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84 FEDERAL REPORTER.
hIso retnrning this note. On the next morning the teller of the bank canceled the clearing house conditional stamp by running his pen through it, and erased the entries upon the books which had been made the previous day, except that the entry on the bills receivable account was left intact, and the note re-entered in that account as of August 18th. This transaction, however, not being sanctioned by the John V. Farwell Company, cannot operate as payment, or avail to revest the title to the note in the latter company. The entries were canceled. Payment was not made, and the title to the note remained in the bank. If it may be said that the bank desired the present payment of the note by the indorser, it acceded to forego its desire. The bank had the legal right to pursue the maker without present resort to the indorser, and it could lawfully assent to the indorser's desire that the maker should first be pursued. It is, however, said that this was done by arrangement between the bank and the John V. Farwell Company, so that the bank should continue to be the holder of the note, and be able, as a bona fide holder for value, before maturity, to collect the amount of it. Assuming the truth of this contention, it is still true that the bank was the bona fidp holder of this note for value, before maturity, and that it had not been paid the amount. If the bank could properly have insisted that the indorser, the John V. Farwell Company, should pay it the amount, and could have retained sufficient of the monevs of the John V. Farwell Company then on deposit in the bank for the payment of thip, note, it was not obliged so to do, and owed no duty to the plaintiff in error so to do. It had the legal right, however the transaction may be regarded upon moral grounds, to hold this note, and pursue the makers, instead of the indorser; and, if thereby the John V. Farwell Company is enabled to obtain an unfair advantage over the makers of the note, it is still no defense to the note by the makers as against the bank, the bona fide holder for value, before maturity. Bank v. La Follette, 72 Fed. 145. The judgment is affirmed.
OMAHA NAT. BANK
v. MUTUAL BEN. LIFE INS. CO. November 19, No. 35.
(CirCUit Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
1.
LIFE INSURANCE-CONSTRUCTION OF POLICY.
Under a life insurance policy containing nonforfeiture provisions declarIng that, upon default after payment of two annual premiums, the net reserve, "less any indebtedness to the company on this policy," would be applied to the purchase of nonparticipating term insurance. a payment of a premium part In cash and part by a loan from the company, evidenced by a certificate signed by insured, reciting that the company has loaned the amount on the policy, constitutes an indebtedness due the company, within the meaning of such provisions.
2.
SAME-TENDER-ExTENSION OF TERM INSURANCE.
When, under the nonforfeiture terms of a defaulted llfe insurance policy, the net reserve, less indebtedness to the company, has been applied to the payment of term insurance, the insured cannot, two years after such de-
OMAHA N.\T. BANK T. MUTUAL BEN. LIFE INS. CO.
123
fault, and within a few days before the time of the expiration of the term Insurance, extend the same by tendering the amount of such indebtedness. 81 Fed. 935. affirmed.
In Error to the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of New Jersey. This was an aotion by the Omaha National Bank against the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company to recover upon two policies insuring the life of Frank O. Johnson. The defendant had judgment (81 Fed. 935), and the plaintiff brings error. Artemas H. Holmes and Edward Q. Keasbey, for plaintiff in error. J. O. H. Pitney and R. V. Lindabury, for defendant in error. Before DALLAS, Circuit Judge, and BUTLER, District Judge. DALLAS, Circuit Judge. This was an action upon two life insurance policies, which, except as to their distinguishing numbers, are precisely alike. They respectively bear date as of January 15, 1891, and by each of them, in consideration of the payment of a certain annual premium on each November 11th during the continuance of the policy, the defendant insured the life of Frank C. JohnSOll, the amount insured being payable at his death. They also provided that, in case the premiums were not paid when due, the policies should cease and determine, subject to the company's nonforfeiture provisions, which, with the accompanying table, is indorsed on the policies, as follows: "The :Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company, Newark, N. J. "Nonforfeiture Provisions. "When, after two full annual premiums shall have been paid on this policy, It shall cease or become void solely by the nonpayment of any premium when due. its entire net reserve by the American Experience Mortality and interest at four per cent. yearly, less any indebtedness to the company on this policy, shall be applied by the company as a single premium at the company's rates pUblished and in force at this date, either, first, to the purchase of nonparticipating term insurance for the full amount insured by this policy, or, second, upon the written application by the owner of this policy, and the surrender thereof to the company at Newark, within three months from such nonpayment of premium, to the purchase of a nonparticipating paid-up polley, payable at the time this policy would be payable if continued in force. Both kinds of insurance aforesaid will be subject to the same conditions, except as to payment of premiums, as those of this policy. No part, however, of such term insurance, shall be due or payable unless satisfactory proofs of death be furnished to the company within one year after death; and if death shall occur within three years after such nonpayment of premium, and during such term of insurance, there shall be deducted from the amount payable'the sum of all the premiums that would have become due on this policy if it had continued in force. "The following table shows the amount that the company agrees to loan (being one-half of the reserve) upon a satisfactory assignment of the policy as collateral security; also, the additional time for which the insurance will be continued in full force after lapse by the nonpayment of premium. or the value of the policy in paid-up insurance upon surrender within three months from date of lapse. The figures given are based upon the assumption that the premiums (less curre.nt dividends) have been fully paid in cash. If there be allY Indebtedness upon the policy, the values as stated In the table would
124
have to be reduced proportionately upon the principles stated in the policy. The indebtedness, if any, may be paid off in cash, in which case the figures in the table will apply. Number of IN CASE OF LAPSE OF POLICY. mium Paid. 2 3 4 5 Years Pre-
Company will Loan. 170 250 340 440 530 630 720 830 930 1,030 1,140 1,240 1,350 1,460 2,000 2,540 3,040 3,500 3,930
Years. 2 3 4 6
10 12 13 15 20
6 7 8 9
11
14
6 7 7 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 I;
25
7 5 40 4 "Cash loans not made for less than fifty dollars.
