STATE OF NEBRASKA V. FIRST NAT. BANK.
947
pulley, and within a very short distance from the side of the pulley, it could not be caught by the spline key.
We are of the opinion that, even if the defendant had reason to suppose that the plaintiff might possibly undertake to step over the shaft, there was no reason to suppose that knowledge of the condition of the spline key would influence his method of doing it, or that, knowing the general danger, the plaintiff would avoid it by so narrow a margin as to encounter the special danger which, if not comprehended within the general danger, was at least so closely connected thereto as not to become a special object of consideration. In Rooney v. Oordage 00., 161 Mass. 153, 36 N. E. 789, where the plaintiff was caught by a set screw, the court said: "The collar and set screw did not project much beyond the pulley and belt, but were almost in their line of motion. Although the plaintiff says he did not know of the set screw, his testimony shows that he was well aware of the danger from the moving pulleys, belt, and shaft," etc.
As was said by this court in Keats v. Machine Co., 13 O. C. A. 221, 65 Fed. 940: "The rule laid down In cases where employGs are set at work In positions of unusual and concealed danger Is not applicable to the present case."
Further, as stated in Pollock on Torts (Ed. 1887, p. 572): "In estimating the probability of danger to others we are entitled to assume, In the absence of anything to show to the contrary, that they have the full use of the common faculties, and are capable of exercising ordinary caution."
As the injury was received under conditions not brought about by the defendant, who had no reason to anticipate the presence of the plaintiff near the shaft, save that possibly he might go there for his own purposes, and as a consequence of conduct on the part of the plaintiff in stepping over the shaft which could not reasonably be anticipated, we are of the opinion that the plaintiff failed entirely to show the breach of any duty of the defendant, owed to the plaintiff in consequence of the relation of master and servant, or in consequence of any obvious peril to persons occupying the position of bare licensees. The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed, and the defendant in error will recover its costs in this court.
STATE OF NEBRASKA v. FIRST NAT. BANK OF ORLEANS et at. (Circuit Court, D. Nebraska. 1.
August 8, 1898.)
DEPOSIT OIl' STATE FUNDS-GIVING SECURITY AND PAYING INTEREST- LOAN.
Where a state treasurer places state funds in a national bank, subject to check, the bank giving security therefor, and agreeing to pay interest on daily balances, the transaction Is a deposit, and not a loan to the bank. Giving bond to secure funds deposited with It Is within the power of a national bank, and sureties on such bond are Hable.
2. SAME-POWERS OIl' NATIONAL BANKS-BoND TO SECURE DEPOSIT.
This was an action at law by the state of against the First National Bank of Orleans, P. O. Hedlund, receiver, and John W.
948
88 FEDERAL REPORTER.
Burton et aI., sureties, to recover deposits of state funds secured by a bond executed by the bank and such sureties. The ruling is on the demurrer of the sureties to the petition. C. J. Smyth, Atty. Gen., and Ed. P. Smith, Dep. Atty. Gen., for State of Nebraska. Cobb & Harvey, for defendants. MUNGER, District Judge. This action was commenced in the district court of Harlan county, and removed into this court. By the pleadings it is shown: That the First National Bank of Orleans is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States. That in September, 1895, said bank, for the purpose of becoming a state depository under the laws of the state of Nebraska, and for the purpose of enabling it to receive on deposit from the state treasurer of the state of Nebraska certain public moneys belonging to the state, and which said treasurer was authorized to deposit in depository banks, made, executed, and delivered to the state of Nebraska its obligation in writing, a copy of which is attached to the petition. Said bond was executed by the said bank as principal, and by the defendants, John M. Burton, George W. Burton, Pat Gibbons, John O. Hoffman, and M. F. Burton, as sureties, which bond was duly approved and filed by the proper officers of the state. The said bond was in the penal sum of $25,000, and provided that, in consideration of the de· positing of the moneys of the state of Nebraska for safe-keeping in said bank by the state treasurer, said bank, in consideration of said deposit and for the privilege of keeping the same, agreed to pay 3 per cent. per annum, the same to be computed and paid quarterly upon the daily average of the sum of such amount as the bank should have deposited to the credit of the state for the quarter, or any fraction thereof, next preceding the payment of said per centum. Said bond contained a condition that if said bank "shall well and truly keep sums of money so deposited or to be deposited as aforesaid, subject to the check and order of the state treasurer as aforesaid, and shall pay over the same, and each and every part thereof, upon the written de· mand of the state treasurer, and shall estimate, calculate, and pay said per centum as. aforesaid, and to his successor in said office as shall be by him demanded, and shall in all respects save and keep the people of the state of Nebraska and the said treasurer harmless and indemnified for, and by reason of the making of said deposit or deposits, then this obligation shall be void and of no effect; otherwise, to be and remain in full force and virtue." After the execution and delivery of said bond, the treasurer deposited in said 1,Jank certain moneys of said state, and there was at the time of the commencement of the action so on deposit in said bank the sum of $20,000, the moneys of the state of Nebraska. That said bank became insolvent, and P. O. Hedlund, one of the defendants, was appointed, by the comptroller of . the currency, receiver thereof. Of said defendants, the bank and reo ceiver have answered in said action. The other defendants, the surehave filed a. general demurrer to petition, which. is now to be disposed or. .
