Columbia Building & Loan Ass'n v. Clarke
Columbia Building & Loan Ass'n v. Clarke
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
On August 29, 1893, John F. Depew gave his promissory note to appellant, the Columbia Building & Loan Association, for $5,000, and to secure the same gave a deed of trust upon lots 18, 19 and'20 in block 29, Wyman’s Addition to Denver. On the day following the execution of the note and the deed of trust, Depew conveyed the property to Frances M. Clarke, the appellee. In March, 1895, appellant advertised the property for sale under the deed of trust, where
The circumstances out of which this controversy arises are in brief as follows: On March 22, 1893, the appellee loaned to W. P. Caruthers 112^°¶- shares of the capital stock of the Denver & San Antonio Investment Company, to use as collateral security for a loan to him of $3,500 from the Columbia Building & Loan Association; for which sum a note was then given, signed by himself and J. W. Clarke, the husband of appellee, to which the stock was attached, and which contained this recital:
“ This note is secured by 112-|- shares of stock in. the Den-' ver & San Antonio Investment Co. herewith attached — Book value $140 per share. Cash rate at par.”
Shortly thereafter twenty-two shares of this stock were withdrawn, with the consent of the association, leaving the remaining 90^^ shares as security for the note. On August 13,1893, Mrs. Clarke paid this note by executing to the association a note for the sum of $3,700, which covered the principal and interest due thereon, and left with the association as security the stock theretofore hypothecated. Between August 22, 1892, and August 29, 1893, and while J. W. Clarke was president, W. P. Caruthers, vice president, and C. J. Eastman secretary and manager of the association, certain loans were made in the name of the Washington Investment Company, aggregating $6,900, which together with the $3,700 note, and the note for $5,000 executed by Depew, constituted an indebtedness of $15,600 due the association.
The only written evidence introduced that specified the indebtedness for which the stock was pledged, is the recital upon the $3,500 note before mentioned. Witnesses for appellant, however, testified that a written agreement, which was supposed to have been destroyed, was prepared at the time the stock was transferred in October, 1894, and signed by the respective parties, wherein appellee expressly agreed that the stock should be applied to the payment of the general indebtedness made up of the sums claimed to be due from Clarke, Caruthers, Eastman and the Washington Investment Company, in addition to the note of $3,700. But later during the trial this agreement was found and produced in evidence, and showed that the witnesses were mistaken in their recollection as to its contents, since it contains no provisions for the distribution of the proceeds of the stock. The oral testimony introduced by the parties in support of their respective claims is in direct conflict; that of appellant being
After the transfer of the stock, and on December 24,1894, she received through her husband a statement from the association that the proceeds had been applied in part to the payment of the Washington Investment Company’s loans. On that day she notified the association that such application was incorrect and unauthorized; that the portion thus misapplied should be applied in payment of the loan of $3,700 and the Depew loan of $5,000, with interest due thereon and taxes paid by the association on account of property given as security for the same. In its reply to this communication, the
In this state of the evidence, the court below having determined its weight in favor of the contention of appellee, under the rule so frequently announced, we are precluded from disturbing its findings on this review. We are satisfied, however, from a careful reading of the record, in the light of the circumstances and the conduct of the parties, that the finding of the court below is supported by a clear preponderance of evidence; and its judgment is accordingly affirmed.
Affirmed'.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- The Columbia Building & Loan Association v. Clarke
- Status
- Published