Security Trust & Savings Bank of Charles City v. Gleichmann , 50 Okla. 441 ( 1915 )

The first assignment of error to be considered will be the charge of the court in regard to whether this was an Oklahoma or Iowa contract, and it will be noted that the court charged the jury that, if they "believed that the note was executed in Oklahoma, that that would make it an Oklahoma contract." In this there was error. In Coghlan v. South Carolina Ry. Co.,142 U.S. 101, 12 Sup. Ct. 150, 35 L. Ed. 951, the Supreme Court of the United States say:

"We have seen that the bonds in suit were redeemable on the 1st day of January, 1866, and not before without the consent of the holder, and were payable in pounds sterling, with interest at the rate of five per cent. per annum from date, the interest to be paid semi-annually on named days, 'on presenting the proper coupons for the same at the house of Palmers, Mackillop, Dent Co., London, where the principal will also be redeemed on the surrender of this certificate.' The contract, therefore, was one which in all its parts was to be performed in England. Nevertheless it is contended that the principal sum agreed to be paid should bear interest at the rate of seven per cent. fixed by the laws of South Carolina. The only basis for this contention is the mere fact that the bonds purport to have been made in that state. But that fact is not conclusive. All the terms of the contract must be examined, in connection with the attendant circumstances to ascertain what law was in the view of the parties when the contract was executed. For, as said by Chief Justice Marshall in Wayman v. Southard, 10 Wheat. 1, 48 (6 L. Ed. 253), it is a principle universally recognized that 'in every forum a contract is governed by the law with a view to which it was made.' "

In Pritchard v. Norton, 106 U.S. 124, 1 Sup. Ct. 102, 27 L. Ed. 104, it is said:

"The phrase lex loci contractus is used, in a double sense, to mean, sometimes, the law of the, place where a contract is entered into; sometimes that of the place of its performance. And when it is employed to describe the law of the seat of the obligation, it is, on that account, confusing. The law we are in search of, which is to decide upon the nature, interpretation, and validity of the engagement in question, is that which the parties have, either expressly or presumptively, incorporated into their contract as constituting its obligation. It has never been better described than it was incidentally by Mr. Chief Justice Marshall in Wayman v.Southard, 10 Wheat. 48, (6 L. Ed. 253), where he defined it as a principle of universal law — 'the principal that in every forum a contract is governed by the law with a view to which it was made.' The same idea had been expressed by Lord Mansfield in Robinson v. Bland, 2 Burr. 1077. 'The law of the place,' he said, 'can never be the rule where the transaction is entered into with an express view to the law of another country, as the rule by which it is to be governed.' "

In London Assur. v. Companhia De Moagens, 167 U.S. 149, at 160, 17 Sup. Ct. 785, at 789 (42 L. Ed. 113), it is said:

"Generally speaking, the law of the place where the contract is to be performed is the law which governs as to its validity and interpretation. Story, in his work on Conflict of Laws, sec. 280, says: 'But where the contract is, either expressly or tacitly, to be performed in any other place, there the general rule is, in conformity to the presumed intention of the parties, that the contract, as to its validity, nature, obligation, and interpretation, is to be governed by the law of the place of performance. This would seem to be a result of natural justice.' "

In Andrews v. Pond, 13 Pet. 65, 10 L. Ed. 61, Mr. Chief Justice Taney, in delivering the opinion of the court, said:

"The general principle in relation to contracts made in one place to be executed in another is well settled. They are to be governed by the law of the place of performance, and if the interest allowed by the laws of the place of performance is higher than that permitted at the place of the contract, the parties may stipulate for the higher interest, without incurring the penalties of usury."

In Parsons on Notes and Bills, 324, it is said:

"If a note or bill be made payable in a particular place, it is to be treated as if made there, without reference to the place at which it is written, or signed, or dated."

In Miller v. Tiffany, 1 Wall. 298, at page 310, 17 L. Ed. 540, it is said:

"A general principle in relation to contracts made in one place to be executed in another is well settled. They are to be governed by the law of the place of performance."