STATE aI<' NEBRASKA V. FIRST NAT. BANK.
949
[n support of the demurrer it is contended that the transaction was olle of borrowmg money on the part of the bank, not in the usual and ordinary course of banking business; that such borrowing was in violation of the national banking act, and not within any of the powers conferred upon the bank, and illegal, the bond or obligation given void, and for such reason the sureties are not liable. It is not claimed in support of the demurrer tllat every borrowing of money on the part of a national bank is prohibited; but it is contended the fact that, under the depository law of Nebraska, the bank is required to make a bid for the deposit, agreeing to pay interest on the daily balances at a rate of not less than 3 per cent. per annum, and to execute a bond with sureties for the faithful payment of the amount of such deposit, with the interest thereon, that such a transaction is not a deposit in the ordinary sense, but a borrowing of money in a manner not in the usual and ordinary course of the business of banking. In support of their contention, counsel cite Bank v. Armstrong, 152 U. S. 346, 14 Sup. Ct. 572; Bank v. Kennedy, 167 U. S. 362, 17 Sup. Ct. 831; Armstrong v. Bank, 27 C. C.A. 601, 83 Fed. 556; Id., 31 U. S. App. 75,13 C. C. A. 47, and 65 Fed. 573. Bank v. Armstrong was an action brought by the Western National Bank of New York against Armstrong, as receiver of the Fidelity National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio, to recover the sum of $207,290, on account of a loan made by the New York bank to the Ohio bank. There was no evidence that the vice president of the Ohio bank, who acted for said bank in the transaction, had received special authority from the board of directors to borrow the money. Justice Shiras, speaking for the conrt, said: "It might even be questioned whether such a transaction would be within the power of the board of directors. The powers expressly granted are stated in the eighth section or the national bank act (Rev. St. § 5136. par. 7): A national bank can 'exerdse by Its board of directors, or duly authorized officers or agents, subject to law, all such Incidental powers as shall be necessary to carryon the business of banking, by discounting and negotiating promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange, and other eYldences of debt; by receiving deposits; by buying and selling exchange, coin, and bullion; by loaning money on personal and by obtaining, Issuing, and circulating notes.' The power to borrow money or to give notes is not expressly given by the act. The business of the bank Is to lend, Dot to borrow, money; to discount the notes of others, not to get its own notes discounted. Still, as was said by this court, In the case of First Nat. Bank v. National Exchange Bank, H2 U. S. 122, 127:. 'Authority Is thus given in the act to transact such a banking business as Is specified, and all incidental powers necessary to carry It on are granted. These powers are such as are required to meet all the legitimate demands of the authorized business, and to enable a bank to conduct Its affairs, within the general scope of Its charter, safely and prudently. This necessarily Implies the right of a bank to incur liabilities In the regular course of Its business, as well as to become the creditor of others.' Nor do we doubt that a bank, In certain circumstances, may become a temporary borrower of money. Yet such transactions would be so much out of the course of ordinary and legitimate banking as to require those making the loan to see to It that the officer or agent acting for the bank had special authority to borJ:ow money. Even, therefore, If It be conceded that It was within the power the board of directors of the Fidelity National Bank to borrow $200,000 on time, It Is yet obvious that the vice president, however general his powers, could not exercise such a power unless specially authorized 8() to do; , and It Is equally obvious that persons dealing 'with the bank are presumed to know the extent of the general powers of the officers."
