Dunn v. National Bank
Dunn v. National Bank
Opinion of the Court
This is an action upon a certificate of deposit, which is in words and figures as follows: “National Bank of Canton. S695. Canton, South Dakota, Mar. 8, 1895. J. A. Keller has deposited in this bank six hundred ninety-five and no-100 dollars, payable to the order of himself on the return of this certificate properly indorsed; interest at 7 per cent, per annum, if left 12 months. No interest after 12 months. P. H. Bacon, Pt. No. 1,384. Not subject to check.” The plaintiff claimed as indorsee of the said certificate. The defendant, in its answer, set up that one J. A. Keller was the real owner of the certificate of deposit, and that it was obtained from him by one Plummer and associates by means of fraud. , The said J. A. Keller intervened, and also set up in his answer that the said certificate was obtained from him by means of fraud on the part of the plaintiff and the said William M. Plummer and associates. On the trial the court directed a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, and from the judgment and order denying a new trial both the defendant and the intervener appealed to this court.
The principal question to be considered is, was the court justified under the evidence, in directing a verdict for the plaintiff? There is, however, a preliminary quesoion arising upon a motion oo dismiss the appeal on the ground that the same had not been properly perfected. The defendant and intervener on the 9th of February, 1898, served a notice of appeal, and undertaking on appeal, and caused the same to be properly filed. On the 17th of the same month the defendant
One other preliminary question is involved in the case, and that is the right of Keller, who claimed to be the owner of the certificate of deposit, to intervene in this action. It seems to us that it clearly comes within the provisions of the statute authorizing a party to intervene (Comp. Laws, § 4886). Stilch v. Dickinson, 88 Cal. 608; Taylor v. Bank, 9 S. D. 572, 70 N. W. 834; Coffey v. Greenfield, 55 Cal. 382.
Respondent also contends that, as the order denying the motion for a new trial was not properly entered before the ap
This brings us to the consideration of the main question involved in this action. It appears clearly from the evidence that Keller, the payee in the certificate of deposit, had the same in his possession in the city of Houston, in the state of Texas, in December, 1895; that he was induced by certain parties to visit a gambling house apparently presided over by the indorser, Wm. M. Plummer; that while in said gambling house he was induced to engage in a game, and the certificate of deposit was obtained from him by said Plummer, and parties connected with him in the establishment under the pretense that he (Keller) had lost the same at the game. Keller was then induced by Plummer to go to the place kept by the plaintiff, Dftnn, which seems to have been a sort of small banking establishment, and a place where money was loaned on personal properties, in the same block in which Plummer had his gambling place. There the certificate was transferred to Dunn, and a small amount of money, not exceeding $50, appears to have been paid to Plummer in cash, and credit given to him for the balance of the certificate. Some two days after Keller'made complaint to the police of the city of Houston, and Plummer was arrested on the charge of obtaining this certificate from Keller by fraud. Upon Plummer’s being arrested, the plaintiff went upon his bond as security for his appearance at the court to answer the charge made. What resulted from the charge does not clearly appear
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Dunn v. National Bank of Canton (Keller, Intervener.)
- Cited By
- 10 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. The justification of the sureties on an undertaking on appeal will be deemed sufficient, where, on being excepted to, they appeared before a justice of the peace in pursuance of notice to respondent, and filed a new undertaking, which was approved by such justice. 2. Under Comp. Laws, § 4886, authorizing the intervention of any person interested in the matter in litigation adversely to either party or to both, the payee named in a certificate of deposit, who claimed to be the owner thereof, was entitled to intervene in an action thereon by the holder, who was alleged to have obtained it through fraud. S. The evidence may be reviewed on appeal, without a motion for a new trial, for the purpose of determining alleged error in directing a verdict. , 4. Where it appeared, in an action on a certificate of deposit, that such certificate had been transferred to plaintiff by one who had obtained it from the original owner through fraud, plaintiff became charged with the burden of proving both his good faith and the fact that he paid a valuable consideration therefor. 5. In an action on a certificate of deposit by one claiming as indorsee, defendant and the payee, who intervened, both claimed that the latter was the owner thereof, and that it had been obtained from him through fraud. It appeared from the evidence that the certificate in question was taken from intervener, in a gambling house, by certain persons, under pretense that he had lost it in a game, and transferred by the proprietor of such house to plaintiff, who was a pawnbroker, doing business in the same block, and who paid but a small sum thereon at the time, and afterwards went oh the appearance bond of such gambler, when arrested, on complaint of intervener, for fraud. It also appeared that plaintiff was well acquainted with such gambler, and knew in what business he was engaged, and that, though intervener was present when sucl} certificate was transferred to him, ho made no inquiry of him in regard thereto. Held that, under such circumstances, the question whether plaintiff had shown his good fn.ith, and that he had paid value for such certificate, was a question of fact for the jury.