First State Bank of Dunn Center v. Northern Trust Co.
First State Bank of Dunn Center v. Northern Trust Co.
Opinion of the Court
This is an action on a fidelity bond. The jury returned a verdict in plaintiff’s favor for $10,000, the amount of the bond. Defendants have appealed from the judgment and from an order denying judgment non obstante, or, in the alternative, a new trial.
The complaint alleges a breach of the bond in the years 1919, 1920, and up to January 14th, 1921, through the embezzlement of plaintiff’s cashier, the principal in the bond.
The record is voluminous. Numerous exhibits were introduced. A week was consumed in taking evidence. The record has been carefully examined. Only the facts, necessary for the consideration of the decision, will be stated. They are as follows: Prom May, 1914, until about June 1st, 1921, the defendant Heen was cashier of the plaintiff bank. During that time the defendants were obligated to the plaintiff upon a fidelity bond. This bond provides that the employee shall, in the position of cashier, make good to the employer within thirty days, any loss sustained by the employer through larceny or embezzlement committed by the employee. One Schriver was a farmer engaged in operating around 2,000 acres of land near Dunn Center. He did business with the plaintiff bank and other banks in Dunn Center and Werner. In May, 1918, from the plaintiff bank, he made a loan for $100. Schriver testified that he and Heen, in that year, were jointly interested in a flax crop upon 40 acres of land rented by Schriver. The agreement, not in writing, was that Heen should let Schriver have money and Schriver was to give Heen part of the crop; that Heen would loan him some money from the bank. In 1919 they were again jointly inter
Schriver further testified that, in September or October, 1919, he and Heen bought some hogs together; the deal involved some $600 or $700; he issued a check on the bank; it went through; later, he gave a note therefor; ITeen was entitled to receive half of the profits and agreed to furnish the money; they bought about thirty sows and pigs; Schriver contracted for buttermilk with a creamery and received it; Heen knew about this arrangement; finally he sold some of the hogs at a sale, killed some of them, and shipped some of them to St. Paul; he has two full blooded sows left; during the big snow storm in 1920 he lost 100 head of hogs and pigs and other property; upon the hogs that he bought, the bank had a first lien.
On October 6th, 1919, Schriver gave to Heen a bill of sale of one-half interest in the hogs. Then, as he testified, Heen did not know he was giving a bill of sale of his interest in the hogs. On August 25th, 1921, Heen transferred his interest, received from Schriver, to the bank. Heen denies any partnership arrangement concerning the hogs. He explains that this bill of sale was taken to protect the bank. The record does not disclose that he received any moneys or profit in this hog venture excepting hog meat brought by Schriver for Heen’s personal consumption. The record further discloses that from September, 1919, to January 1st, 1920, the indebtedness of Schriver at the bank through loans increased to $2,700. Among the loans constituting this increased indebtedness are four notes aggregating over $1,500, which, from the record, apparently, concerned the hogs.
Schriver further testified: In the fall of 1919 he advised Heen that he was going to sell out; he had insufficient money to continue farming; he told Heen that he would furnish all machinery, horses, time, and everything, if Heen would furnish the money and pay half of the expenses excepting groceries, Pleen agreed to go in with him. Later, in April or May, 1920, a contract dated January 12th, 1920, was made between Schriver and Heen. It transfers to Heen half of all grain raised during the season of 1920 upon some 2,000 acres of land; it,requires Heen to pay for half of the seed grain and -half of the hired expenses such as gasolene, oil, sharpening plow lays, and feed for spring
Sehriver further testified: In 1919 he threshed around 2,000 bushels of wheat, receiving from one bushel to two bushels per acre; he did not cut his flax, oats, or speltz; there was nothing left after the thresher was paid. In 1920, pursuant to this contract, he put in about 1,000 or 1,100 acres; he .got the money to carry on his farming operations from the plaintiff bank; every nickel he received from the bank was used in his farming operations. During the fall and the early part of 1920 Sehriver shipped in corn, oats, speltz, and hay. Money was secured from the bank to pay bills of lading therefor. Sehriver figured on selling some of the grain and making a profit thereupon. Tie did sell some grain. All moneys received in such sales were paid into the bank. Sehriver received no money from such transactions. The proceeds were credited to his account. However, concerning corn sold, he received a profit in the form of five or six loads which he hauled to the farm and used for feed. Also he exchanged some seed speltz for seed wheat.
