Turpin v. Reynolds , 14 La. 473 ( 1840 )

Morphy, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

The plaintiff sued out an attachment against defendant, a non-resident, and cited, as garnishees, Hobson & Gooch, commission merchants, trading in-Vicksburg, in -the state of Mississippi, under the firm of “ Gooch & Hobson,” and in this place, under the commercial name and firm of “ Hobson & Gooch.” The latter answered, averring, that they had nothing in their possession belonging to the defendant, unless it should be considered that two hundred and fourteen bales of cotton, attached in their hands by the sheriff, were the property of defendant, which they denied, and they annexed to their answers a copy of their petition of intervention, previously filed. In this petition, the .interpleaders state, that in consequence of previous arrangements, made in Vicksburg, and which they set out at full length, they had agreed to accept, and did accept, in New-Orleans, bills of exchange, drawn by defendant on' them to a large amount, on the faith of the defendant’s promise and engagement to forward and consign to them, in New-Orleabs, six hundred bales of cotton, of which the two hundred and fourteen attached were a part; that acceptances of defendant’s drafts, to an amount greatly exceeding the value of these two hundred and fourteen bales, had already been made by them, and that they were in possession of the bill of lading and cotton shipped to them, before plaintiff levied his attachment on this cotton; that by reason of said advances, and the transfer made to them in Vicksburg, by defendant, of the six hundred bales of cotton, they had an absolute right to the possession and properly of the cotton attached.

The evidence shows, that the writ of attachment was executed on this cotton on the 21st of February, 1839 ; that the bill of lading was placed in the hands of the garnishees, on the 19th, and the cotton itself stored in their name, and for their account, in the press of Tilghman & Barnes, on the 20tb. Leaving entirely out of view the endorsements given by the garnishees on part of the bills, and their negotiation in Vicksburg to procure to the defendants their amount in cash, the evidence shows, that previous to the attachment here, they had accepted defendant’s drafts, to an amount greatly exceeding the proceeds of this parcel of cotton, which are said to amount to about ten thousand thirty-two dollars and forty-seven cents. It is also shown, that this cotton was forwarded to the garnishees, in pursuance of their promise to accept defendant’s drafts.

These facts would seem to bring the intervenors completely within the purview of article 3214, of the Louisiana Code, but the plaintiff in attachment objects :

1. That the advances spoken of in the above cited article, mean an actual disbursement of money, and not a prospective obligation to pay money by the factor.

2. That by their pleadings, intervenors do not claim the privilege conferred by our code, but claim the cotton as owners, in which capacity they have failed to show any right, to it.

The privilege given to factors, in article 5214 of the Louisiana Code, is intended to aid the interests of commerce ; and the word advances, used therein, is not to be restricted in its meaning to actual disbursements, but must be construed in an enlarged sense, with reference to commercial usage, and include acceptances not yet paid.

I. The privilege given by article 3214, of the Louisiana Code, was evidently intended to aid the interests of trade and commerce, and promote a liberal spirit on the part of factors, in respect to advances to their principals. Nothing indicates that the word advances, therein used, must be restricted to actual disbursements of money, the provision being one in relation to dealings of a character eminently commercial. The terms used in it should be understood, and construed with reference to mercantile usages. In commercial parlance, a commission merchant is said to be in advance to the planter when he has accepted his drafts, and it is very seldom, we apprehend, that advances are differently made in this country. By accepting the planters’ drafts, the merchant is primarily liable for their amount, and'is as much entitled to'be secured against his liability, as if he had transmitted the money to the drawer. And what is a bill of exchange but an equivalent for the transmission of money from one place to another? The principal who negotiates a bill of exchange, on the credit of a promise to accept, is in possession of the amount even before its actual acceptance. It is customary, we understand, among merchants, when they wish to restrict the meaning of the word advances, to actual disbursements of money, to use the term cash advances. This enactment appears to us to be already sufficiently at variance with the lex mercatoria of our sister stales, when it confines the lien given to factors to specific advances, made on the very goods consigned to them, or placed in their hands for sale. We conclude, then, that the word advances, not being in any way qualified, we believe it our duty to give it that enlarged sense which best comports with the policy of the provision itself, and the general convenience and usages of trade.

II. As to the second ground, the intervenors, it is true, allege, that in consideration of their endorsements, acceptances and negotiations in Vicksburg, in relation to these bills, the defendant had pledged, sold, and transferred to them, the six hundred bales of cotton mentioned in their petition, but, at the same time, they have averred and proved facts which entitle them to the privilege they now contend for. They have clearly misunderstood the extent of their rights, as resulting from the facts which show neither a sale nor a pledge; but they have substantially proven their right to hold the property as factors, and to be paid out of the same. We think that judgment should be given in their favor. 9 Martin, 317, Canfield et al. vs. M‘Laughlin.

It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the Parish Court be affirmed, with costs.