86
81 FEDERAL REPORTER. OONTINENTAL NAT. BANK T. HEILMAN et aL (Oircuit Oourt, D. Indiana. June 5, 1897.)
t.
PRINCIPAL .AND AGENT-NOTE SIGNED BY AGE",,'l'S INDIVIDUALLY.
M. and H., who were the agents of the subscribers to a syndicate formed to buy the securities of two railroads, executed to the O. Bank,_ through which the financial operations of the syndicate were carried on, a note for $100,000, which was headed "M.-H. Syndicate," and read: "On demand the undersigned promise to pay 01< · . , having deposited with said bank as collateral security for this or any other liability of - - to the said bank * * * syndicate securities and agreement,"-signed by M. and H. in their own names. The loan was entered in the discount book of the bank as made to the M.-H. Syndicate. A guaranty taken by the bank described the note as the note of the M.-H. Syndicate, and demands for interest from time to time were addressed by the bank to the M.-H. Syndicate. Held, that the note was the obligation of the syndicate, and not the individual debt of M. and H.
2. EVIDEN0E-WAIVER OF OBJECTIONS-COURT RULES.
Hule 34 of the circuit court for the district of Indiana, requiring the filing of briefs on all motions, demurrers, and exceptions, in default of which they are waived, q,oes not apply to objections made on the trial to the competency of evidence contained in a deposition. HEIRs-AGENT OF DECEDENT-
S.
COMPETENCY OF WITNESSES-SUIT AGAINST FEDERAl, COURTS.
Rev. St. § 858, does not provide for the case covered by the Indiana statute (Rev. St. 1894, § 508; Rev. St. 1881, § 500) excluding, as. against the heirs or representatives of a decedent, the testimony of one who has acted as an agent in making or continuing a contract with such decedent, and such statute is the rule of decision as to the competency of such testimony in the federal courts. ACTIONS.
4. FEDERAL COURTs-JURISDICTION-SUIT TO CHARaB HEIRS-LIMITATION OF
The federal courts have original and inherent jurisdiction, apart from any state statutes, to take cognizance of a suit by a creditor to charge heirs, devisees, and legatees, to the extent of the assets taken by descent or devise, with ancestral debts, and they are not restricted therein by state statutes Ilmiting the time for bringing such suits, but the right to maintain such a suit may be lost by laches, and a fallure to proceed within the time limited by a state statute may be evidence of laches. 6. LACHES-FAILURE TO PRESENT CLAIMS AGAINST DECEDENT'S ESTATE-DE-
When one who claims to be a creditor of a deceased person neglects for over three years to present his claim, of which the representatives of the decedent are ignorant, and in that time collateral securities held for the claim depreciate from more than its amount to much less, such creditor is gullty of laches which bars him from proceeding in equity against the heirs and devisees of the decedent.
PRECIATION OF COI,LATERAL.
CONTINENTAL NAT. BANK V. HEILMAN.
87
Mackey-Hellman Syndicate. $100,000. New York, April 10, 1889. On demand the undersigned promise to pay to the Continental National Bank of New York or order, at their banking house, one hundred thousand dollars, for vaille received, with Interest at the rate of - - per cent. per annum, having deposited with said bank, as collateral security for this or any other ltablllty of - - to the said bank, the property stated below, with authority to sell the same, or any securities added thereto or substituted for the same, at any broker's board, or at public or private sale, at the option of said bank, on the nonperformance of this promise, and without notice; the proceeds. after deducting expenses, to be applied to the payment of - - Indebtedness to the said bank, any surplus to be returned to - - , and holding - - llable for any deficiency. Market value this day. Syndicate securities and agreement. [Signed] D. J. Mackey. Wllliam Hellman. $2,094,000 Lou. Ev. & St. L. 2nd Mtg. bonds. 9455 shs. do. do. Pfd. 9017"" " Comm. 1400 .. Ill. & St. L. R. & Coal Co. Pfd. stock.