Throughout 1920, Sehriver issued checks from time to time. These were paid by the bank. Overdrafts occurred. From time to time notes 'were given by Sehriver to take up these overdrafts. On March 29th, 1920, Sehriver gave a note for $2,400 secured by chattel mortgage on fifty-one head of cattle and increase. Sehriver advised TIeen that he could not give a first mortgage. Heen said it would be satisfactory as security just the same. This note for $2,400, apparently, he credited on Schriver’s account March 29th, 1920. At that time his account showed an overdraft of $1,100. The abstract of chattel mortgages against Schriver’s cattle at that time showed a chattel mortgage on three head of heifers, another on five head of cattle, another for two cows, another for one bull, and another to the plaintiff for five head of cattle. Sehriver testified that in the fall of 1919 he had fifty-one head of cattle. He sold two and lost thirteen in the spring of 1920.
In 1920, upon Schriver’s crops, extensive hail insurance, both state and old line, was secured. The old line insurance was approximately $5,000. The state, $4,200. Some hail insurance was issued jointly to
W. A. McClure testified: He has been president and director of the bank since its organization in 1913. For about eighteen months or two years prior to August, 1919, he was actively engaged in the bank. Heen generally made all loans. Once in a while McClure would make a small loan. In January, 1920, the board of directors considered the Schriver loans. ■ Mr. Heen assured them that the loans were well secured and
F. E. McClure testified: He has been a stockholder since the organization of the bank. He was a director from January, 1921, until June, 1921. He came to the bank in September, 1920, to assist in collections generally. He was there assisting the cashier, after consulting with the board of directors and the president of the bank. While there he and Heen went to see Schriver about his obligations; they saw him in Wer-ner in October, 1920; Schriver stated that it was impossible for him to pay any amount then; that the grain in the elevator could not be sold without Heen’s consent, nor could ITeen sell it without his consent ; that it was stored in the name of Heen & Schriver. At the bank in December, 1920, he saw the contract between Heen and Schriver. Heen produced it without hesitation.
Bailey testified: He has been a director since 1917. He was present
Schulberg testified: He was a director from February, 1917, until May, 1921. He learned about the contract between December 1st and loth, 1920. The minutes of the board of directors show that in January and July, 1920, the examining committee certified that the assets of the bank were not being carried in excess of actual value. Minutes of October 16th, 1920, authorized an abstract of the Schriver property to be obtained and to proceed to collect indebtedness due the bank. On December 1st, 1920, a special meeting of the directors was held but no consideration of the Schriver loan was made. The minutes of the meeting January 25th, 1921, show that Heen and Hintz were continued respectively as cashier and assistant cashier, to receive for their services the same wages paid them the past year. Also, that the examining committee made a thorough examination of the bank and found the assets not to be carried in excess of their actual value.
Taker testified: He was a director from February, 1917, until May, 1921. He was a member of the auditing committee. At the meeting in January, 1920, Heen told him the Schriver loans were good loans and well secured. lie first met Schriver in October, 1920. He was present at a meeting of the board of directors on October 16th, 1920. He was at the bank assisting in collections from that time until about March 1st, 1921, excepting election time when he was away about throe weeks. He first learned of this contract between Heen and Schriver some time between December 1st and 15th, 1920. He had some talk with Heen about the Heen & Schriver account in October, 1920. He talked with Heen about charging off some memorandum notes signed by Heen and Schriver against this Heen and Schriver account. He and Mr. Heen, during the winter of 1920-21 endeavored to make a settlement with Schriver concerning this indebtedness. He was willing to make a deal with Schriver and allow him to have seed wheat to plant for the crop of 1921, to secure the indebtedness of the bank by a mortgage on that crop, and to make settlement in that way but not to advance any money to Schriver for expenses.
Thomson testified: He is the state’s attorney; he was attorney for
On January 14th, 1921, McClure, the president, sent to the trust company a telegram and letter to the effect that Heen had misappropriated funds belonging to the bank, in that he had made loans to Schriver in large amounts the proceeds of which went to his benefit. A meeting was held at Dickinson attended by the president of the trust company, the president of the bank, and Iieen. The loans made by Heen were considered. Heen stated there was no criminal intent; that the loans would work out. The president of the trust company advised that no criminal intent appeared and there was no liability under the bond; that the directors should get together and work the matter out.
