Thompson v. Harmon
Thompson v. Harmon
Opinion of the Court
On December 23, 1905, W. R. Thompson, W. A. Green, and J. Z. Carter entered into a written contract to organize and operate a bank at Newark, Tex., as a private partnership; all of the partners being equal, and Green to be cashier and have immediate charge and be the active manager of the bank. These parties began business at Newark on March 1, 1906, in the name of the Citizens’ Bank of Newark, Unincorporated, with W. R. Thompson president, J. Z. Carter vice president, and W. A. Green cashier. W. R. Thompson prior to the organization of the bank visited Newark and talked to a number of citizens, informing them of the contemplated organization of the bank and of his connection therewith, and desiring them to give to the bank their business. The following circular letter, known to each partner, was mailed out broadcast throughout the community of Newark: “W. R. Thompson, President. J. Z. Carter, Vice President. W. A. Green, Cashier. The Citizens’ Bank (Unincorporated). Newark, Texas, March 1, 1906. Dear Sir: We desire to announce that the Citizens’ Bank of Newark, Texas, opened for business Thursday, March 1, 1906. The individual responsibility of the bank is over one hundred thousand dollars, giving us ample capital to conduct an up-to-date banking business. We have spared no pains in our equipment, which is first class in every respect, and consists of a substantial new brick building, elegant vault, fire and burglar proof safe. Our customers will be protected against loss by a full line of burglar insurance. We solicit the business of Newark and surrounding territory, with the assurance that every courtesy- consistent with good sound banking principles will be extended to our patrons. Call in to see us when in Newark. Very truly, The Citizens’ Bank, W. A. Green, Cashier.” These letters were received by numerous members of the community, and gave general publicity to the bank and its partners in that community. W. R. Thompson was the strong financial member of the firm. He at that time was interested in two or three other' banks, and had been for several years. He was a physician in Ft. Worth, where he had practiced for many years and enjoyed a lucrative practice. He admitted on the trial that he was worth at the time the bank was organized between $50,000 and $75,000. J. Z. Carter was cashier of a private bank in Paradise, 12 or 15 miles from Newark, and was worth from $5,000 to $6,000. Green, it appears, was a man of small means. W. R. Thompson’s reputation for solvency and financial responsibility was well known in the Newark community; several of the patrons of the bank understanding, it appears, that his wealth amounted to above $100,000. The stationery used by the bank from its beginning was the same as that used in the circular letter. The notices sent out with regard to collection of notes, and other stationery used by the bank, all carried the superscription: “Citizens’ Bank of Newark, Unincorporated. W. R. Thompson, President. J. Z. Carter, Vice President. W. A. Green, Cashier.” W. A. Green was in active charge of the bank and was invested with its whole control and management, so far as the community at large had dealings with the bank. A lot was purchased in Newark and a deed made thereto to the partnership, and a substantial building was erected on the lot. As a matter of fact, it appears only a thousand dollars apiece had been put into the bank by each of the partners.
In October, 1907, during the severe financial panic at that time prevailing generally, it appears that an arrangement was made between W. R. Thompson and J. Z. Carter and W. A. Green whereby Thompson and Carter sold out their interest in the banking business to W. A. Green. The appellee contended that this sale was simply a collusive or pretended sale of the partnership, and was not one made in good faith. The appellants claim that the sale was a bona fide sale. In view of the verdict of the jury there is involved a finding on this question in favor of the appellants, and it becomes unnecessary for the purposes of this appeal to set out the testimony on this phase of the case. The bank continued to do business from the date of the alleged sale by the two partners until January 13, 1911, when it finally suspended business, in the same name and in the same bank building and with W. A. Green as cashier in active charge and management of the same. The same stationery was used without change during the entire period, carrying the *1163 names of W. R. Thompson, president, J. Z. Carter, vice president, and W. A. Green, cashier, at the top of each letter head and business notice. It was used freely and at all times in carrying on business of the bank. No notice of any kind was given by either Thompson, or Carter, or Green, of the asserted dissolution of the partnership, to any customer or depositor of the bank, or to any member of the business community in Newark. Newark is a town of 200 or 300 people, and had some 5 or 6 stores, and was about IS miles distant from Ft. Worth. After the