This note grew out of a transaction of the so-called "Mackey·Heil. man Syndicate." This syndicate was formed by a subscription paper, which is set out in the evidence. Its objects were to buy the securities of the Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis Railroad Company and those of the Illinois & St. Louis Railroad & Coal Company, to consolidate the two companies, and to issue the bonds and stock of the consolidated company to the subscribers to the syndicate in proportion to the amount of their several subscriptions. The agreement provided that the securities should be purchased at the prices fixed therein. Heilman and Mackey were made, for that purpose, the agents of the subscribers to the syndicate agreement. The subsCJ!iptions were to be paid to the Continental National Bank as those agents called for them. The resulting securities were to be divided among the subscribers in proportion to the amounts of their submade the agent of scriptions. The Continental National Bank the syndicate to receive the subscriptions, to receive the securities purchased, to cause them to be converted into securities of the consolidated company, and to make distribution of the new securities among the subscribers. In all these matters, and in all matters reo lating to the note in suit, Mr. Randolph, the president of the bank, acted for it as its agent with full authority. The syndicate agreement was dated February 11, 1889. On February 15, 1889, the com· plainant lent to the syndicate $50,000 on a note similar in all respects to the one in suit. Both Dotes were guarantied by Mr. Bald· win by a separate instrument in writing. The bank took its pay for the $50,000 note out of the syndicate moneys, making no demand for payment upon Heilman or Mackey. On February 25, 1889, the draft of Heilman and Mackey for $112,000, with stock of the Illinois & St. Louis Railroad & Coal Company attached (which stock had been bought by them for the syndicate), was paid by the bank out of syndicate funds. Subscriptions were made from time to time, and on April 8, 1889, Heilman and Mackey were in Boston securing further subscriptions. At this time they borrowed $100,000 from the Bank of North America. They had previously headed the subscriptions with $100,000 each. Upon borrowing the $100,000 from the
38
81 FEDERAL REPORTER.
Bank of ,North America, they jointly subscribed an additional $100,000. They then applied to the complainant for more money, and it sent them. $100,000 to be used in purchasing the securities for the syndicate. Two days later Heilman and Mackey returned to New York, and the note in suit was then signed by them. The loan of the $100,000, as shown by the discount book of the bank, was made to the Mackey-Heilman' Syndicate. The application for the loan is shown by the offering book of the bank to have been made by the Mackey-Heilman Syndicate. At the time the bank took the guaranty of Mr. Baldwin for the payment of the loan he was one of the directors of the complainant, and one of the subscribers to the syndicate agreement. The guaranty described the note as that of the Mackey-Heilman Syndicate, and Mackey and Heilman were not mentioned as makers of the note. The bank afterwards sent demands for interest to Mr. Baldwin, which were in every instance addressed to the Mackey-Heilman Syndicate. In no book entry or paper produced in evidence was this note described by the complainant as the note of Mackey and Heilman, but always as the note of the MackeyHeilman Syndicate. In every other case to be found in the offering book of the bank the name of the actual borrower is put down. This loan was made to the Mackey-Heilman Syndicate upon the pledge of the securities purchased by the syndtcate. In my opinion, the evidence shows that the loan was made to the Mackey-Heilman Syndicate for syndicate purposes, and it was not understood to be, nor was it in fact, the individual loan or debt of Heilman and Mackey. They signed the note as agents of the syndicate. It was not understood at the time that they wpre to be lia· ble upon the note as for their own personal debt. The complainant has made no effort to collect the note from the syndicate, nor from Mr. Baldwin, the guarantor. Until legal recourse is exhausted, no suit in equity is maintainable against the heirs of a deceased maker of the note. Even though the note may have created a personal liability against Mackey and Heilman alone, and not a liability against the members of the syndicate, the court is of opinion that the subsequent conduct of the complainant shows that it became a subscriber to the syndicate for the amount of this loan. It made the distribution, designating itself as a subscriber to the syndicate to the amount of $100,000. It set apart to itself the share of securities to which it was entitled as such subscriber. It sent a copy of the distribution sheet, showing what it had done, accompanied by a letter written by Mr. Randolph to Mr. Heilman, asking him to advise the bank if what it had done was not satisfactory to him. Mr. Heilman answered, but the complainant professes its inability to produce his letter. However, it is not claimed that Mr. Heilman expressed any dissent. The written evidence, and the conduct of the parties prior to Mr. Heilman's death, are in harmony with this view, and in conflict with any other. After Mr. Heilman's death, there were some acts on the part of the bank inconsistent with the view that it became a subscriber to the syndicate. No notice of such purpose was communicated to the executrix of the Heilman estate, nor to any one interested therein, until after the estate had been finally set-
39
