Emerson v. Washington County Bank ( 1844 )

The opinion of the Court was drawn up,by

Tenney J.

Certain objections were made to the report of referees, in the District Court, which objections being overruled, the report was accepted ; and to that acceptance exceptions were taken.

The first objection is founded upon the supposed want of power in the directors, who were appointed by the Governor and Council, to enter into the submission. By the second section of the act of 1841, entitled “an act, accepting the surrender of the charter of the Washington County Bank, and for other purposes,” it is provided that the bank shall continue in its corporate capacity for and during the term of two years for the purpose, among other things, of “ doing all those acts, which may be necessary in properly closing the affairs of said corporation.” In the third section of the same act, the directors to be appointed by the executive, “ shall be fully authorized” “to do all and every act and thing, which may be necessary in properly closing the affairs of said corporation.” Thus the whole power of settling the affairs of the bank was conferred upon the directors, who became party to the submission. They had the power to make contracts in order to secure the rights of the bank, and to make releases in discharge of contracts before made, for the same purpose. Those having such powers can make a submission. Kyd on Awards, 35.

The second objection is, that all demands were not submitted to the referees, “ but certain demands were expressly excluded from consideration by the referees at the hearing before them, at the request, of said Emerson and his attorney.” The facts exhibited by tbe exceptions do not sustain this objection. The case finds, “ that at the hearing before the referees, they expressly excluded from their consideration a claim of said Emerson against said bank, as indorser of a check drawn by the cashier of said bank on the Globe Sank, Boston, for about $400, now held by one Ordway, on which said Ordway has a suit now pending in the S, J. Court of this county against said Emerson, and which stands continued to be defaulted at next term, and as security for which claim against him, said Emerson holds property of the bank.” And there is nothing, which shows that the demand was excluded by the request of said Emerson or his attorney. The question, whether the referees excluded this claim improperly or not, is not before us. The whole matter was for their consideration, and no objection was raised in reference to any action of theirs in that particular.

Another objection is, that no demand was made out and signed by one party against the other, and annexed to the submission. It is not insisted, that this is necessary, in a submission of all demands; this was of such a character and the objection fails.

A fourth objection is, that if the report be finally accepted, execution must issue, which can be satisfied out of the property of the bank, and thereby operate to prevent an equal distribution of the assets. The object of the act referred to, was that all the affairs of the bank should be closed, and that the assets should be equally distributed among all the creditors of the bank, in proportion to their respective claims. It was important that all those claims should be ascertained, and all questions touching their validity or amount should be settled. The plaintiff, in the case before us, would not be entitled to a proportion of the assets until he had established his debt against the bank. It was a disputed claim, submitted to a tribunal of the parties’ selection, and could not properly be regarded as valid, until a judgment should be rendered upon the referees’ report. But after judgment, it is the duty of the Court to prevent any diversion of the assets by a stay of the execution, which cannot with propriety be enforced.

Exceptions overruled. — Judgment must be entered as evidencing the plaintiff’s claim. — No execution to issue.