alleged dissolution Carter was in Newark a number of times. It does appear that W. R. Thompson was not in Newark after the dissolution. The only change ever made about the bank was by adding a glass sign in front reading: “Citizens’ Bank. Deposits Guaranteed.” W. R. Thompson admitted that he did not give any notice to the people at Newark that he and Carter had sold out their interest. His testimony was: “I did not give any notice to the people at Newark that were doing business with this bank that Carter and I had sold out. I did not post any notice on the door of the bank saying that we had disposed of our interest in it and Green was the sole owner. I did not advertise in any newspaper that Carter and I had parted with our interest in that bank. I did not write a single customer a single letter or postal card advising them of that fact. I did not consider it necessary. I depended upon Green most implicitly, and relied upon him. I did not take any steps whatever to get on the train and go to that community and tell the people there that Thompson and Carter had severed their connection with the bank. I did not invest in a postage stamp to that effect. I did not know that the community up there had put their money in the bank largely upon the faith of my being behind the bank. I supposed that had influenced them. I was the responsible man of the three men. They were not as responsible as I was.” It was shown that the general opinion prevailed in the community of Newark that W. R. Thompson was a member of the bank, as was also Carter, up to the date of its suspension. At the time the bank closed its doors in January, 1911, it owed 149 depositors an aggregate of $20,008.47. These depositors assigned their claims to appellee, Harmon, himself a depositor.
Acting for the bank in the ordinary course of its business, W. A. Green assumed in September, 1908, the Oatis vendor’s lien note sued on.
Claiming that he and those under whom he claims were depositors in the bank upon the faith and belief and in reliance that appellants were members of the firm, appellee sues the appellants, both individually and as surviving members of a partnership. The trial was to a jury, and in accordance with, their verdict judgment was entered in favor of appellee.
Until due notice of dissolution of the partnership shown to exist and generally known to exist has been shown, there does not appear any knowledge on the part of third persons dealing in the firm name and upon the faith of the partnership of the withdrawal of any of the members, and from the lack of this essential requirement of knowledge on the part of third persons of the withdrawal it will be considered that the implied power of every partner to bind the others still exists, as to third parties, as to obligations incurred and dealings had by the remaining partner in the usual course of the business in the firm name. . 30 Cyc. 670. See Presumption of Continuance of Facts, 1 Greenleaf, § 42; 1 Rice on Evidence, § 42. The principle is in accordance with the rule ordinarily applied to principal and agent — that a principal on revoking an agency must give notice thereof to make the revocation effective as to third persons. 1 Clark & Skyles on Agency, § 173. The rights of the parties are in effect measured by the underlying principle that, if one of two innocent parties must suffer, the loss must be borne by him whose acts contributed to bring about the state of things which caused the loss. Those who have had dealings with and given credit to the partnership during its existence are entitled to have personal or actual notice of its dissolution, and the burden of proving this is on the retiring partner. Davis v. Willis, 47 Tex. 154; Laird v. Ivens, 45 Tex. 621; Sibley v. Parsons, 93 Mich. 538, 53 N. W. 786; Sinclair v. Hollister, 14 Misc. Rep. 607, 36 N. Y. Supp. 460; 38 Century Digest “Partnership,” § 653, for full authorities. And public notice in some reasonable and sufficient manner must be given in order to conclude all persons who might thereafter have dealings in the name of the firm and upon the faith of the known partnership. Lucas v. Bank, 2 Stew. (Ala.) 280; Solomon v. Hollander, 55 Mich. 256, 21 *1165 N. W. 336; Ellison et al. v. Sexton, 105 N. 0. 356, 11 S. E. 180, 18 Am. St. Rep. 907; Polk v. Oliver, 56 Miss. 568. The latter portion of this instruction, it is to be observed, made recovery by a creditor dependent upon a want of notice, either actual or constructive, of the withdrawal of appellants from the firm. We deem it unnecessary to here further discuss the objections, and the assignments are overruled.
We have considered all the other assignments, and are of opinion that they do not furnish a ground requiring the reversal of the judgment.
The judgment will be so reformed as to disallow recovery on the claim of Mrs. Green, and as so reformed will be affirmed, with costs of appeal taxed against appellee.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- THOMPSON Et Al. v. HARMON
- Cited By
- 6 cases
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- Published