tIed by the decree of the circuit court of Vanderburg county, Ind. Mr. Heilman died testate in that county September 22, 1890. His will was probated September 27,1890, and letters testamentary thereon were issued to his widow, Mary Jenner Heilman. Notice of such appointment was immediately given in the manner provided by law. The estate was finally settled, and the executrix discharged on December 16, 1893. At no time pending the settlement of the estate did the executrix, or anyone of the defendants, have notice or knowledge of the existence of the note in suit, or of the alleged collateral securities. The conduct of the complainant in respect to the note and securities is inconsistent with its present contention, and the conduct of Mr. Heilman is explainable only on the theory that he regarded his liability on the note as extinguished, and that he had no claim upon the securities which had been taken by the bank upon their distri· bution. After Mr. Heilman's death, the complainant dealt with these securities by exchanging a part of them for other securities as though it was the absolute owner of them. The excuse offered is that it un· derstood that Mr. Baldwin was the agent of ML Heilmau in respect of these securities, and that Mr. Baldwin assented to such exchange. The evidence of such agency is of doubtful and uncertain character; and, even if he was such agent, the death of Mr. Heilman terminated such agency. Knowing of his death, the complainant was bound to know and did know that Mr. Baldwin had no right to speak for a dead man. So, unless complainant was the absolute owner of these securities, its conduct in making such exchange was wrongful and fraudulent. The court prefers to explain the conduct of the complainant on the theory that it had become the owner of the securities, and thus rightfully exchanged a part of them, rather than to impute fraudulent and wrongful conduct to it. The failure to collect the note is sought to be explained by the testimony of Mr. Randolph to the effect that after the making of the note and the distribution of the securities Mr. Heilman told the witness that he wanted to let the note run because the securities would at any time be worth more than enough to pay it off. The counsel for the defendants at the hearing moved to suppress so much of the deposition of Mr. Randolph as detailed the statements of the decedent to him in relation to the note and securities on the ground that the witness was in such interviews acting as the agent of complainant in making and continuing the contract. Counsel for complainant insist that the objection so taken is waived under rule 34 of this court. This rule is as follows: "Ordered, that all motions, demurrers, and exceptions hereafter filed must be supported by written or printed briefs, to be filed in duplicate with such motion, demurrer, or exception. Failure to file such briefs shall be deemed a waiver."
This rule was not intended to apply, nor has it ever been construed by the court as applying, to objections made, on the trial or hearing, to the competency of evidence contained in a deposition. Where the objection seeks the suppression of the deposition for some curable defect, a motion to suppress is required to be made seasonably before the trial or hearing. But when the objection goes solely to the
40
competency of particular parts of the deposition, and when the objection of incompetency cannot be avoided by retaking the deposition, it has been the constant and uniform practice of the court to consider and decide upon such objections during the progress of the trial. Counsel further insist that Mr. Randolph is not a party, under section 858, Rev. St. U. S., and is not excluded by the proviso; citing Potter v. Bank, 102 U. S. 163; Bank v. Jacobus, 109 U. S. 275, 3 Sup. Ct. 219; and Sn.vder v. Fiedler, 139 U. S. 478, 11 Sup. Ct. 583. The statute is as follows: "In the courts of the United States no witness shall be excluded in any action on account of color, or in any civil action because he is a party to or interested in the issue tried: provided, that in actions by or against executors, administrators or guardians, in which judgment may be rendered for or against them, neither party shall be allowed to testify against the other, as to any transaction with, or statement by, the testator, intestate or ward, unless called to testify thereto by the opposite party, or required to testify thereto by the court. In all other respects the laws of the state in which the court is held shall be the rules of decision as to the competency of witnesses in the courts of the United States in trials at common law, and in equity and admiralty."
In Potter v. Bank, supra, it is held that in an action against an executor in his representative capacity a witness who was interested in the issue, but was not a party thereto, was competent, and his evidence admissible. In Bank v. Jacobus, supra, a creditor had obtained judgment against one Patterson. He levied on capital stock in a corporation claimed by Jacobus under an assignment from Patterson, and in th.e original suit summoned Jacobus, as garnishee of Patterson, to answer. Pending these proceedings, Patterson died, and his administrator was substituted as defendant. Jacobus and the administrator were offered as witnesses on Jacobus' behalf in regard to transactions at the time of the assignment. It was held that each was a competent witness on his own motion, notwithstanding the proviso to section 858.' The court said: "The real issue was between the bank and Jacobus, and consequently the case is withIn the first clause of .section 858, which provides that 'No witness shall be excluded * * * in any cIvil actIon because he Is a party to 01' Interested In the Issue tried.' WithIn the meaning and object of the prOViso, this is not an action by. or against an adminIstrator, in which judgment may be rendered for or against hIm."
In Snyder v. Fiedler, supra, the administratrix of her husband's estate commenced suit to recover a claim alleged to be due the estate. She resigned, and was discharged, and an administrator de bonis non was appointed and qualified, and appeared, and obtained leave to prosecute the suit as plaintiff therein. It was held that she was a competent witness for the plaintiff at the trial. These cases decide that no witness can be excluded because he is a party to or interested in the issue. The objection to the testimony of Mr. Randolph is not upon either of these grounds. The objection is that he was the agent of complainant in making and continuing the contract involved in suit. The last clause of section 858 makes the law of the state the rule of decision in all other respects
CONTINENTAL NAT. BANK V. HEIUUN.
