lie idle for the long periods of time upon which it was paying interest upon them. The long-continued practice between the two companies, when matured mortgages were sent by the Yorkshire Company to the .Jarvis-Conklin COillipiany, of treating them as cash items in the account, and covering the amount with new mortgages, imports an nnderstanding tha.t they were to be regarded as sent for the purpose of being exchanged for new ones, and as representing money advanced. It was a matter of indifference to the Yorkshire Company whether they were collected or not. The Jarvis-Conklin Company was under no obligation to charge itself with the principal of these mortgages until the expiration of two years after their maturity, but when it did so, and when its action wa.s assented to by the Yorkshire Company, it could not retract. The legal effect was to invest the Jarvis-Conklin Company with the title to the securities, and create the rela.tion of debtor and creditor between the two corporations for their amount. We conclude that, as to the entire account between the two corporations, their relation was merely that of ordinary debtor and creditor. It follows that the decree of the court below was right, and it is therefore affirmed, with costs. BROWN, District Judge. I concur in the decision of this cause, as regards the item of $24,385.88, a part of the amount elaimed. These moneys were collected by the receivers of the J arvisConklin Company after their appointment on September 28, 1893, from certain matured mortgages which had been previously forwarded by the Yorkshire Company to the Jarvis-Oonklin Company for collection and payment. These returned mortgages remained in statu quo at the time the receivers were appointed. They had not been collpcted by the Jarvis-Conklin Company, nor had that company either paid any part of them to the Yorkshire Company, or forwarded any other mortgages in place of them. Payment of the mortgages was guarantied by the Jarvis-Conklin Oompany. I do not perceive
62
in the case sufficient to extinguish that guaranty, or to take away the title of the Yorkshire Company. to such of their returned and guarantied mortgages as remained in statu quo at the time the receivers were appointed. In a mortgage account kept by the Jar· vis-Conklin Company these mortgages were credited to the York· shire Company at their face amounts as soon as received; and other mortgages when sent to the Yorkshire Company were debited. This, in my judgment, was not equivalent to turning the mortgages into cash, so as to bring those mortgage credits within the words "cash balances," in the other clause of the agreement, and thus to dis· charge the guaranty and take away the Yorkshire Company's title to the mortgages. The mortgage credit in the mortgage account, was, I think, merely an indispensable bookkeeping entry as to the status of the mortgage acoount, and of no significance as regards the guaranty, or the continued title of the Yorkshire Company, until the returned mortgages were either paid or collected by the JarvisConklin Company, or new mortgages substituted therefor.
DOE v. NORTHWESTERN COAL & TRANSPORTA'.rION CO. et aI. (Circuit Court, D. Oregon. December 21, 1896.) No. 2,156. 1. CORPORATIONS-POWEH OF DIRECTORS-SALARIES TO OFFICERS-PAST SERVICES.
The by-laws of the N. Co., as originally adopted, provided that the officers, including the president, should receive no compensation, and also provided for a general superintendent, who was to supervise the company's business generally and in detail, and was to be paid a salary. Subsequently, the by-laws were amended by reducing the number of directors, abolishing the office of general superintendent, and providing that the president should have general charge of the business of the company. The president acted under these by-laws for five years, though he paid no attention to the details of the business or its active operations, and during this time made no claim for compensation. At a meeting of the directors, at which only the president, his son, and his clerk were present, it was resolved to pay the president a salary for the future, and also for the five years during which he had already acted, and notes were issued to the president for such salary, for which new notes, secured by mortgage, were afterwards issued, upon the vote of a majority of the directors, made up of the president himself and a person to whom he had assigned most of the notes. Held, that the directors had no power to bind the corporation to pay for the president's services, and the notes, as between the president. and the corporation, were void. In the federal courts, one who takes negotiable paper, before maturity, as collateral security for an existing debt, is a holder of such paper for value. C[I{CUMSTAKOES-DUTY OF
2. BILLS AXD NOTES-Hor,DERs FOR VALUE.
3.
It is not the rule, in the federal courts, that one who takes negotiable paper, before maturity, with knowledge of facts which would put an ordinarily prudent man upon inquiry as to its validity, is chargeable with notice of all facts which such inquiry would disclose; but, unless he has willfully closed his eyes to facts which would show defects in the paper, he is entitled to be regarded as a bona fide purchaser. The president of the N. Co., while in control of the corporation, sold large quantities of the coal produced by that company to a firm in which he either wa! a member, or was very closely interested, through his sons, who managed MAXAOEMENT.
,. CORPORATIOXS-LIABILITY OF