Rush v. Citizens National Bank ( 1914 )

Hart, J.,

(after stating the facts). (1) The court found 'that on June 18, 1913, the defendant Rush had a general deposit in the bank of plaintiff of twenty-five hundred dollars. This finding of fact is sustained by the evidence ,and its correctness is not disputed by the defendant Rush. It will also be noted that the court found that so far as the plaintiff bank was 'concerned, the defendant Rush was a joint maker with C. Gr. Bryan on the note in controversy. This finding is sustained by the evidence of the cashier of the bank. It is true his testimony to that effect was contradicted by the defendant Rush, but it is well settled that where a case is tried before a court sitting as a jury, the findings of fact made by the court are as binding on us on appeal as is the verdict of a jury. Therefore, it may be taken as settled that the defendant Rush was a joint maker with the defendant Bryan on the note in controversy. The bank, when the note became due, applied $2,045 on the amount deposited with it by Rush as a part payment on the note in controversy. The right of the plaintiff to do this is challenged by Rush in this appeal.

(2) Where, at the maturity of a debt due á bank from ia depositor, the latter’s deposit is sufficient to meet the obligation, and it has not been specifically appropriated by him, to be held for .a different purpose, the bank has a right to apply 'such deposit to the payment of the debt. 5 Cyc. 550, and cases cited; and case-note to 2 A. & E. Ann. Cas. 206, land ease-note to 19 A. & E. Ann. Cas. 487.

Among the cases cited is that of Cockrill v. Joyce, 62 Ark. 216. In that case, Mr. Justice Riddick, speaking for the court, in discussing the rule, said:

“The law on this subject is well settled, and is thus stated by a recent writer: ‘A banker has a lien on all securities of his debtor in his hands for the general balance of his account, unless such a lien is inconsistent with the actual or presumed intention of the parties. The lien attaches to notes and bills and other business paper which the customer has entrusted to the bank for collection, as well as to his general deposit account.’ ”

(3) It is contended by counsel for the defendant Bush that in order for the bank to have this right the same mutuality must exist between the parties as is required in other cases of set-off, and in support of his position he cites the case of Trammell v. Harrell, 4 Ark. 602, where the court held: “A debt or demand, to be a set-off, must be due from the sole plaintiff or all the plaintiffs to the sole defendant or all the defendants.” This case and other cases to the same effect were overruled by the case of Leach v. Lambeth, 14 Ark. 668, where the court held that a debt due from the sole plaintiff to one of several defendants may be pleaded, under the statute, as a set-off by the defendant to whom such debt is due. And the court further held that the case of Trammell v. Harrell, supra, is overruled as to this point. The court, in overruling the case, adopted the reason of the Chief Justice in a dissenting opinion in the case of Trammell v. Harrell, and reference to the opinion is made for the reasoning of the court, which we do not deem it necessary to repeat here. To the same effect, see Burke’s Admr. v. Still-well’s Exr., 23 Ark. 294, and Wilson v. Exchange Bank, 122 Ga. 495, 2 A. & E. Ann. Cas. 597, and case note. In the case of Wilson v. Exchange Bank, the principles of law applicable to cases like this are thoroughly discussed, and the court, after criticising the opinion in the case of Trammell v. Harrell, 4 Ark. 602, said:

“And in the subsequent opinion of Leath v. Lambeth, 14 Ark. 668, the principle laid down in Trammell v. Harrell was overruled, and by a unanimous decision, the views expressed by the Chief Justice in his dissenting opinion in that case were adopted as the law applicable to the subject under discussion.”

Rush deposited $2,500 with the bank as a general deposit, and, therefore, the bank became indebted to him for that amount. "When the note of Bryan and Rush to the bank became due, the bank had a. right to apply the. whole or any part of this deposit toward the payment of the note, Rush not having directed its application to any other indebtedness due by him.

The judgment should be affirmed for another reason. The bank only brought suit against Rush and Bryan for $1,532.58. The testimony showed that the defendants owed the bank the $3,500 note, and the defendant Rush did not deny his indebtedness on that note. He does not claim to have paid any part of it, and, inasmuch as the bank only brought suit for $1,532.58, the balance of the note which was due after it had been credited with the sum of $2,045, which Rush had on general deposit in the bank, it is immaterial whether or not the bank credited the note with the deposit so far as the present suit is concerned.

In short, the bank had a right to sue the defendant for the amount alleged to be due it, and the defendant Rush can not complain that suit was not brought for the whole amount of it. The fact that the bank credited the note with a part of the general deposit of the defendant, Rush, would be no defense to a suit by the bank to recover on the remaining amount alleged to be due the bank on the note, and which the undisputed evidence shows has not been paid.

The judgment will be affirmed.