THOMPSON V. SELIGMAN.
219
Oaks of this limitation, the plaintiffs are charged with knowledge of it. Upon the facts stated, we do not think that Crockett was the agent of the plaintiffs in procuring this insurance. He stated to the plaintiffs that there was an arrangement between the agents of the different insurance companies in Pulaski, by which, if one brought business to another, they would share commissions, and that he wished the opportunity to take this business to some other agency, so that he might share the commission. This did not make Harwood & Crockett the agents of the plaintiffs. They were merely insurance solicitors. It may be-we do not decide the point-that Crockett was not the agent of the insurance company. He might have been the agent of neither party. He really was the agent of the agents of the defendant. He was their solicitor of insurance. The compensation for his services had been agreed upon in advance. The plaintiffs were advised by Crockett that this was the capacity in which he was acting, and so was Oaks. When, therefore, the insurance policy contract was brought by Crockett to the plaintiffs, he was bringing it, not as their agent, but as the agent of the representatives of the defendant- company who paid him. His knowledge could not, therefore, be charged to the plaintiffs. Errors, if any, in the instructions of the court to the jury, could not have been prejudicial to the defendant below, because the plaintiffs were entitled, as a matter of law, to the verdict. Judgment affirmed.
THOMPSON v. SELIGMAN et al. (Circuit Court, S. D. New York. November 18, 1898.) AND BELIEF-WHEN
An answer which sets up as a counterclaim an alleged loan of by defendant to plaintiff, and an account stated between them therefor, alleges facts presumptively within the personal knowledge of plainti:ll", and a reply containing only a general denial on information and belief', and verified on belief only, is insufficient as an answer to the counterclaim, and is demurrable.
On Demurrer to Reply. Robert G. Ingersoll, for plaintiff. George W. Seligman, for defendants. WHEELER, District Judge. The answer sets up a counterclaim against the plaintiff for money loaned, with interest, amounting to $3,056.67, November 25, 1889, whereupon an account was stated between the plaintiff on the one side and the defendant James Seligman, with a co-partner, since deceased, on the other side, "and upon such statement a balance of $3,056.67 was found to be due on the said 25th day of November, 1889, from the said plaintiff to this defendant," etc. The reply is that the plaintiff, "upon information and belief, denies each and every allegation therein contained," verified by his oath "that the same is true of his own knowledge, except as to the matters therein stated to be alleged on information and belief, and as to tbose matters he believes it to be true," which is demurred to upon
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90 FEDERAL REPORTER.
the ground that it tris insufficient in law upon the face thereof"; and the cause has now been heard upon this demurrer. The reply stands as an answer to the cause of action stated in the counterclaim required to be verified, and the question here now is whether it is sufficient as such answer. The loan of money, and the statement of the account of it between the parties, implies personal transactions to the knowledge of the plaintiff. The answer does not deny the knowledge, nor set it forth, nor explain the want of it. It is well laid down in the Encyclopredia of Pleading and Practice, with reference to this kind of procedure, that: "Although the denial of knowledge or information is an authorized form of denIal, it is by no means absolute or universal. The true distinction to be observed in determining when a defendant may avan hImself of the privilege accorded to him of answering In the qualIfied form allowed by the Code, and when he must positIvely admit or deny the allegations, Is to inquire whether the facts alleged are presumptively withIn the defendant's knowledge. If they are, he cannot avail himself of thIs form of denial." 1 Ene. of Pl. & Prac. 811, and cases cited.
In this view this reply does not seem to be sufficient. This is said in argument to be merely such an objection to the verification of the reply as should have been made by a motion to dismiss, but the reply seems to lack the substance required in an answer to such a cause of action, and to be well met by the demurrer. Demurrer sustained.
BLUM et al. v. WIDDICOlYIB et aI. (CircuIt Court, W. D. MIchIgan, S. D. November 9, 1898.) PARTIES-SUIT TO RRCOVER PENAVry-CONSTRUCTION OF STATUTE.
2 How. Ann. St. MIch. § 8429, providIng that suits for penalties shall be brought In the name of the state, relates only to penalties proper, im· posed as punishment for some act deemed to be an offense against the state, and does not apply to an actIon brought upon a provision of a statute creating a liability In favor of a private indivIdual in excess of actual compensation, which is a remedial action, and may be brought by the Individual entitled to the recovery, though the same statute imposes a penalty as a punishment for the same act in Its character of an offense against the state.
This was an action brought to charge individually the directors of a corporation for a debt of the latter, grounded upon their failure to make proper annual reports to the secretary of state, as required b,r the statute of Michigan, which statute imposes a personal liability for such failure. On demurrer to declaration. Cahill & Ostrander, for plaintiffs. , Kingsley & Kleinhans, for Bonnell and Hackley. Butterfield & Keeney, for Putman and Barnhart. Fitzgerald & Barry, for defendant Morton. SEVERENS, District Judge. I think the demurrer to the plain· tiff's declaration in this case must be overruled. The essential ground on which the demurrer rests is the proposition, contended for by counsel for the defendants, that section 12 of Act No. 232