Smith v. Zink
Smith v. Zink
Opinion of the Court
The Real Estate Building and Loan Association (a corporation) in May, 1897, owned a house and lot in Ellendale, St. Louis county, which it desired to sell. William Zink, defendant, was the secretary of the corporation and also a member of a real estate firm in the city of St. Louis, doing business under the firm name of Zink & Company. On May 25, 1897, the plaintiff addressed and caused to be put in the hands of William Zink as secretary of the corporation, an offer of $3,000 cash for the house and lot, subject to the acceptance of the board of directors of the company. Accompanying 'the written proposal was a check for $50 payable to William Zink & Company, which plaintiff requested defendant to return if his offer was not accepted. The offer was to remain good until the twenty-ninth of May. Zink called on plaintiff after receiving the offer and asked him to extend the time as the board of directors did not meet until June 1. Plaintiff agreed to extend the time until June 2. The board of directors met on June 1, and Zink made known to the board that he had an offer of $3,000 for the
The bid of respondent was addressed to appellant as secretary of the corporation; it was this bid that he requested respondent to continue until the board should meet, and it was this bid he informed the board had been made, he had no other, and it was respondent’s check of $50 he converted in part payment of this bid before respondent made the second bid. It was on the acceptance of this bid that his firm was allowed a commission of $15 on the sale, and it was this bid which he falsely and fraudulently reported to the plaintiff had been rejected, for the purpose of inducing plaintiff to part with an additional $100. By this false and fraudulent statement he did induce the plaintiff to pay him not the corporation, $100, which sum he converted to his own use. The jury and trial court refused to be blinded, or be hoodwinked by his false testimony as to the transaction. They found that he had procured respondent’s money by fraud and falsehood, and adjudged that he should refund it, and so adjudge we, and affirm the judgment of the lower court.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.