41
than those provided for in the preceding part of the section. The statute of this state (Rev. St. 1894, § 508; Rev. St. 1881, § 500) provides that: "No person who shall have acted as an agent in the making or continuing of a contract with any person who may have died, shall be a competent witness in any suit involving such contract, as to matters occurring prior to the death of such decedent, on behalf of the principal to such contract against the legal representatives or heirs of such decedent, unless he shall be called by such heirs or legal representatives."
Section 858 does not provide for the case covered by the state statute. Neither section 858 nor the construction placed upon it by the cases cited supra afieClts the application of the state law to the question of the competency of the agent to testify for his principal. Mr. Randolph was confessedly the agent of the complainant both in making and continuing the contract in suit. The state law is made the rule of decision, and under that law his testimony as to matters occurring prior to Mr. Heilman's death is incompetent, and must be disregarded. On the competent evidence in the case the court is of opinion that the loan was made to the Mackey-Heilman Syndicate, and not to Mackey and the decedent, and that the complainant, after the exe· cution of the note, became a subscriber to the syndicate in the amount of the note, and accepted its pro rata share of the securities in satisfaction of the loan evidenced by the note. But, if the entire testi· mony of Mr. Randolph were held competent, the court could not reach any other conclusion. The written evidence, coupled with the conduct of the complainant, ought not to be explained away by the uncertain memory of witnesses who speak to matters which death prevents the decedent from contradicting or explaining. But there is another ground equally fatal to the complainant's right of recovery. Counsel for complainant bottom the bank's right of recovery upon the statute of this state concerning the liability of heirs, devisees, and le"gatees for ancestral debts. The statute (Rev. St. 1894, § 2465; Rev.St. 1881, § 2310) provides that no action shall be brought by· complaint and summons against an executor or administrator for the recovery of any claim against the decedent, but the holder thereof, whether such claim be due or not, shall file a succinct statement thereof in the office of the clerk of the court in the estate is pending; and, if such claim is filed after the expirathin of one year from the .giVing of notice by the executor or administrator of his appointment, it shall be prosecuted solely at the 'cost of the claimant, and, if not' filed at least thirty days before final settlement of the estate, it shall be barred, except as hereinafter pro,,"ided in cases of liabilities of heirs, devisees and legatees. The statute (Rev. St. 1894, §2597 iRev. St. 1881, § 2442) provides: "That the heirs. devisees anddistrlbutees of a decedent shall be liable to the extent of the property received by them from such decedent's estate, to any creditor whose claim remains unpaid, Who, six months prior to such final set· tlelIlent, was insane, an infa\1t, or out, of the state; but such suit must be brought within one after the disability is removed; prOVided, that suit upon. the claim of any creditor out of the state must be brought within two years after such final
42
81
FEDERAL R:EPORTER.
. :It is insisted that a new right of action is created by the state statute, tbat it is equitable in its nature,' and is enforceable in the national courts of equity to the full extent of the equitable rights thus created. The Ilational courts, upon their equity side, will not only give equitable relief according to the ancient and original jurisdiction of the high court of chancery of England, but will also enforce any new equitable right created by a state statute. The question for solution, then, is this: Has the statute of this state created a new right or liability of an equitable nature against heirs and devisees for ancestral debts unknown to the equity jurisprudence of the national courts? It is undoubtedly true that an action at common law will not lie against an heir or devisee for the recovery of any debt or liability of the ancestor, unless the ancestor has expressly bound himself and his heirs in an instrument under seal, and then only to the extent of assets by descent from the obligor. But the jurisdiction of a court of equity to entertain a bill on behalf of a creditor and all others who may choose to make themselves parties, to charge the heirs and devisees with the payment of the ancestor's debt to the extent of assets by descent, is undoubted. Adams, Eq. (3d Am. Ed.) 570; Story, Eq. PI. & Prac. §§ 99-102, 106; 2 Beach, Mod. Eq. JUl'. §§ 1039, 1040; 2 Woerner, Adm'n, §§ 575, 576; Stratford v. Ritson, 10 Beav. 25; Payson v. Hadduck, 8 Biss. 293, Fed. Cas. No. 10,862; Johnston v. R,oe, 1 Fed. 692; Chewett