30
35
Extended Insurance. Days. Paid-Up Policy. 193 $ 690 1,030 258 1,360 287 274 1,61:J0 2,010 217 121 2320 2;6::10 340 16.0 2,1:J30 310 3,230 3,510 62 3,700 152 216 4,060 4,3:!0 258 4,51:\0 279 160 5,720 6,650 191 116 7,300 320 7,980 92 8,480
.
"E. J. Miller, Mathematician."
The first three annual premiums were duly settled, but there was a failure to pay 01' settle the fourth premium when it became due, namely, on November 11, 1893. Consequently, the right of the plaintiff to recover turned upon the construction and effect to be given, under the admitted facts of the case, to the nonforfeiture provisions, in connection with a certain certificate of loan hereafter to be particularly mentioned; and the question was and is whether the insured was entitled to term insurance for a period continuing beyond the date of his death, or only for a shorter period, which expired while he was still living, namely, upon February 23, 1896. The plaintiff cO'lltended in the court below, and in this court, that the term insurance should be held to have continued until after the death of the insured-First, because there was no "indebtedness to the company on tills policy," witilln the meaning of the contract and of the word "indebtedness" as used in the nonforfeiture provisions; and, second, because, even if there was such indebtedness, a tender which was admittedly made on February 18, 1896, was a timely, and therefore sufficient, tender of that indebtedness. By considering these two propositions, the case may be disposed of. 1. The learned argument willch has been addressed to us> respecting the definition (common and technical) of the word "indebtedness" does not go to the root of the matter. In our opinion, it invokes a too narrow and constrained view of the subject. No definition of the word "indebtedness," however authoritative and accurate, could be accorded controlling force. 'fhe question is as to the actual meaning and intent of the parties, and this is not to be ascertained by defining a single word with scholastic precision. .The
OMAHA NAT. BANK V. MUTUAL Bl!:N. LIFE INS. CO.
125
nonforfeiture provisions unquestionably became operative upon the failure to pay the premium which fell due on November 11, 1893. The insured was then entitled to "nonparticipating term insurance"; and aside from the second proposition, presently to be discussed, the question upon which the existence of such insurance at the time of the death of the insured depends, is as to whether there was, when the term insurance began, any indebtedness to the company by which the duration of that insurance was limited or curtailed. The table which follows the nonforfeiture provisions, and which may be treated as forming part of them, shows the time for which the term insurance would have continued if there had been no indebtedness upon the policy; but it was expressly provided that, if there should be such indebtedness, the table would have to be modified, unless payment of that indebtedness should be made in cash, in which case the figures in the table would apply. Johnson, as has been mentioned, settled three annual premiums upon each policy. This was done according to the company's 30 peT cent. premium loan plan, namely, by paying at the outset 70 per cent. of the premiums in cash, and by signing certificates of loan for the balance, which, in each case, except as to the recited policy number, were as follo,ws: "Certificate of Loan. "Newark, N. J., Jan. 15tb, 189l. "Premium Payable Nov. 11tb. "Certificate of Loan on Policy No. Hi.5,039. "Tbis certifies tbat the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company bas loaned on policy No. 165,039 one hundred and seven 82/ 100 dollars, being thirty per cent. on the first annual premium, which, with any additional loan, shall be a lien on the policy until paid; legal interest on the same to be paid annually out of the dividend, jf any, otherwise to be paid in cash; the amount of the existing loan to be indorsed berein, and also stated on the renewal receipt. "Frank C. Johnson:'
Now, the precise inquiry is: Did the loan thus certified constitute such an indebtedness upon the policy as was contemp'lated by 1he nonforfeiture provisions? If it did, then, in the absence of any payment or sufficient tender thereof, the problem now under examination must be solved in favor of the defendant in error. 'Ve do not attach importance to the fact that the obligation certified was made a lien on the policy, and that, except by enforcement of that lien, no provision was made, or time fixed, for its payment. The material question is: did the parties mean? It cannot reasonably be supposed that they intended the word "indebtedness" to have any special or technical significance, and that. in common and ordinary apprehension, a "loan," no matter when or hO'W payable, is understood to be an indebtedness, is indubitable. That, too, in each of these instances, the loan was "on the policy," is, under the express terms of the certificate, unquestionable.. It is entitled "Certificate of Loan on Policy," and certifies that the company "has loaned on poHcy," etc. We cannot believe that this correspondence of the terms of the certificate with those of the nonforfeiture provisions was accidental, but are convinced that the "loan" for
126
84
FEDERAL REPORTER.
