Freeman v. Bank of Commerce
Freeman v. Bank of Commerce
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
§ 338. Foreign banking corporation; right to sue in this state; section 16, article 16, of the constitution construed; case stated. One Ayres, a grain dealer in Kansas City, Missouri, sold to appellants a car-load of corn to be delivered free on board the cars at Kaufman, Texas, and to be paid for by appellants when so delivered. Ayres shipped the corn, taking therefor the railroad company’s bill of lading, to his order. He indorsed said bill of lading to appellee, and drew a check upon appellants at Kaufman, Texas, for $215, the agreed price of said corn. Appellee paid Ayres for said check its full face value, less exchange, and forwarded said check to Kaufman, Texas, for collection. Appellants refused to pay said check, although the corn had arrived at Kaufman and was ready for delivery to them. They claimed that Ayres owed them $50 or $60 on a previous transaction, and refused to pay said check until he would settle their said claim. The check having been returned to appellee
§ 339. Banking corporation; ultra vires; power to take collateral security. It is also insisted by counsel for appellants that appellee, being a banking corporation, could not buy, sell, own or sue for the recovery of agricultural products, either directly or indirectly. That it purchased said corn, and that said purchase was ultra vires. Held: Appellants did not purchase and own the corn absolutely. It purchased the check of Ayres, and held the bill of lading of the corn as collateral security for the1 payment of the check. Such was the legal effect of the transaction. Ayres did not sell the corn to appellee, for he had sold it to appellants and had delivered it to them under the contract. The transaction between Ayres and appellee was a usual and legitimate one in the conduct of a banking business, and such as is recognized as being within the legal scope of the powers of such a corporation.
§ 340. Transfer of bill of lading; effect of. Appellee’s right with respect to the com was acquired by the transfer to it, by Ayres, of the bill of lading therefor, which transfer was made without notice to appellee of appellants’ claim against Ayres, and therefore appellee’s right to the com could not be defeated in whole or in part by appellants’ claim against Ayres. Nor did the subsequent change of drafts between appellee and Ayres in any way interrupt or impair appellee’s rights.
Affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.