Ellicott v. Barnes , 31 Kan. 170 ( 1884 )

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Hokton, C. J.:

This was an action brought by J. H. Barnes, to charge the assets of the Riley County Bank of Manhattan, in this state, in the hands of Joseph T. Ellieott, its assignee, with a trust in his favor for the sum of $500, which he delivered to J. K. Winckip, as cashier of the bank, on December 21, 1881, for the purpose, as he alleges, of paying a note executed to the bank prior to that date, but at the time owned and held by the Harrison National Bank of Cadiz, Ohio. He obtained a judgment in his favor, which the plaintiff in error claims is erroneous.

The material facts in the case do not differ from those in Peak v. Ellicott, 30 Kas. 156, with the exception that in the latter case the maker of the note had satisfied the note held by the Harrison National Bank prior to instituting his action against the cashier, while in this case the Harrison National Bank has obtained judgment for the amount due on the note, but the judgment has not been paid and is wholly unsatisfied. This difference, however, does not change the law applicable to the cases. “ If the money was not applied by the bank of which Windup was the cashier, to the satisfaction of the note, according to the understanding of the parties, it should have been returned to the plaintiff below.” The Harrison National Bank does not claim the money deposited, has made no demand for it, and has not agreed to accept it from the bank or its assignee. (Peak v. Ellicott, supra.)

It is next contended that the court erred in permitting the introduction of a conversation between Barnes and the cashier, who died subsequently, and before the trial. Counsel suggest that —

“If the acts of the cashier are the acts of the bank, and if what he says are the words of the bank, then to all intents and purposes the cashier is the bank. If this be true, when the cashier is dead the bank is a deceased person, within the meaning of the statute, § 322 of the code.”

This argument is neither plausible nor sound. The cashier is the executive officer or agent of the financial department of the bank, and in all the duties imposed upon him by law or usage, as such cashier he acts for the bank and speaks for the bank; but if he dies the bank does not die, and §322 has no application whatever. The Riley County Bank is not a deceased person within the meaning of the statute; neither was the adverse party in the case the executor, administrator, heir-at-law, next of kin, surviving partner or assignee of any deceased person.

It is also contended that the court erred in rendering judgment, because it did not appear that the money delivered to the cashier was credited upon the books of the bank. The money was delivered to the cashier of the bank, at the bank, and as an officer of the bank such cashier properly received it on behalf of the bank, and then handed back the ordinary memorandum, stating what sum had been received or deposited. There is no evidence that the money has been lost or embezzled, and the bank must be holden liable therefor, notwithstanding the evidence of the assignee that the books of the bank show no entry of the deposit of the money. The cashier may have omitted to enter the same on the books of the bank, but such omission cannot prejudice the rights of anyone interested.

It is finally insisted that Barnes was an ordinary depositor in the bank, and not entitled to any more than an ordinary depositor’s rights, because concluded by the memorandum or receipt he accepted from the cashier. This memorandum, or receipt, was signed by Winchip, as cashier, was dated the day of the delivery of the money, and credited Barnes with $500. It did not set forth, however, that the money was to be applied solely in the payment of the note executed to the bank. Barnes, however, testified that when he delivered the money to the cashier he did so for the express purpose of paying the note; that the cashier then told him that the bank-did not have the note, but would get it from Kansas City and return it to him. This memorandum or receipt was open to explanation by evidence aliunde; therefore the admission of evidence stating the purpose of the deposit, and the agreement of the cashier as to the use of the money, was not improper, and Barnes was not concluded by the character of the receipt he took from impressing the money he paid to the cashier with the trust. (Morse on Banks and Banking, 58, 59; Bridge Co. v. Murphy, 13 Kas. 40; Stout v. Hyatt, 13 id. 233.)

The judgment of the district court will be affirmed.

All the Justices concurring.