which the former was given was intended to be inclusive of the "indebtednefls" to which the latter referred. The decision of the supreme court in Insurance 00. v. Dutcher, 95 U. S. 269, has been earnestly pressed upon our attention by the learned counsel for the plaintiff in error, but it cannot be regarded as ruling the present case. Although the facts which were there involved bear some resemblance to those with which we are called upon to deal, they are really essentially different. The judgment in the Dutcher Case was based, not only upon the provisions of the particular policy, but also upon a certain collateral agreement which had been made by the parties at the time of the delivery of the policy; and the construction which the court placed upon the entire transaction accorded with a long-continued practice of the company, to which, as showing the insurer's interpretation or its own contract, much weight was given. In this case we have neither a collateral agreement to consider, nor any course of business under like policies to aid us in the construction of those directly in question. There is here nothing to be done but to determine, from the language of the nonforfeiture provisions and of the certificates, the true meaning of the former; and, in the decision to which we have referred, we find nothing which conflicts with our understanding of them. In that case, aside from the construction which had been put upon its policies by the company, the question was as to whether certain premiums should be regarded as having been paid "in cash"; and it was held that they should be, notwithstanding the fact that the payments were in part made (as the court viewed the matter) by means supplied by a "permanent loan" of the company to the insured. It was not held that this loan was not itself an indebtedness. Indeed, it appears to have been assumed that it was; but that question-the vital one here-was not there presented, and this difference it is which plainly distinguishes that case from this. In that one the undertaking of the company was to issue a "paid-up policy for as many tenths of the amount originally assured as there had been annual premiums paid in cash"; and the only question being, as we have said, whether certain of the premiums had been so paid, the court held that they had been, and, therefore, that the paidup policy there claimed was demandable. Had the existence of the asserted right to such a policy depended upon the absence of any indebtedness on the original policy, and had such indebtedness appeared as in this case, there is no reason to doubt that the judg. ment would have been different. 2. Payment of the indebtedness to which reference has been made was tendered on February 18, 1896; and this tender, if made in due time, would have been effectual to extend the period of term in· surance beyond the time of the death of the insured. But we are clearly of opinion tlutt it was too long postponed. The default in settlement of premium under the original policy occurred on November 11, 1893; and the tender was not made until more than two years thereafter, and until within a few days before the expiration of the time to which, irrespective of the tender, the term extended.
IRVINE V. ANGUS.
127
The nonforfeiture provisions conceded, it is true, that a right to the longer term might be acquired by payment of the indebtedness; but it would, we think, be mo'St unr-easouable to hold that the insured was, under- this provision, entitled, without paying his indebtedness, to ,insurance for the shorter 'term, and then, when that term was about to expire, to tender his debt, and ther-eupon insist upon an extension of the subsisting contract. In view of the circumstances of the case, it is nOot necessary to determine whether the tender should have been made promptly upon default under the original policy, or whether it might have been made during the period of three months allowed to the insured fOor making written application for a paidup policy, if desired. In either view of the subject, the tender which was in fact made was too long delayed to be of any avail. The judgment is affirmed. IRVINE v. ANGUS et al.
(Circuit Court, N. D. California. No. 4,858. VOLUNTARY PAYMENT.
December 27, 1897.)
One paying assessments on stock which he held pending an appeal taken by him in an action in which he claimed the stock as his own, and in which the decree ordered that he turn the stock to Its ownet upon payment of an amount found to be due him, cannot recover such assessments from the owner, though the sum ordered by the decree was not paid until the termination of the appeal, as such holding of the stock raised an involuntary trust, and the payment of the assessments was to the use of the trustee, and not the owner.
This was an action by William Irvine against James S. Angus, Thomas G. Crothers, and W. S. Goodfellow, executors, substituted defendants for James G. Fair, deceased, to recover $15,090.06 paid by Irvine as trustee on assessments levied on stock which he held pending an appeal taken by him to the United States supreme court from a decree of the circuit court establishing a trust with respect to said stock, and ordering it turned over to one S. F. Dunham, whose real name was James G. Fair. George W. Towle, for plaintiff. Pierson & Mitchell and Wilson & Wilson, for defendants. HAWLEY, District Judge. This action was brought by the plaintiff against James G. Fair, now deceased, to recover the amount of money paid by William Irvine in liquidation of assessments regularly levied upon 4,998i shares of stock of the Morgan Mining Company, which shares, at the time of the assessments, stood of record on the books of that corporation in the name of Irvine, but were, in fact, the property of James G. Fair. The assessments, five in number, were paid between the 24th day of December, 1879, and May, 1884. The complaint in this action was filed April 13, 1886. It is alleged in the complaint that the shares of stock upon which the assessments were paid were held in trust by Irvine for Fair, and that in May, 1884, Irvine transferred the stock to Fair, surrendered his trust, and there-