v. Moran, 17 Fed. 820; Riddle v. Mandeville, 5 Cranch, 322; Williams v. Gibbes, 17 How. 238, 254, 255; Public Works v., Columbia College, 17 Wall. 521; Borer v. Chapman, 119 U. S. 587,7 Sup. Ct. 342. In Williams v. Gibbes, supra, the supreme court say: "Now, the principle is well settled, in respect to these proceedings In chancery for the distribution of a common fund among the several parties interested, either on the application of the trustee of the fund, the executor or administrator, legatee, or next of kin, or on the application of any party in interest, that an absent party, who had no notice of the proceedings, and not guilty of willful laches or unreasonable neglect, will not be concluded by the decree of distribution from the assertion of his right by bill or petition against the trustee, executor, or administrator; or, in case they have distributed the fund in pursuance of an order of the court, against the distributees. David v. Frowd, 1 Mylne & K. 200; Greig v. Somerville, 1 Russ. & M. 338; Gillespie v. Alexander, 3 Russ. 130; Sawyer v. Birchmore, 1 Keen, 391; Shine v. Gough, 1 Ball & B. 436; Finley v.. Bank, 11 Wheat. 304; Story, Eq. PI. § 106; Wiswall v. Sampson, 14 How. 52, 67,"
The general principle governing courts of equity in proceedings of this description is more clearly stated by Sir ,John I,each, M. R, in David v. Frowd, supra, than in any other case that has come under my notice. The master of the rolls, in the course of his opinion, observed: "That if a creditor does not happen to discover the proceedings in the court until after the distribution has been actually made, by the order of the court, amongst the parties having, by the master's report, an apparent title, although the court will protect the administrator who has acted under the orders of the court, yet, upon a bill filed by this creditor against the parties to whom the property has been distributed, the court will, upon proof of no willful default on the part of such creditor, and no want of reasonable diligence on his part, compel the parties defendants to restore to the creditor that which of right be· longs to him."
4.3
In Public Works v. Columbia College, supra, the supreme court say: "The jurisdiction of a court of equity to reach the property of a debtor justly applicable to the payment of his debts, even when there is no specific lien on the property, is undoubted. It is a very anci.ent jurisdiction, but for its exercise the debt must be clear and undisputed, and there must exist some special circumstances requiring the interposition of the court to obtain possession of and apply the property. Unless the suit relate to the estate of a deceased person, the debt must be established by some judicial proceeding, and it must generally be shown that legal means for its collection have been exhausted. In all cases we believe property pledged or conveyed for the payment of the debt must be first applied. The rule requiring the existence of special circumstances bringing the case under some recognized head of equity jurisdiction should not only be insisted upon with rigor whenever the property sought to be reached constitutes, as here, assets of a deceased debtor which have already been subjected to administration and distribution; but some satisfactory excuse should be given for the failure of the creditor to present his claim, in the mode prescribed by law, to the representative of the estate before distribution."
In Borer v. Chapman, supra, Mr. Justice Matthews, speaking for the court, observes: "Such assets were impressed with a trust which such creditor had a right to have administered for his benefit. It is upon the ground of such a trust that the jurisdiction of courts of eqUity primarily rests in administration and in creditors' bills brought against administrators or executors, or, after distribution, against legatees, for the purpose of charging them with liability to apply the assets of the decedent to the payment of his debts. As a part of the ancient and original jurisdiction of the courts of equity, it is vested by the constitution of the United States, and the laws of congress in pursuance thereof, in the federal courts, to be administered by the circuit courts In controversies arising between citizens of the different states."
These authorities clearly show that this court is possessed of original and inherent jurisdiction to take cognizance of a suit by a creditor to charge heirs, devisees, and legatees, to the extent of as· sets taken by descent or devise, with ancestral debts. The state statute created no new right, and this court, in cases of this sort, will administer the law of its own forum as settled by the decisions of the supreme court. It was well said by judge, now Mr. Justice Brown, in Chewett v. Moran, supra: "The jurisdiction of the federal courts cannot be ousted or impaired by any provision of a state law requiring creditors to appear before a state court, and present their claims."