Heen continued to work at the bank. He and the directors attempted to adjust the Schriver loans. The 1920 crop was still unliquidated. Schriver desired to secure seed for the farming season of 1921 and also assurance of financial aid. Liens upon the 1920 crop needed adjustment. The directors of the bank were willing that an adjustment be made with Schriver but were unwilling that any more moneys be furnished him for the season of 1921. Finally, in March, 1921, a written contract signed by Schriver and the bank, through ITeen as cashier, was made. It provides that the bank shall pay out of the 1920 crop certain liens thereupon and shall apply the balance upon Schriver’s account with the bank; that the bank shall loan to Schriver, during the season of 1921, not exceeding $950 for purposes of paying expenses incidental to seeding the 1921 crops upon some 1,600 acres of land.
Accordingly, all of the outstanding loans were renewed and evidenced by new notes signed by Schriver totaling $14,269.05. Additional security was taken upon the 1921 crop and all of the former notes and chattel security therefor were retained as collateral to such new notes. These notes were registered, or entered, in April and May, 1921. In April, 1921, another new note for $950 rvas made by Schriver and his account credited with such amount. The directors deny any authority on the part of Heen to make such agreement with Schriver. In May, 1921, one Davis, an examiner for the Bank of North Dakota, appeared
At tbe time of the trial Schriver was threshing tbe 1921 crop. Tbe bank bad a man checking tbe operations. There was testimony to tbe effect that tbe bank would receive something out of this 1921 crop. There is also testimony in tbe record to tbe effect that the chattel mortgages taken by Ileen as security for tbe loans made to Schriver were inadequate to cover tbe amount of the advances and in many instances were upon property, or some property, previously mortgaged to other parties. No criminal proceedings were ever instituted against Seen.
Decision.
Tbe defendants have specified a volume of errors. Principally they contend that the evidence fails to establish embezzlement; that the acts of the bank directors and other officials show knowledge and ratification.
In justification of tbe judgment, the plaintiff maintains that tbe loans to Schriver were really loans to Ileen; that these loans were poorly secured and practically worthless; that be took security appearing on its face to be a first loan when he knew it, in fact, not to be; that he represented these loans to be good 'when he knew they were not; that he permitted hogs and cattle covered by mortgages to be shipped and the proceeds dissipated; that he used some hay and feed in his enterprise with Schriver; that he tried to get away with insurance moneys and did get away with over $2,200; that he acted under a contract which no business man could make in good faith.
The transactions are much involved. It is difficult to state the facts without extending the recital into a volume. The gist of plaintiff’s action is embezzlement through misappropriation. The action is not one for negligence or violation of instructions. The embezzlement must be established by facts showing wrongful misappropriation at the timé of commission and not by the consequent results. If Schriver had prospered and the bank had collected all loans and suffered no loss-,
Heen- may have been negligent. He may have violated instructions express or implied. He may have shown a lack of good faith. He may have displayed an overweening optimism and extremely poor business judgment. Nevertheless, the question is, — was he, upon the record, an embezzler ?
If he was, then Schriver, who performed the transactions and received the bank’s money;, perhaps might be equally chargeable with guilt. Wrongful commissions of Schriver are necessary to establish wrongful commissions by Heen. As an accessory, his guilt is the same as that of the principal. Comp. Laws 1913, § 10,705.
If Heen was an embezzler, then the directors and other officials of the bank continued Heen in employment with full authority to act and continue his wrongful commissions, after full knowledge of his relations with Schriver.
There is no evidence shown and there is no claim made that Heen wrongfully secreted the bank’s property. It is not asserted that Heen made any wrongful misappropriation of bank funds by loans to himself. It is not asserted nor shown that Heen in any respect falsified any of the records or books in the bank. All the transactions had between Heen and Schriver were a matter of record, entered either in the bank’s books or in the public record.
The charge of embezzlement depends solely' upon the transactions that Heen had with Schriver in farming operations. To uphold this charge, the plaintiff relies upon misappropriation with fraudulent intent concerning,loans apparently good on their face, but, in fact, poorly secured and practically worthless; upon permitting Schriver to sell mortgaged property and to borrow money and dissipate the proceeds; upon permitting Schriver to use hay, feed, and grain in a joint farming enterprise; in receiving insurance moneys for his own personal use and in malting a contract not in good faith.
