McKee v. District National Bank
McKee v. District National Bank
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court:
The assignments of error present a question of law only. The contention is that the effect of the first rubber stamp indorsement is to constitute the plaintiff the holder of the note for the credit of the Samuel H. Moore Company, and the second is a guaranty of payment merely by the Samuel H. Moore Company and Samuel H. Moore, and not sufficient to pass the legal title to the plaintiff. The case relied on in support of the contention is Central Trust Co. v. First Nat. Bank, 101 U. S. 68, 25 L. ed. 816. In that case the Wyandotte Bank, under an arrangement with the Cook County Bank, executed its note for $5,000 to the order of the latter bank. The arrangement was that the Wyandotte Bank should execute the note, and have the same discounted by the Cook County Bank. The proceeds were to be entered to the credit of the Wyandotte Bank, but not to be drawn against so as to reduce it below $4,000. To the note were attached as collateral security certain county bonds of the face value of $6,000. The Cook County, Bank was to hold the note as a memorandum, and it was not to be negotiated or separated from the bonds. The sum of $4,000 remained on deposit as agreed, until the Cook County Bank failed and passed into the hands of a receiver. At that time there was an additional credit of the Wyandotte Bank of $868. Before the maturity of the note the Cook County Bank, in violation of the agreement, delivered the note to the trust company, the bonds being retained. The trust company had no knowledge of the agreement concerning the note. The Wyandotte Bank, tendering the balance of $132, filed a bill against the
The conditions of tbe case at bar are quite different. Tbe note was first indorsed in blank by tbe Samuel H. Moore Company and Samuel H. Moore. It was discounted, and tbe proceeds paid over to tbe indorser. Tbe affidavit of defense, following tbe pleas, does not deny tbe execution and delivery of tbe note, nor does it allege any equity of tbe maker against tbe payee. It raises tbe question of legal ownership only by tbe plaintiff. Tbe first indorsement was sufficient to pass tbe title to tbe indorsee. Code sec. 1334. Even if tbe subsequent rubber stamp indorsements are to be considered as restrictions of tbe first, constituting tbe indorsee tbe agent or trustee, merely, of tbe indorser, tbe indorsee has tbe right to bring any action
Whether the first indorsement was restricted or qualified by the subsequent indorsements (one unsigned, the other signed), so that any equities of the maker against the payee would be preserved, is a question that does not arise.
We find no error in the judgment, and it will be affirmed, with costs. Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- McKEE v. DISTRICT NATIONAL BANK
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Bills and Notes; Affidavits of Defense; Corporations. In an action by the holder of a promissory note, a bank, against the maker and indorser, an affidavit of defense by the maker, to the effect that the plaintiff is not tho legal owner and holder of the note, is insufficient to prevent a summary judgment against him, where it appears that the note was payable to a corporation; that it was first indorsed by the corporation, and then by an individual, and then indorsed for deposit to the credit of the corporation, which last indorsement was signed by the corporation by its president, and was followed by a guaranty of payment and a waiver of protest, demand, and notice, signed by the corporation and its president. (Citing secs. 1334 and 1341, D. C. Code [31 Stat. at L. 1399, 1400, chap. 854.]