Hence this court was open to the complainant, while the estate was pending, to prosecute his claim here to final jUdgment, but when final judgment was obtained it would be satisfied in due course of administration in the state court. The assets of the estate could not be levied upon in the hands of the executor or administrator. Byers v. McAuley, 149 U. S. 608, 13 Sup. Ct. 906. The complainant, being a nonresident, was not bound to bring its suit here, pending the settlement of the estate, nor to present its claim in the court which had jurisdiction of the settlement of the estate. Such failure is not treated by the supreme court as an abo solute bar to its bill, but only as evidence of laches requiring explanation and excuse. As the nonresident creditor is not bound to prove his claim in the court exercising probate jurisdiction over the estate, he is not restricted nor aided by the other provisions of
44
the act requiring all claims to be prosecuted against the heirs within a. limited time. In Johnston v. Roe, supra, it is held that a natIOnal court will assume equitable jurisdiction of a suit by a receiver of a bank against the heirs of an estate which had been set· tIed by the decree of the state court having probate jurisdiction to charge such heirs with a debt of the decedent, although the debt was barred by the statute of limitations of the state. In Chewett v. Moran, supra, it was held that it was not a bar to the maintenance of a bill in equity against heirs in a national court that the estate of the ancestor had been administered in the probate court of the state; that commissioners had been appointed to audit claims against the estate; that a time had been limited within which all claims must be proven; and that the complainant had not appeared before such commissioners, .nor offered to make proof of the debt, notwithstanding the law of the state declared that all claims against such estate not so presented should be forever barred. It was further held that the failure to present such claim was evidence of laches, and that the burden was on theeomplainant to excuse the same. These cases settle the doctrine that the statute of a state prescribing the time within which a suit must be brought against heirs to charge them with an ancestral debt cannot be invoked for their protection in the national courts. If such a statute will not inure to their protection, can it be invoked to. charge them with a liability which is barred by laches? The court is of opinion that the state statute neither adds to nor takes from the ancient and original jurisdiction of this court in suits to charge heirs with ancestral debts. The right to maintain such suit depends on the question whether the complainant is chargeable with laches.. The failure to present such claim in the court having probate jurisdiction is evidence of negligence which the complainant must excuse before he can recover. See authorities, supra. There is no evidence in this case relieving the complainant from the imputation of The complainant knew of the death of Mr. Heilman within a few days after it occurred. It knew that his estate would be settled in the court of this state having probate jurisdiction over the same. It knew, if its present contention is true, that the estate had more than $100,000 worth of securities that ought to be inventoried and sold subject to complainant's claim. The estate was pending for more than three years before final settlement. These securities, for nearly three years after Mr. Heilman's death, were worth from fifteen to thirty thousand dollars more than the amount of the note. The claim was not presented to the executrix, and its existence was unknown to her and to the heirs. No excuse is offered for this great delay, and no notice was given to anyone interested in the estate until the securities had become nearly worthless. It is difficult to find a case of more in· excusable laches, and, in my judgment, a court of equity ought not now to impose the great loss arising from such negligence upon the defendants. The bill will be dismissed for want of equity, at complainant's costs.
QROMMES V. SULUVAN.
Gl'tOMMES et aI. v. SULLIVAN. (Oircult Oourt of Appeals, Seventh Circuit. June 17, 1897.) No. 374.
L
COKPORATIONS-POWER TO CONTRACT DEBTS-NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS.
Corporations authorized to do a particular business, unless specially denied the power, have implied authority to contract debts in the legitimate transaction of the business authorized; and the power to contract debts, under the American rUle, carries with it power to give negotiable notes or bills in payment or as security for such debts, unless that power is ex· pressly denied. A building and loan association, empowered expressly or by impUcation
2.
BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOOIATIONS-POWER TO CONTRAOT DEBTS-NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS.
drawing members, to the representatives or beneficiaries of deceased members, etc., and to purchase, sell, or mortgage real estate, has by implication power to execute the customary evidences of indebtedness, including negotiable paper. 8. SAME-AUTHORITY OF VIOE PRESIDENT.
to incur debts in various ways, as to Its secretary for his services, to with-
