Mercantile National Bank v. Peabody
Mercantile National Bank v. Peabody
Opinion of the Court
The facts herein are: J. R. Gordon was indebted to appellee in the sum of $500. Appellee desired immediate payment; Gordon, further time. Appellee agreed to the time if Gordon would give a negotiable note for the debt. Gordon told appellee, substantially, -that he had left with the American National Bank — to whose liability appellant has succeeded— certain notes for collection; that he would give his note and would see Mr. Gibson, cashier of the bank, and have it secured ‘ ‘ with notes that were held .in the bank.” After Gordon had talked with Gibson, appellee saw the latter at the bank and informed him what Gordon had stated. Gibson replied that what Gordon had said was true, and .produced a large bundle of notes — those mentioned by Gordon — and directed appellee to examine them and determine if he wanted any of them for security. Appellee selected three notes, mentioned in the endorsement hereinafter set out. Gibson pronounced these notes good, and said: “He had some claim on Gordon, and he had to have enough to pay his claim, besides enough for the note. I (appellee) says, ‘Will these notes be enough?’ and he says ‘Plenty,’ and so he took these notes and put this endorsement on the note.” The endorsement referred to is as follows:
“This note has lodged as collateral security the following notes, which are held subject to the following conditions:
“Note, 5. B. Orman, dated February 12, 1895, for $1,250.00, payable 6 months after date;
*457 “Notes, William Crook, dated March. 8,1895, for $300 and $275 each respectively, payable 3 months and 6 months after date.
£ £ The conditions with which these notes are held as collateral as against this note are as follows:
£ ‘ That when the bonds executed by Robert Gibson, on account the Mesa Hotel, are released and fully satisfied, and his liability discharged therefrom, then the funds arising from the collection of these notes are to be paid, ■ first, to W. S. Peabody the amount of this note and interest, and an accounting made to J. R. Gordon for the balance.
“Robert Gibson, Cashier.”
The note upon which this endorsement was made was given by Gordon to appellee for $500, due six months after date of the endorsement, to cover the indebtedness above mentioned from Gordon to appellee, and it was taken by appellee and an extension of the time given Gordon thereby in consideration of the foregoing endorsement upon the note.
The amount of the collateral notes was subsequently paid into the bank — whose cashier Gibson was — and went into what is designated as “Cashier’s Account,” which account is thus described by a witness of appellant, the former assistant cashier of the American National Bank, and such at the time of the transactions involved:
“Well, it is an account — say a person leaves a collection there and has no account with the bank, and probably had not had any transactions with the bank; it is simply credited to the cashier’s account, and when he came in there would be a check made and signed Cashier, and he would be paid his money. * * * Yes, it would be a bank collection.”
It was agreed by the above endorsement that the proceeds of the collection of the collateral notes — so far as necessary — remaining after Gibson should be
It is also insisted that error was committed in striking out a part of the answer.
Five witnesses testified. The facts herein above recited as those of the case appear largely from the testimony of appellee. Whether so or not, there is no conflict as to them. From the facts recited in the
Upon the contention that all of the funds collected should be held to protect Gibson on such liability appellant insists fhat this action is prematurely brought. The 'bank agreed after Gibson was discharged from liability on the bonds, to pay over the proceeds of the collection of the collateral, or so much thereof as might be necessary, to appellee on his note. It has in its hands more than enough to pay all possible liability of Gibson and the note of appellee. There is no reason for its retaining more of the collection than enough to meet the liability of Gibson. There is no possible liability- of Gibson upon which to apply such excess. The substance of the condition as to the discharge of the liability of Gibson has been satisfied, and was so prior to the institution of this suit. The action was not prematurely brought.
No error was committed in striking out a part
The judgment should be affirmed.
Affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.