Merchants' & Manufacturers' Nat. Bank v. Galbraith
Opinion of the Court
This is an appeal from a judgment disallowing a claim against the bankrupt. The claim presented by the appellant was based upon a contract in these words:
“Columbus, Ohio, January 20, ,1902.
“On demand after date, for value received, we jointly and severally promise to pay the Merchants’ & Manufacturers’ National Bank, of Columbus, or order, twenty-five thousand dollars, at its banking house in Columbus, O., with Interest after date at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum until paid.
“Milton W. Strait
“Credits:
“Int. pd. to April 30, 1902.
“Int. pd. to Oct. 31, 1902.
“Int. pd. to Api. 30, 1903.
“Int. pd. to Oct. 31, 1903.
“Int. pd. to Api. 30, 1904.
“Int. pd. to Oct. 31, 1904.’’
The defense against it was that it was accommodation paper made for the accommodation of the Merchants’ & Manufacturers’ National Bank, the creditor, now the appellant. Both the referee and district judge disallowed the claim as based upon no consideration, although the evidence in behalf of the bank was materially strengthened after the referee’s ruling. The bankrupt, Milton W. Strait, carried on a small banking business at Columbus, Ohio, under the name of the “Franklin County Bank.” This bank was not a member of the Clearing House Association of Columbus. The appealing creditor was a national bank doing business in the same city and was a member of the Clearing House Association. The latter bank by agreement undertook to “clear” checks drawn against Strait’s bank, and had done so for a considerable time prior to the events now to be detailed. During the year 1903, William D. Park was the president of the national
Ex. A-l. Columbus, Ohio, Sep. 8, 1900. '
No.....Ex. B. Ex. A-l. O. K. G.
(2c Internal Revenue)
| Documentary Stamp.)
Eranldin County Bank.
Pay to M. W. Strait, or order,
Five thousand.....................................................Dollars
$5,000.00. W. D. Park.
Counter Check.
Ex. A-2. Columbus, Ohio, 1-15-1900.
No.----Ex. a Ex. A-2. O. K. G.
(2c Internal Revenue ) t Documentary Stamp, f
Franklin County Bank.
Pay to W. D. Park, or order,
Ten thousand.....................................................Dollars.
$10,000.00. W. D. Park.
Counter Check.
Indorsed:
Pay to the order of any Bank or Banker, Merchants’ and Mfrs.’ National Bank, Columbus, Ohio.
Howard C. Park, Cashier.
Ex. A-3. Columbus, Ohio, Jany., 26, 1901.
No.....Ex. D. Ex. A-3. O. K. G.
(2 c Internal Revenue) . { Documentary Stamp. (
Franklin County Bank.
Pay to H. C. Park, Cas. .. .........or bearer,
Ten thousand............ ............Dollars.
$10,000.00. W. D. Park.
Counter Check.
Indorsed:
Pay to the order of any Bank or Banker, Merchants’ and Mfrs.’ National Bank, Columbus, Ohio. Howard C. Park, Cashier.
These checks were “cleared” by the Merchants’ & Manufacturers’ Bank, and the Franklin Bank became thereby debtor to the Merchants’ & Manufacturers’ Bank. Park had no account with the Franklin Bank, but drew the checks with the express consent of Strait. Strait’s own story about the first of these checks was that:
“Mr. Park telephoned me for permission to clear a check of $5,000 on us for a few days and I told him he could.”
The same telephonic request was made for permission “to clear” the two subsequent checks for $10,000 each. The plain import of the authority given to Park was that he might individually draw these several checks and that they would be paid in the usual course of clearing house business, however used by him. Were these checks drawn for the accommodation of Park individually or of the Merchants’ &
It is further shown that these checks as they were severally “cleared” were returned to the Franklin Bank along with other checks likewise cleared in ordinary course of business. The checks, when returned, were accompanied b}^ the usual clearing house slips containing a list •of checks cleared that day by the Merchants’ & Manufacturers’ Bank for the Franklin Bank. The checks and these slips were duly received by Strait, and both have been produced in evidence by him. The memorandum slips included these checks, and undoubtedly informed Strait that the checks had been paid or “cleared” by the Merchants’ & Manufacturers’ Bank in the usual course of clearing house business. The result of the transactions was to leave the Franklin Bank debtor to the Merchants’ & Manufacturers’ Bank to the amount of the checks. That fact accordingly appears on the books of that bank, and the account stood overdrawn until settled by the execution of Strait’s note, the one here involved. Another consequence was that Park stood debtor to the Franklin Bank in the sum of $25,000. He had no deposit account in that bank, and.the checks themselves were the only evidence of his indebtedness. This indebtedness stood in that shape until Park gave his note for $25,000 to the Franklin Bank, attaching these three checks to the same, with the memorandum styling them “collateral.” Park’s note is as follows:
No. 2,301. Due 1-21-02.
$25,000.00 Columbus, Ohio, Jany. 20, 1901.
On demand............... after date, for value received we jointly and
.severally promise to pay Franklin County Bank, or order, twenty-five thousand ................Dollars, at the Merchants’ & Manufacturers’ National Bank, of Columbus, in Columbus, Ohio, with interest after date at the rate' of •6 per cent per annum until paid.
.2 cks of 10 M each W. D. Park.
1 cks of 5 M each.
This note and the note of Strait are for identical sums and bear ■.same date. Manifestly these facts plainly indicate that these checks were for the personal accommodation of Park and confirm his posi
The judgment disallowing the claim must be reversed, and the case remanded, with directions to allow the claim. The costs will be paid by the trustee out of the funds in his hands.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- MERCHANTS' & MANUFACTURERS' NAT. BANK OF COLUMBUS, OHIO v. GALBRAITH
- Status
- Published