Fisher v. Hanover Nat. Bank

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Fisher v. Hanover Nat. Bank, 64 F. 832 (2d Cir. 1894)
12 C.C.A. 430; 1894 U.S. App. LEXIS 2550

Fisher v. Hanover Nat. Bank

Opinion of the Court

LACOMBE, Circuit Judge.

The Spring Garden National Bank of Philadelphia was taken possession of by the bank examiner, by direction of the comptroller of the currency, on May 8, 1891, it being then insolvent. The plaintiff in error was duly appointed its receiver. On May 8, 1891, the Hanover National Bank of .New York was indebted to the Spring Garden Bank in the sum of $9,688.17, balance of deposit account. At the same time the Hanover Bank held a note of the Spring Garden Bank originally for $80,000, on which $o,000 had been paid, and secured by a pledge of several promissory notes as collateral security. This action was brought to recover the deposit balance and the collaterals, or their proceeds. When the proofs were completed, however, all question as to the col-laterals was eliminated from the case, and the only point, left to be determined is whether the Hanover Bank was entitled to set off its claim upon the $80,000 note against the receiver’s claim for the deposit balance.

The note of the Spring Garden Bank ivas a demand note, and the evidence shows that “about 11 o’clock of May 8,1891, or shortly after,” the Hanover Bank telegraphed the Spring Garden Bank, calling the loan for immediate payment. The bank examiner took possession of the latter bank “some time between 11 and 12 o’clock on the 8th of May, 1891.” On the day of the failure, therefore, the defendant bank owed the Spring Garden Bank the balance of deposits, and the Spring Garden Bank owed defendant bank the amount of the loan. There is no reason in justice or in equity why a court should be astute to divide the da.y into fractions, in order to deprive the solvent *833debtor of a righteous defense. On May 8, 1891, both were debts presently due, and either was a proper set-off against the other. Judgment of the circuit court affirmed.

Reference

Full Case Name
FISHER v. HANOVER NAT. BANK
Status
Published