950
I:l8 FEDERAL' REPORTER.
For'the reason'that there was no evidence of any authorization upon the part of the board of directors for the vice president to borrow the mODey" and the further fact that the money so borrowed in the name of the bank never came into its possession, but was appropriated by the vice president and assistant cashier, and no ratification on the part of the directors, it was held that no recovery could be had. Bank v. Kennedy was an action to hold the bank liable under the statute of California as a shareholder in a savings bank. 'fhe questions involved were whether a national bank could acquire the stock of another corporation by purchase. not having taken the same to secure an indebtedness to it,and whether, having purchased such stock and enjoyed the benefits of a shareholder, the bank was estopped from setting up the illegality of the transaction. Armstrong v. Bank was an action to recover for money borrowed. A recovery was had, for the reason that, while there was no evidence of special authority having been given the vice president by the board of it was shown that a long-established usag-eexisted between corresponding banks in both cities, where' the lending and borrowing banks were respectively situated, of lending and borrowing through the executive officers of the banks, and, further, that the transaction had been ratified by the board of directors, the case being distinguished from that of Bank v. Armstrong. The foregoing cases do not establish the fact that the borrowing of money on the part of a national bank is illegal, but that, when the transaction is not one in the usual course of banking business, authority must be shown to have been given by the board of directors, or a ratification by the board. Was, however, the transaction in question a borrowing of money, or a mere general deposit? Among the enumerated powers of a national bank is "receiving deposits." The depositing of mouey in a bank has been held in some cases to be a loaning by the depositor, and a borrowing by the bank, for the reason that the relation of creditor and debtor was thereby established. It is to be kept in mind that in the transaction in question, and according to the terms of the obligation sued on, the money deposited with the bank was not deposited for any fixed period of time, but was subject to withdrawal at any time on the check or order of the treasurer. In Laws' Estate, 144 Pa. St. 499, 22 Atl. 831, a guardian deposited the moneys of his ward in a bank to his account as guardian, the bank agreeing to pay 3 per cent. interest. On a failure of the bank it was sought to hold the guardian and his sureties liable for the loss. The question turned upon the fact as to whether the deposit by the guardian was a loan or investment of such money, the court saying: "Was this transaction with the Bank of, America a deposit of the money. or was it a loan or Investment of it? A deposit is where a sum of money is left. with a banker for safe-keeplng,subject to order, and, payable, not In the specific'money deposited, but In,anequal sum. It mayor may not bear Interest, according to the agreement. , While the relation between the de",posltor, and his banker Is that ofdebtQr and creditor simply, the transaction cannot In any sense be regarded as a loan, unless the money Is not for saf,e-keeplng, but for a fixed period at Interest, In which case the transaction assumes all the characteristics of a loan. .. .. .. In the present case the money was placed In the bank, not as an Investment for any fixed period, "but· merely for safe-keeping and at asroaIl rate of tnterest.
951
Allibonev. Ames (S. D.) 68 N. W.165, was an action founded upon a bond given by a bank, with sureties to secure the payment of public funds. deposited by Allibone as county treasurer. The defendants denied liability, for the reason that the deposit was, in effect, a loan to the bank; that by a law of the state it was a crime for the treasurer to lend publio money. For that reason, the contract or bond was un· lawful,and the defendants not liable thereon. In the opinion hold· ing defendants liable, it is said: "When the personal property Involved Is money, It may be difficult under llOme circumstances to determine whether the transaction should be called a 'depQ$it.' or a 'loan'; but the two are not the same, and are never so regardedbY anyone In business or the ordinary affairs of life. Certainly, the thousands who dally deliver money to banks for safe·keeping and return In corresponding currency do not regard the transaction ns a loan, nor do they so speak of It. A deposit Is for the benefit of the depositor; a loan, for the b,enefit of the borrower. It Is true, a deposit may also benefit the depositary, but such Is not the primary object of the transaction. When the deposIt Is made for a fixed period, during which the depositor has no right to demand the return of the money, the transaction may be regarded as In all substantial respects a loan; but herein lies an essential distinction between a loan and a general deposit."
