77 So. 940 | Ala. Ct. App. | 1918
The Bransford Mills of Kentucky shipped a carload of flour to themselves, order notify T.D. Lewis Grain Company, at Bessemer. They took a standard bill of lading for same, and on the same day drew a draft payable to themselves for $630, and, with the bill of lading attached, deposited said draft and bill of lading, indorsed "Bransford Mills, by N.M. Waltrip, Secretary," with the Owensboro Banking Company, getting credit with that institution for the amount of draft, less exchange. The Owensboro Banking Company indorsed the draft and sent it and the bill of lading to the United Savings Bank at Bessemer for collection. This transaction took place on May 5, 1915, and at that time the Bransford Mills was indebted to the Owensboro Banking Company in a large amount, part of which, to wit, $2,000, matured May 6, 1915. On May 6, 1915, the proceeds of this draft and some other funds were applied to a part payment of the matured debt. On May 11, 1915, F.B. Buck (appellee) attached the carload of flour, in aid of a suit pending against the Bransford Mills, for an alleged breach of contract. Being notified of the attachment, on May 15, 1915, the Owensboro Banking Company filed claim to the carload of flour, and this appeal is from the judgment of the lower court finding the flour subject to the attachment.
The facts above stated appear without dispute, most of them being derived from answers to interrogatories propounded and crossed by the parties hereto. The cause was tried by the court without a jury.
While the rule is that, on evidence given ore tenus, the appellate court will not reverse the finding of the trial court, unless clearly convinced that it is wrong and unjust, yet where the evidence is documentary, or without practical dispute, this rule is without application. Hackett v. Cash,
Except for the character of the action, there is very little to differentiate this case from the case of Hood v. Commercial Germania Trust Savings Bank,
"When the consignor draws upon the consignee for the purchase money, and the draft, the bill of lading attached, is indorsed or transferred to some one who discounts the bill of exchange, a special property in the goods thereby passes to the transferee, subject to be divested by the acceptance and payment of the draft; but, if the consignee refuses to accept, the title of such transferee becomes absolute." Hood et al. v. Com. Germania T. S. Bank, supra; American National Bank v. Henderson,
Under the authority of the cases cited supra, the judgment of the lower court must be reversed, and judgment here rendered for the claimant.
Reversed and rendered.