Where a bUilding and loan association has implied power, under ordinary circumstances or in the usual course of its business, to execute negotiable obligations, a bona fide purchaser of a particular obligation executed by the vice president has a right to presume that It was executed under circumstances giving the reqUisite authority.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of the United States for the Northern District of Illinois. This appeal is from a decree dismissing the intervening petition of the appellants, John B. Grommes and Michael Ullrich, in the case of Towle v. Investment Soc., 78 Fed. 688, wherein William K. Sullivan had been appointed receiver of the assets of the society. The case was submitted and heard upon the petition, answer, and a stipulation of the parties. The substance of the petition is that George F. Montgomery, being indebted to the appellants in the sum of $1,608.47, on October 5, 1893, executed to them the following accepted draft: "$1,608.47-100 Chicago, Oct. 4, 1893. "Sixty days after date pay to the order of Grommes & Ullrich one thousand six hundred eight and 47-100 dollars, value received, and charge to account of "George F. Montgomery. "To the American Building & Loan Society, OWings Building." The acceptance written upon the face of the draft being as follows: Accepted. Am. B., L. & 1. Soc'y, F. B. Modica, V. P." It is alleged that prior to the delivery of the acceptance the appellants had from time to time taken from Montgomery "various and sundry other accepted drafts," drawn upon, and which at their maturity had been severally paid by, the American Building, Loan & Investment Society; that at the time when the first of the drafts had been taken from Montgomery in satisfaction of the amount which he owed the appellants, they had been advised by F. B. Modica, as the agent of the society, that Montgomery was a creditor of the society, and that his drafts upon it were good, and would be met at maturity; that each of the earlier drafts was accepted by the association "by F. B. Modica, its vice president, in manner and form precisely similar to the acceptance on the face of the draft of October 4, 1893, aforesaid"; that "Modica was, at the time, in full charge and control" of the society, "and in all business matiers, so far as your petitioners were concerned, he was the chief managing officer of the said society." It is further alleged that, the draft not having been paid at maturity, the petitioners in December, 1893, began in the superior court of Cook county an action at law, and procured a writ of attachment to be issued
46
and levied upon real property of the society In the county of La Salle, Ill. ; that the attachment was a first and valid lien upon that property, which was worth more than the amount of the demand. The petition concludes with an offer to dismiss the proceedings in the superior court of Cook county, and to release the attachment, if leave to file the petition be granted, and the receiver ruled to answer the same within a short day. but The receiver answered, admitting the averments of fact In the alleging that when the draft was accepted Montgomery was not, and had not since been, a creditor or member or stockholder of the society; that by the by-laws of the society, of which the articles defining the powers of the president and vice president are set out, Modica had no authority to sign, and that the society had no right or power to execute, the acceptance. The by-laws referred to read as follows: "It shall be the duty of the president to preside at all meetings of the shareholders and of the board of directors, to sign all certificates of stock, and to sign all releases of mortgages, and he shall do all other duties usually pertaining to this office." "The vice president shall perform all the duties of the president in his absence. In case of any vacancy in that office he shall be ex officio president until the vacancy is filled." 1'he stipulation of the parties Is to the effect that the copy of the by-laws set out in the answer Is correct; that the petitioners, when the accepted draft was delivered to them, had no knowledge that such were the by-laws, .other than the general knowledge imputed to them from the nature of the society; that It Is true, as alleged in the answer, that the society was not and had not been indebted to Montgomery, of wbich fact, and that he was not a member or stockholder of the society, the petitioners were ignorant until the date of the stipulation. The American Btlilding, Loan & Investment Society was incorporated on November 22, 1888, under the act of the general assembly of Illinois entitled "An act to enable associations of persons to become a body corporate to raise funds to be loaned only among the members of such association," which went into force July 1, 1879. 1 Starr & C. Ann. Sf. (2d Ed.) c. 32, §§ 108-134.
Frederick S. Winston and James F. Meagher, for appellants. Lorin O. Oollins and Wm. Meade Fletcher, for appellee. Before WOODS, JENKINS, and SHOWALTER, 'Circuit Judges. WOODS, Oircuit Judge, after making the foregoing statement, delivered the opinion of the court. We are of opinion that, under the law of its creation, the American Building, Loan & Investment Society had power to execute negotiable paper. The rule is well established that corporations authorized to do a particular business, unless especially denied the power, have implied authOl'ity to contract debts in the legitimate transactions of the business authorized; and the right to contract debt, it is the equally well settled American rule, carries with it the power to give negotiable notes or bills in payment or security for the debts, unless that power is expressly denied. Rees, Ultra Vires, § 100; Green's Brice, Ultra Vires, p. 253; Daniel, Neg. Inst. §§ 381, 382; Mol'. Priv. Oorp. §§ 350, 351. The decisions upon the subject are numerous, and many of them are cited in the footnotes to the texts referred to. With respect to municipal corporations the supreme court of the United States has established a different doctrine (Police Jury v. Britton, 15 Wall. 566; Merrill v. Monticello, 138 U. S. 673, 11 Sup. Ct. 441); but for further exception to the rule as stated there seems to be no authority in this country. In the usual course of its business the American Building, Loan & Investment Society was empowered, expressly or by implication,
GROMMES V. SULLIVAN.
