State v. Henderson

135 Iowa 499 | Iowa | 1907

Ladd, J.

1. Banks and banking: false statement: in-dictment The two grounds of the demurrer to the indictment, argued by counsel for the State, are: (1) The omission to allege whether the false statement by the defendant as cashier was oral or in writing: and .. (2) the further omission to allege that such statement was made to persons authorized by law to examine the condition of the bank. On these the trial court based .its ruling by which the indictment was adjudged insufficient. The offense undertaken to be charged is defined by section 1887 of the Code, which provides that: “ Any owner, director, officer, agent, employe or clerk of any bank, who shall knowingly subscribe or make any false statements or false entries in the books thereof, or knowingly subscribe or exhibit false papers, with intent to deceive any person authorized to examine its condition, or shall knowingly subscribe and. make'false reports, or shall knowingly divert the funds'of the bank to other objects than those authorized by law, shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding ten thousand dollars, and be imprisoned in the penitentiary not less than two or more than five years, and be forever after barred from holding any office created by this chapter.” The statement mentioned in the statute is the basis of the offense alleged, and it should be described and the persons to whom made with such particularity as to individuate the offense charged and enable the defendant to know what is intended. As contended by the State, an indictment in the language of the statute is sufficient if it accomplishes this. State v. Porter, 105 Iowa, 677; State v. Baugness, 106 Iowa, 109.

2. Same. But it is manifest that the section quoted does not so describe the crime, for innumerable statements may be made by the officer or employe which, though false, would not subject him to the penalties imposed. The rule is elementary that, where the basis of an offense is a written instrument, it should be set out in hcec verba, or else the substance stated. See Langford v. State, 45 Ala. 26; Baker v. State, 14 Tex. App. 332. This last was done by pointing out wherein the alleged statement was false, i. e., in representing the individual overdrafts on the bank as $466.28, whereas they exceeded the sum of $1,500; and the amount due from other banks as $17,012.58, whereas $1,500 less was due therefrom. • But it was not alleged whether it was in writing or oral. This is not ground for demurrer, for the indictment, would be good in either event.' The false statement having been described with sufficient definiteness to point out the particular offense charged, another remedy is open to the accused if it shall become important for him to know whether the statement is in writing, and, if so, to examine it.

3. Same. II. The indictment charges generally that this statement was made to the directors of the bank. The statute authorizes a directorate of not less than five nor more than nine persons. Section 1845, Code. How many this bank had, and whether the state-

ment was made to all of them as a hoard, or two or more of them when together, or to all or several of them by making it to each separately, is not averred. In this respect the indictment is too indefinite, even were it the design of the statute, to include directors as such within the class of persons to whom the making of the false statement is prohibited. But we do not think such is the design of the statute. True it is that they as well as the stockholders, under proper restrictions, may examine into the condition of the bank. In doing so, they act lawfully. So does a creditor or stranger when permitted by the officers of the bank .to examine it. But upon none of these is imposed the duty of making examination into the precise condition of the bank. A stockholder is under no obligation to do so, nor is the director, unless a member of the examining committee, save under circumstances which would render him negligent in omitting so to do. If the statute is to be construed as appellant contends, then a false statement to a creditor or stranger, when authorized hy the officers to examine the condition of the bank, would render the officer, or employe making it amenable to the penalties of the statute. Such could not have been the intention of the lawmakers. The clause, “ any person authorized to examine its condition,” should be construed to have reference to the preceding provisions in the same chapter, designating who shall make such examinations. Section 1871 requires the board of directors at their annual meeting to “ appoint from its number an examining committee of not less than two which shall examine the condition of the bank .at least every quarter and report the same in writing duly signed to the board, who shall cause said report to be recorded in the directors’ minute book of the bank.” Section 1873 provides that “the Auditor of the State may, at any time he may see proper, make or cause to be made an examination of any savings or State bank,” and -he may, under 1875, appoint bank examiners for this purpose. These are the persons to which section 1887 has reference. That section was first enacted as section 3 of chapter 30, of the Acts of the Twenty-fifth General Assembly; but the law-with respect to examinations by or under the direction of the Auditor of State had been on the statute book since the Fifteenth General Assembly, at least, and the appointment of and examination by a committee of directors was required by section 4 of the chapter last cited. So there is nothing in the genesis of the section indicating that its language should be accorded a wider application.

Aside from the ordinary rule which exacts a strict construction of criminal statutes, it is to be observed that the penalty imposed is extremely severe, and it can hardly be thought that the legislature intended such punishment to follow an attempt to deceive any person in the manner described, save he be one specially designated by law to examine the condition of the bank for some public purpose. True, as argued, the directors manage and are in control of the bank, and as such are entitled to look into its condition, but their findings are not required to be made of record. Their inquiries are for immediate purposes, while the result of the investigation by the committee is reduced to writing and preserved by being spread upon the records of the bank. The examinations by the auditor or examiners acting for him have for their object the ascertainment of the true condition of the hank as compared with the quarterly statements furnished him by it, to the end that he may protect the public in its relations therewith by directing the discontinuance of any unlawful practices or take possession .thereof and procure the appointment of a receiver (section 1877, Code), or, in case of the impairment of the capital, require an assessment on the capital stock (section 1878, Code), and to report the condition thereof to the Governor (section 1881, Code). The gravity of the offense of the deception as defined by section 1887 is because of the importance of the duties imposed on the auditor and the use likely to be made by him and others of the reports of the examining committee, and we are of the opinion that none other than such committee, the auditor and examiners appointed by him, authorized by the preceding sections of the chapter, were contemplated by the clause “ any person authorized to examine its condition.” Statements with intent to deceive others would be no more reprehensible than like attempts in other relations of life not denounced by statute.

The ruling by which the demurrer was sustained was correct, and the judgment is affirmed.