It is evident that this criminal charge cannot be upheld so far as the association of Heen and Schriver is concerned in 191.8 concerning the
Concerning the hog venture, Schriver testifies that Iieen was jointly interested. Iieen denies any connection. In any event this discrepancy in the testimony is deemed immaterial. There is no showing in the evidence of misappropriation of any bank funds or hogs by Iieen. lie never received any profit thereupon. The bank had a first chattel mortgage upon the same. It received whatever proceeds accrued in the disposition of the hogs. The venture apparently was unsuccessful. Schriver sustained a large loss in a snow storm in 1920. The bank received the interest that Schriver transferred to Iieen in 1920 by bill of sale.
The transactions had with Schriver in 1920 in farming operations are more involved. It appears clear that the crops of Schriver in 1919 were poor. It was necessary for him to become, if he continued farming, a large borrower. lie was an extensive farmer. lie enjoyed good credit at four different banks. Neither his ability as a farmer nor his credit as a customer has been questioned, except as the fatalities of nature have brought it into question. Heen was in full control of the bank. He enjoyed a wide discretion in making loans. He had been engaged for two seasons with Schriver in a joint venture. Through crop losses Schriver had become a debtor. He was unable to pay such indebtedness. It was necessary for him either to have credit or to quit farming operations. There was no concealment practised in the execution of the contract for the year 1920. It was witnessed by the assistant cashier, who simply explained that ho paid no attention to its contents, and by a director of the bank who does not testify at all concerning his signature thereto. It was then recorded by Heen with the register of deeds. Pursuant to this contract, large amounts of hail insurance were placed. No concealment was practised. A joint note was given for hail insurance premium. A joint application was made for hail insurance and a policy issued to Heen and Schriver jointly. Loans in increasing amounts, pursuant to this contract, continued to be made. Security was taken upon these loans for the bank. The security upon the personal property may have been inadequate and quite insufficient. The security upon the crops was a question of promise; one for nature’s fulfilment. In May, 1920, Heen borrowed $1,000 from
No moneys of the bank were received by him. Whatever moneys Schriver received were expended in farming operations. If they were expended for Heen’s benefit, he assumed, and was willing to assume, responsibility. He was given a large discretion in making loans; he possessed the right to loan to himself and such loans are not questioned.
In the fall of 1920 it is evident that the effect of the crop returns, available or promised, jeopardized the line of credit extended to Schriver. When explanations were requested from Heen by the directors and other officials of the bank, he readily gave the same and produced, without hesitation, the contract with Schriver. Even after the directors and the other banking officials had become fully cognizant of ■Heen’s relations with Schriver, Heen, nevertheless, was continued in his office with the same control and discretion as he formerly had. The acts of the banking officials concerning these farming operations, after full knowledge of Heen’s relations with Schriver, do not show anywhere an interpretation of criminal intent upon the acts of Heen.
It must be noted that in'the fall of 1920 frequent meetings of the
Although it may not be said or be held that the business judgment or practices of Heen may be commended in thus permitting the large extension of credit to Sehriver in 1920, nevertheless, the conclusion cannot be escaped that the directors and other officers of the bank both ■recognized and countenanced this extension and continuation of credit. During the time of the extension and continuation of such credit at least two directors and two officers of the bank, other than Heen, were actively engaged at work in the bank. It is quite evident that these banking officials jettisoned many business practices and much business judgment, consonant with good or conservative banking, in order to
If it be conceded that the evidence discloses the exercise of poor judgment against the best interests of the bank and in some transactions a lack of the best faith, nevertheless, we are convinced that there is a total failure to show any criminal intent or acts on the part of Ileen sufficient to constitute embezzlement. See Ann. Gas. 1917C, 429, note; Farmers State Bank v. Title Guaranty & T. Co. 133 Mo. App. 705, 113 S. W. 1147. Judgment notwithstanding the verdict should be entered in favor of the defendant. The judgment is reversed and the action ordered dismissed with costs.
Concurring Opinion
(specially concurring). I am of the opinion that the principal opinion is correct in its holding to the effect that defendant Ileen was not an' embezzler.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.