4.7
to incur debt lnvarious wa:rs;-'--as, foc e:x:ample, to its secretary for his services, to withdrawing members, to the representatives or beneficiaries of deceased members, and to others, strangers to the association, for stationery, office supplies, office rent, for real estate to be used asa place of business; and by express provision it was authorized "to purchase at any sheriff's or other judicial sale, or at any other sale, public or private,any real estate" in which it had an interest, "and the real estate so purchased, to sell, convey, lease, or mortgage, at pleasure, to any person or persons whatsoever." This power to mortgage its real estate imported, necessarily, the power to borrow or in some :way to beoome indebted. It had power, also, to receive from its vendees negotiable notes for the price of real estate sold, and from its members like notes for loans made to them, and the notes so acquired it had the right to sell, to pledge, and to indorse. In short, its right to incur debt and to execute the customary evidences of indebtedness was not exceptional or extraordinary, but pertained to the ordinary line and scope of the business which it was organized to do. It was competent, and doubtless would have been wiser, for the legislature to have provided that such societies should not have power to bind themselves by negotiable promises or contracts, into the considerationof which, when in the hands of a good-faith purchaser, there can be no inquiry; but it is not for the courts to put upon the powers granted a restriction which would be inconsistent with an established rule of construction, from which, presumably, the legislature intended no departure. The power of the society to execute notes or bills for the various purposes suggested being conceded, and- there being, no ground for questioning the authority of Modica as vice president to sign the name of the society to such obligations executed in the regular course of business, the case comes within the rule that, when a corporation has power-('under any circumstances," as some of the cases say, and certainly when it has power under ordinary circumstances, or in the usual course of its business-to execute negotiable obligations, the bona fide purchaser of a particular obligation has a right to presume that it was executed under circumstances which gave the requisite authority. Gelpcke v. City of Dubuque, 1 Wall. 175; Railway Co. v. McCarthy, 96 U. S. 258-267; County of 'Macon v. Shores, 97 U. S. 272-279; Bissell v. Railway Co., 22 N. Y. 258; Monument Nat. Bank v. Globe Works, 101 Mass. 57; Webster v. Machine Co., 54 Conn. 394, 8 AtI. 482; Bank v. Young, 41 N. J. Eq. 531, 7 Atl. 488. It is admitted in the answer that the appellants received the acceptance in question of Montgomery ('for a bona fide indebtedness," and, whether that be regarded as meaning in discharge of or only as collateral security for the debt, it made tbe appellants purchasers for value (Swift v. Tyson, 16 Pet. 1-18; Railroad Co. v. National Bank, 102 U. S. 14); and, in the absence of proof that they purchased with knowledge or,notice that the acceptance was without consideration, or was otherwise wrongfully obtained, gave them the rights of goodfaith purchasers. King v. Doane, 139 U. S. 166, 173, 11 Sup. Ct. 465; Bank v. Holm, 34 U. S. App. 472, 19 C. C. A. 94, and 71 Fed. 489. Tbe cbief contention of the appellee is that the American Build-
48
FEDERAL REPORTER.
ing, Loan &, Investment Society is not a trading or corporation, that building and loan associations are essentially corporate partnerships, and that the officers thereof have no more authority to bind them by negotiable paper than has a member of a nontrading partnership to make such paper in the firm name. Numerous authorities are cited in support of these propositions. Of the English eases referred to it is enough to observe that they proceed upon the theory that a corporation, without special authority, express or implied, cannot make, accept" draw, or indorse bills or notes. That is not the American rule. The only American cases cited, which need be mentioned, are State v. Oberlin Building & Loan Ass'n, 35 Ohio St. 263, and Christian's Appeal, 102 Pa. St. 184. These cases are not in point. In the first, the procedure was by quo warranto against the societyfor an abuse of its powers, and involved no question of the vaIidityof a corporate obligation in the hands of an innocent purchaser. The Pennsylvania case had reference to the rights of the members in the distribution of the assets of an insolvent company, and contains nothing which can be regarded as bearing upon the question now under consideration. See Davis v. Building Union, 32 Md. 285. It follows that the decree below must be reversed, and, accordingly, it is ordered that the decree entered be lilet aside, and a decree given for the interveners for the amount of the acceptance, with interest.
-BROWN et
at
v. REED MANUF'G 00. June 5, 1897.)
(Oircult Court, N. D. New York.
1.
PATENTS-CONSTRUCTION OF
t
A claim for a pan or other vessel having Its perpendicular sIdes provided with a "continuous loop" to form "contlnuQus parallel flanges" and an intermediate "continuous zinc plate'" Is infringed by a vessel made of two tin plates and two zinc strips,' soldered together, because the vessel Is too large to be made conveniently of one piece. The Brown patent, No. 480,555, for an Improved pan or other vessel, construed, and hela valid and infringed. "' '
SAME-bIPROVEDPANS.
. This was .1\.'. suit in equity by, Tristam D. Brown 'and others against the Reed Manufacturing OompanYfor alleged infringement of a patent relating to pans and, other vessels. On final hearing. F. H. Hamlin, A. e. Paul, e.G. Hawley, and C. H. Duell, for complainants. " George B. Selden, for defendant. eOXE, District Judge; The character of the Invention of the Brown patent, No. 480,55'5, is 'sufficiently'indicated by the claim. The claim is: " ;'As au Improved article of' manufacture, a pan or other vessel having Its perpendicular sides provided! with a continuous loop or made full and bent to form continuous parallel flanges or creased. edges all in one perpendiCUlar piece,