Sprague v. Farmers' National Bank
Sprague v. Farmers' National Bank
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
Sprague, Warner & Co., of Chicago, were the owners of a promissory note, dated March 12, 1894, payable ten days after date, executed by H. Godehard & Co., for the sum of $228.75. On March 15, 1894, they transmitted the note to the cashier of the Farmers’ National Bank of Arkansas City, enclosed in a letter reading as follows :
“March 15, 1894.
“Cashier Farmers’ National Bank, Arkansas City, Kan.:
“Dear Sir — Herein please find for collection note H. Godehard & Co., Mch. 12, 10 days, $228.75. Kindly make returns to Yours truly,
“Sprague, Warner & Co.”
We think there was evidence sufficient for the consideration of the jury on the question of the negligence of the officers of the bank in their conduct toward plaintiffs below regarding this note. After its maturity, and while holding it for collection, the bank not only secured the indebtedness from H. Godehard & Co. to it, but it also acted as agent for at least one .other creditor in securing a subsequent mortgage. Certainly the jury ought to have been permitted to pass on the question whether the bank officers were guilty of misconduct toward plaintiffs below in assisting other creditors of H. Godehard & Co. to obtain
Counsel for defendants in error challenge the sufficiency of the record on the ground that it does not' cdntain all the evidence introduced on the trial. There is no merit in this contention. At the conclusion of the testimony of the witnesses there is this recital : ‘ ‘ And this was all the evidence given in the case.”
The judgment of the court is reversed and a new ■ trial ordered.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Albert A. Sprague v. The Farmers' National Bank of Arkansas City, Kansas
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- SYLLABUS BY THE COURT. Banks and Banking — Collections—Notice to Owner of Non-payment. It is the duty of a bank receiving commercial paper for collection before it is due to present it to the maker for payment at maturity, and, if payment be refused, immediately to notify the holder. In a case where the duty to give such notice was neglected, and the bank, after the maturity of the note and while holding it for collection, took from the maker a chattel mortgage to itself, and assisted another creditor in obtaining a mortgage, covering all the debtor’s property, by reason of which the note was rendered uncollectable, it was error for the court to take from the jury the question of the bank’s liability for the amount of the note.