Findley v. Cowles

Given, C. J.

I. This action, as originally brought, was to charge C. W. Cowles with an indebtedness to plaintiff in the sum or ten thousand dollar's and interest, and, as it now stands, it is to charge the same to bis estate. Tbe controversy is solely between tbe plaintiff and tbe estate', and wbat is alleged as to tbe original defendants except C. W. Cowles is,so far as pertinent, only material as evidence. Tbe issues between tbe plaintiff and C. W. Cowles will appear from tbe following facts, wbicb are shown by tbe evidence: Prior to February, 1886, Gf. H. Cowles, son of Dr. C. W. Cowles, then residing in Van Burén county, resided at, and was carrying on a private bank at, Osceola. In February, 1886, said bank was incorporated under tbe laws of tbe state as tbe Osceola Bank, with a paid-up capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, of wbicb Dr. Oowles held fifteen thousand dollars. 1 John Bichareis was president, G. H. Cowles vice-president, and O. H. Currier cashier, and continued to occupy such positions during tbe time tbe bank did business. These officers, with others, all but one of whom resided at or near Osceola., constituted tbe board of directors. G. H. Oowles was tbe active manager of tbe business of tbe plaintiff bank. Prior to tbe incorporation of this bank, tbe Lucas Land & Live-Stock Company was incorporated, with thirty thousand dollars capital stock, of wbicb G. H. Oowles held twenty-nine thousand seven hundred'dollars, and of wbicb company be was president. Some time after' tbe bank was incorporated, G. II. Cowles placed therein two certificates, for five thousand dollars each, of tbe capital stock of said land and live-stock company, and was credited therefor at tbe face value thereof. Later' be deposited and took credit for nineteen thousand seven hundred dollars more of tbe stock of said land and live-stock company. Tbe auditor of state, on report of tbe bank examiner, objected to tbe bank carrying even tbe ten thousand dollars of said stock as assets. As this controversy rests upon what took place with res-pect. to the two certificates for the ten thousand dollars of stock, it is not material nor does it fully appear what disposition was made of the nineteen thousand seven hundred dollars of stock. To meet the objection of the auditor, G. H. Cowles placed in the bank two promissory notes, signed C. W. Cowles, dated January 2, 1887, for five thousand dollars each, with eight per cent, interest, payable to the Osceola Bank twelve months after date. Upon-making this deposit, said two certificates were withdrawn from the bank, and, said notes carried as assets. The dates in the entries of bills receivable show that this transaction took place on April 1 or 2, 1887. On January 5, 1888, G. H. Cowles withdrew these notes from the bank, and deposited said two certificates for ten thousand dollars in lieu thereof, the notes being entered on bills receivable as “Paid, Jan. 5, 1888,” though no other payment was made than the return of said shares of stock. At the time the notes were taken up' and the stock returned to the bank, the stock was of but little value. The account of G. H. Cowles with the bank was overdrawn; hence it is apparent that the bank paid to him ten thousand dollars on account of the two stock certificates placed to his credit, and that they became the property of the bank.

While it does not appear under what form of authority G. H. Cowles acted for his father, it is evident that he exercised general control over his father’s business in connection with this bank, and in Clarke county, and that his acts were either auth orized or ratified. It is reasonably clear that G. It. Cowles had the consent of his father to act for him in the conduct of his business in Clarke county. There can be no doubt but that two notes, such as those set out, existed, and that they bore tbe name C. W. Cowles. While there is no direct evidence as to the signing of.saicLnotes, we must conclude that they were signed by O. W. Cowles or by Ms authority, or that G. H. Oowles, or some one with Ms knowledge, committed a forgery. It is. apparent from the business and other relations of G. H. and his father that Dr. Cowles would not have hesitated to sign such notes at the request of his son under the circumstances and for the purpose for which these notes were executed. We are satisfied that 0. W. Cowles signed the notes at the request of G. H. Oowles, with the understanding that they were to be placed in the bank as part of its assets, in lieu of the ten thousand dollars objectionable stock, and that they were to be taken up when it could be done without invoking opposition from the auditor by returning the stock to- the bank. Such was manifestly the purpose of G. H. Cowles, and we do not doubt that he so explained it to his father. The conclusion is irresistible that G. H. Cowles, acting-in his own interest, as owner of the depreciated land and live-stock company’s stock, attempted to perpetrate a fraud upon the bank by having, upon his own motion, the stock placed to his credit at par, and drawing the amount thereof. It is equally apparent that he attempted to deceive and defraud the state authorities and the public in changing the assets of the bank, and in this we think Dr. Oowles knowingly aided, by executing said notes. G. H. Cowles and his father owned, a large majority of the bank stock, and G. H. seems to have controlled the business of the bank in his own 2 way, and without consultation with the other officers. While the other officers and shareholders might have learned of the transaction under consideration by examining’ the boobs, it does not appear that they did so, and we are satisfied that G. H. Oowles purposely omitted to inform them thereof. G H. Currier, the cashier, is the only one that appears to have known of these transactions, and he was not consulted or asked to assent to them. He knew of them only as be was ordered by G. H. Cowles to make the entries in tbe books.