In the light of the foregoing authorities, I thin.k the transaction in question to have been one of a deposit of public moneys, not a borrowing of money on the part of the bank. 'l'he fact that the bank bid for the money does not change the character of the transaction. Certainly, there can be no objection urged against a bank soliciting busi· ness. The state, through its legislative enactment, said to all banks and bankers it desired to place the public funds on deposit (not to loan), subject to withdrawal at any time on the check or order of its treasurer, and at a rate of interest not less than 3 per cent. per annum. The defendant bank accepted the deposit on the conditions offered. To my mind, the transaction was a deposit of money; but, whether regarded as a loan or deposit, I do not think it in violation of the authority conferred on a national bank. Certainly, the giving of the security to do what in law it was obligated to do was not a void act. The demurrer is overruled.
952
8S FEDERAL REPORTER.
LIPSE'S EX'Rfv,SPEARS' EX'R.r (CIrcuit Court, W. D. Virginia. March, 1. EXECUTORS-DEVASTAVIT-ACCEPTANCE' Oll' CONFEDERATE MONET.
An executor who during the ,wll(r ,of the Rebellion received Uonfederate currency in payment of a spedede1)t well secured on valua,ble. real estate, without proof of the necessity thereof, 'was guilty of a devastavit, and the devisees were not devested' of 'their 'Uens upon the estate of' their testator for their l e g a c i e s . ' . : : , . A settlement of the accounts of one of two executorl$ :Who resided in Virginia during the war of the Rebelllon was not binding on his co-executor, residing hi a loyal state. The VIrginIa statute of March 5. 1863, providing that, whenever any fiduciary residing In that state was authorized to do any act jointly with one or more fiduciaries residing In the loyal states, it should be lawful for the resident fidUciary to perform the act alone, was a nullity; and a deed by an executor residing in Virginia was without effect, as against bis coexecutor, who resided in Indiana.
B.
BAME-Co·ExECUTORS-SETTIiEM'ENT'O"tAccOUNTS.
8.
BAME-ExECUTOR'S DEED.
In 1859, at his home, in Botetourt county, Va., Moses lApse died, leaving a will, 12 children, and g91acres of land. His sons David and directed to sell the H. and Samuel were named as, land and divide the proceeds among the children. Both qualified, and in 1860 sold the land to C. C. Spears for $14,858, and received cash $4,952.66, and two bonds of .the purchaser, dated 3d October, 1860, each for $4,952.66, with interest from the maturity of each, payable to the executors in one and two years. From 1850 continuously to the present, David H. Llpse resided In Indiana. He was present at the land sale in 1860, but shortly returned to Indiana, and was never again in Botetourt unt11 1874. In 1879 the other executor, Samuel Lipse, died in Botetourt, where he always Ilved, and was during the Rebellion. In 1862 C. C. Spears died, leaving a widow, a child, and a will, and William A. Glasgow qualified as his executor. When the bonds fell due, Dayid H. Lipse and about half the legatees, or their representatives, resided outside the state of Virginia, then under the control of "the organized rebpllion called the 'Confederate States Government.''' The only currency thpn there in circulation was Confederate notes, commonly called "Oonfederate money," or Virginia bank notes, of about equal value with It. Samuel Lipse was known as a "Union man," put no value on Confederate money. refused to take it, and did not willingly receive It In paymeut of debts due the estate of his testator or himself. The situation of the estate did not require the collection of the purchase money of the land to pay the debts of the estate. for there were none; nor to make distribution, for half of the dlstributees were outside of Virginia, within the loyal states, and beyond the reach of the resident executor, Samuel Llpse. Half of the resident dlstributees refused to accept Confederate money, and there Is no proof that any of them were desirous to accept it. In the meantime the bonds of Spears, due the estate, were perfectly solvent, being secured on valuable real estate. Yet Spears' executor went of his own accord in October, 1862, to the house of Samuel Llpse, took with him a large bundle of Oonfederate money, counted out a sum eqnal to the unpaid balance due on the land, and Insisted on Samuel L1pse receiving it. But the latter refused, saying "it was of no value, and that he had no use 1 This case has been heretofore reported in 4 Hughes, 1535. and is now published In this series, so as to include therein all circuit and district court cases elsewhere reported which have been Inadvertently omitted from the Federal Reporter or the Federal Cases.