Tecumseh National Bank v. Harmon ( 1896 )

Irvine, C.

This case has been elaborately argued, orally and on briefs, with relation to questions of substantive law supposed to be involved therein. We think, however, that its decision must depend chiefly upon matters of practice, presented by a state of the record so anomalous that they must be determined principally upon general considerations, without the aid of authority. Harmon brought the suit against the Tecumseh National Bank, alleging that on the 6th day of March, 1891, he deposited with the bank $5,000, at the instance and request of the bank, and that the deposit was to draw interest at six per cent per annum; that $1,000 and all interest to March 9,1892, had been paid, but the remaining $4,000, with interest from said March 9, remained due. To this petition there was originally filed an answer admitting the corporate capacity of the defendant, and denying all other allegations. On the issues so framed the case proceeded to trial, but immediately after the defendant began to introduce its evidence it was confronted by an objection on the ground of irrelevancy. What then occurred is thus recited in the record: “The defendant here asks leave of court to amend his answer, to which the plaintiff objects. On the intimation of the court that he would permit the defendant to withdraw a juror and consequently continue the case, rather than submit to that, the plaintiff consents that the defendant can go on and draw their answer in any manner and file it, and they will rely on the instructions of the court. It is agreed by the parties that the amended answer so filed will have the same effect as though filed now. Said answer to be filed within twenty days.” Thereupon the case proceeded and the evidence took a wide range. There was a verdict for the plaintiff for $4,000; with interest. Judgment was entered on this, and the defendant prosecutes error.

On the one side it is contended that the verdict is not sustained by the evidence; on the other, that, without regard to any error wbicli may have occurred in the course of the trial, the verdict was the only one which could be properly rendered tinder the evidence, and that the judgment should for that reason be affirmed. As we think the cause must be remanded for a new trial, we forbear any comment upon the evidence beyond what is necessary to solve the questions now presented to us, and simply say that in our opinion it was of such a character as to require the submission of the contested issues to a jury. There had been for a long time in Tecumseh a firm of bankers known as Russell & Holmes. Latterly it seems that this concern, whether by incorporation or otherwise does not appear, was styled “The Bank of Russell & Holmes.” Before the transaction here in controversy, the Tecumseh National Bank was organized and seems to have become a successor to Russell & Holmes, although the evidence tends to show that the former firm remained in existence for the purpose of closing- out some incidental business. Mr. Holmes, of the old firm, was president of the national bank. March 6,1891, there was a conversation between Harmon and Mr. Holmes in the banking house, looking to the withdrawal by Mr. Harmon of money he had on deposit in the Carson National Bank of Auburn, and the loan or deposit of this money on interest either with Russell & Holmes or the Tecumseh National Bank. Whether the party contracting to receive the deposit or loan was Russell & Holmes or the Tecumseh National Bank is the vital question of the case, coupled with another, which we do not pass upon, which is whether, under the circumstances, the bank may be held liable by estoppel on account of the acts of its president, although it did not in fact receive the benefit of the money. It was agreed between Holmes and Harmon that Harmon should withdraw $5,000 from the Carson bank and place it with Holmes. He drew his check upon the Carson bank for $5,000 to the order of the Tecumseh National Bank, and received what is called a deposit slip, headed “Tecumseh National Bank,” signed by Holmes as president, and indicating the deposit of the check for $5,000. This check was by the Tecnmseh bank indorsed for collection, and it was collected. March 9, three days after this transaction, there was issued by Holmes, and accepted by Harmon, a pass-book, being one of the books which had formerly been used by the bank of Russell & Holmes. This was marked on the cover, “Bank of Russell & Holmes, Tecumseh, Nebraska, in account with George Harmon.” Inside was the following:

“The Bank of Russell & Holmes, Dr.

1891.

Mch. 9. Deposit. $5,000

“This deposit to draw interest at six per cent per an. if left six months. Interest paid to Mch. 9 — 91.”

On another page were certain entries indicating the payment of certain sums as interest and principal. There was evidence aliunde tending to show that the transaction was a loan to Russell & Holmes at six per cent; that the deposit of March 6 was only preliminary to that transaction; and that on March 9 the transaction was consummated, as evidenced by the pass-book, the money in fact passing to Russell & Holmes. On the other hand, there Avas evidence tending to show that Harmon understood that the whole transaction was with the Tecumseh National Bank; that he was unable to read, and therefore Avas perhaps not bound by the form of the pass-book, Avhich might at least have put another man on inquiry.

The court gave a number of instructions at the request of the plaintiff, several of which were to the effect that the jury should find for the plaintiff if, on March 6, or about that time, he left with the defendant the money sued for. By one of the instructions the jury was told that the plaintiff’s check and the deposit slip of March 6 constituted a complete written contract, the terms of AArhich could not be contradicted, by oral evidence, and that the jury should disregard all oral evidence tending to so contradict these papers. By still another the jury was instructed that the pass-book of March 9 could not be received for tbe purpose of changing tbe terms of tbe contract, as evidenced bj tbe check and deposit slip of March 6. Here tbe question of practice is presented for consideration. As the issues stood at this time, tbe petition was on a deposit. Tbe answer was a general denial,, and under this answer tbe defendant could not prove discharge by payment or otherwise; but under tbe answer as finally filed, while it was perhaps not very artificially drawn, tbe issue of payment was presented; and tbe question was not merely whether a deposit bad been made on March 6, but it was whether tbe bank bad dis: charged tbe liability thereby incurred by collecting the’ check and paying its proceeds to Russell & Holmes, in pursuance of plaintiff’s direction. It is at once apparent that tbe instructions given confined tbe jury to tbe sole' question as to whether tbe deposit bad been made, and directed them that tbe transaction of March 9 could not be received to avoid tbe effect of any evidence as to the-transaction of March 6. They did not submit tbe issues. presented by tbe amended answer. Tbe real question is, therefore, whether tbe defendant can now avail itself of its amended answer. In Grimison v. Russell, 11 Neb., 469, tbe original pleadings were lost after trial and before judgment; copies were not substituted and tbe judgment Avas reversed, because tbe court bad no authority to enter-judgment without pleadings whereon to found it. Tbe reason of that case is applicable to this, although perhaps tbe defendant, being tbe party originally at fault,, could not avail itself of tbe error if tbe plaintiff bad been free from fault. But tbe stipulation of record shows that tbe plaintiff consented that tbe defendant might have twenty days to file it's answer “in any manner,” with tbe same effect as if then filed. Tbe proceeding was. highly irregular, and tbe court should have insisted that tbe issues be framed before tbe trial proceeded. By consenting to this course, however, tbe plaintiff bound himself to submit to any answer which might be filed within the time stipulated and allowed by tbe court. This answer presented issues which had not been submitted to the jury. We think the plaintiff must be held to his stipulation and the case must be considered as if the answer finally filed had been already filed when the instructions were given. It is always well to have issues framed before judgment. This case illustrates the danger of trying a case and proceeding to judgment, and pleading it thereafter.

It is argued that there was a special finding, which in effect determines the merits of the case, independent of the general verdict. The'following is the question propounded to the jury, and its answer: “Was the money in controversy included in the fund of the Tecumseh National Bank, after the amount thereof was entered upon plaintiff’s pass-book with Russell & Holmes; if so, at what time?” The answer was as follows: “Yes; March 9,1891.” We have been unable, after a careful examination of the evidence, to find any evidence sustaining this finding.

Reversed and remanded.