II. Plaintiffs contention is that, by tbe execution and delivery of said notes to tbe bank, they became tbe 3 property of tbe bank; that tbe withdrawal of said notes by George H. Cowles, and the substitution of said stock therefor, was not authorized, was a fraud upon tbe state auditor, tbe bank, and tbe public, and does not constitute a payment of said notes. He brings into court, and tenders to defendant, said two certificates of stock, and asks to recover tbe full 4 amount represented by said notes. Appellant’s first contention is that tbe notes are without consideration, and were mere accommodation notes. It is true the bank did not pay to Dr. Cowles any money in consideration for these notes, but it is equally true that said two stock certificates, that were then of some value, were taken from tbe bank in consideration for tbe notes, and became tbe property of C. W, Cowles or bis son. The stock was not worth near tbe face of tbe notes; hence, without other explanation, it would seem unreasonable that tbe notes were given therefor. Dr. Cowles and bis son were tbe principal shareholders in tbe bank. Tbe son bad deposited to bis credit tbe objectionable stock, which bad to -be replaced with some acceptable asset. It is in these facts that we find tbe reason why Dr. Cowles was willing to give bis notes for tbe stock, induced, no doubt, by tbe promise of bis son that in time tbe notes should be replaced by tbe stock. It cannot be said that tbe notes were given without consideration from the bank. Tbe bank gave tbe stock, which thereby became the property of C. W. Cowles, or, by bis consent, tbe property of bis son. An agreement to receive tbe ' stock in payment of the notes would not remove tbe consideration, for, until so paid, the notes, were the property of the bank, and the stock the property of the holder thereof. G W. Cowles having given the notes for a consideration to him, they are not accommodation notes.

III. Our next inquiry is whether the hank is bound 'by the act of G-. H. Gowles in withdrawing the 5 notes from the bank, and substituting the stock therefor. The law upon- this subject is well stated in Innerarity v. Bank, 139 Mass. 322, 1 N. E. Rep. 282, as follows: “While the knowledge of an agent is ordinarily to be imputed to- the principal, it would appear now to be well established that there is. an exception to the construction or imputation of notice from the agent to the principal in case of such conduct by the agent as raises a clear presumption that he would not communicate the fact'in controversy, as. where the communication of such a fact would necessarily prevent the consummation of a fraudulent scheme which the agent was engaged in perpetrating.”' “A bank or other corporation can act only through agents, and it is generally true that, if a director who-has knowledge of the fraud or illegality of the transaction acts for the bank, as in discounting a note, his act is that of the bank, and it is affected by his knowledge. Bank v. Cushman, 121 Mass. 490. But this principle can have no application where the director of the bank is the party himself contracting with it In such case the position he assumes conflicts entirely with the idea that he represents the interests of the bank. To hold otherwise might sanction gross fraud by imputing to the bank a knowledge those properly representing it could not have possessed.” See, also Newmark Bank Dep. sections 39, 41; Mullens v. Bank, 75 Iowa, 689, 37 N. W. Rep. 954. The facts of this case bring G-. FT. Cowles clearly within the exception to the general rule. In thus disposing of bis stock in tbe land and stock company to the bank he was dealing for himself, and in substituting the stock for the notes he was acting for himself and for his principal, C. W. Cowles. His individual interests and those that he represented as agent for his father were antagonistic to the interests of the bank. Therefore,- the bank is not bound by either his knowledge or acts, unless otherwise authorized than by his agency. The surrender of the notes was without authority, and without the knowledge of the other officers of the bank, except the cashier, who was not even consulted in the matter. It seems to us quite clear that the bank should not be bound' by this fraudulent act of G. H. Cowles, and that the return of the stock was not a payment of the notes. We are more content with this conclusion from the fact that we believe that C. W. Cowles was fully informed of the necessity of changing the assets of the bank and the purpose for which the notes were to be used. It is true that, as matters have turned out, neither Dr. Cowles nor his estate have or will receive anything like full value for this indebtedness: It is also true that by the fraudulent acts of G. H. Cowles, aided, as we have stated, by C. W. Cowles, the bank has> paid out the full value of these notes, to- the prejudice of its creditors and shareholders.

IV. Appellant alleges and claims to have established as a fact that at and after the execution of said notes, C. W. Cowles was mentally incapacitated for making contracts. A number of witnesses were examined on this issue, and testify to facts and opinions such as are usually adduced on such a question. The evidence is somewhat voluminous, and we will not set it out nor discuss it at length. It leaves no- doubt but that, in the last years of his life, the mental faculties of Dr. Cowles were greatly impaired, so much so as to incapacitate Mm for transacting business. It shows that bis mental impairment was gradual, but we do not think it is shown to have existed as .early as January, 1887 (the time the notes were signed), nor for some time thereafter. At that time he showed no mental infirmity, save that forgetfulness of names and persons which is common to people of his age, whose business capacity is, yet, not open to question. We conclude, after a careful consideration of all the evidence, that ■at the time these notes were executed, and for some time thereafter, Dr. Cowles was capable of fully understanding the transaction and the effect of his acts..

V. On the submission in the District Court, the defendant guardian questioned the jurisdiction of the 6 court, contending that an allowance of the claim could only be made by th!e probate court of Nebraska which had granted the guardian-sMp. By the decease of Dr. Cowles and the appearance of the executor of his estate in tMs action, the guardian ceased to be a party thereto. The appellant, the administrator, does not question the jurisdiction of the District Court, and, under the record, could not successfully do so. We are not unmindful of the hardship that an affirmance works to the estate of Dr. Cowles, but it would be a greater hardship to hold, under the circumstances, that the innocent creditors and shareholders must lose the benefit of the ten thousand dollars which the bank paid out.

Our conclusion, after a careful consideration of the whole record, is that the judgment of the District Court should be affirmed.

Case Details

Case Name: Findley v. Cowles

Court Name: Supreme Court of Iowa

Date Published: Jan 22, 1895

Citation: 93 Iowa 389

Court Abbreviation: Iowa