And the same principle is announced, and this case is cited with approval, in Bedford v. Eastern Building Loan Ass'n,181 U.S. 227, 21 Sup. Ct. 597, 45 L. Ed. 834.

The charge of the court, therefore, was erroneous. The court instructed the jury that, if they found that the note was executed and delivered in Oklahoma, it was then an Oklahoma contract and governed by the laws of Oklahoma, and this is directly in conflict with the authorities. above cited.

The next assignment of error relates to the notice which the bank would have from the fact that the president of the bank was also a director of the Hart-Parr Company. There is error in this instruction in another particular, because the court charged that, if the bank had such notice of the transaction between the defendant in error and the Hart-Parr Company as would put a reasonably prudent man upon inquiry as to the facts surrounding the transaction, this would be notice to the bank. This, we think, is directly opposed to the decisions of this court. In Forbes v. First National Bank of Enid, 21 Okla. 206,95 P. 785, it is held that knowledge of such facts as would put a prudent man upon inquiry with reference to a draft or negotiable instrument purchased by him is not sufficient to defeat the right of the holder, and the court may direct a verdict when the circumstances surrounding the transaction are not sufficiently strong for it to be said, as a matter of law, that bad faith may be inferred.

In First National Bank of Watonga v. Wade, 27 Okla. 102,111 P. 205, 35 L. R. A. (N. S.) 775, in passing on this same question, this court has said:

"This court is committed to the doctrine that bad faith, not merely notice of circumstances sufficient to put a prudent man on inquiry, is necessary to defeat recovery by the holder of a negotiable paper whose right accrued before maturity."

But the question still remains whether the knowledge of the director of one corporation is to be attributed to another corporation in which he is president, when such knowledge was not involved in the business of the corporation sought to be charged. As we gather from the evidence in this case, the notes were discounted prior to the return of the engine and at a time when attempts were still being made by the Hart-Parr Company to get the engine into a condition to do its work, and the notice which the director of the Hart-Parr Company had could only be to this effect.

McNight v. Parsons, 136 Iowa, 390, 22 L. R. A. (N. S.) 718, 125 Am. St. Rep. 265, 15 Ann. Cas. 665, 113 N.W. 858, is in its facts somewhat similar to the case at bar. In that case a negotiable note was sold before maturity, the note depending, however, on certain conditions. The court say:

"The courts quite universally hold that knowledge that a note was given in consideration of an executory agreement or contract of the payee which has not been performed will not deprive the indorsee of the character of a bona fide holder, unless he also has notice of the breach of that agreement or contract. See 1 Edwards, Bills Notes, section 519; Daniel, Neg. Inst. 740-748; Rublee v. Davis, 33 Neb. 783 [51 N.W. 135, 29 Am. St. Rep. 509]; Miller v. Finley, 26 Mich. 249 [12 Am. Rep. 306]; Porter v. Steel Co., 122 U.S. 267 [7 Sup. Ct. 1206, 30 L. Ed. 1210]."

But we are not disposed to carry the doctrine to the length of holding that notice to a director in one corporation is notice to another corporation in which he is. also an officer. This question came up before the Supreme Court of North Carolina in the case of Bank v. Burgwyn, 110 N.C. 267, at page 273, 14 S.E. at page 623:

"'The foundation principle upon which rests the doctrine that a party, whether an individual or corporation, is chargeable with notice imparted to his agents in the line of their duty, is that agents are presumed to communicate all such information to their principals because it is their duty so to do. The principal is conclusively presumed to know whatever his agent knows, if the latter knows it as agent. Of course, no such presumption can exist where the agent is dealing with the corporation in the particular transaction in his own behalf.' So. Law Review, 816. In such transactions the attitude of the agent is one of hostility to the principal. He is dealing at arm's length, and it would be absurd to suppose that he would communicate to the principal any facts within his private knowledge affecting the subject of his dealing, unless it would be his duty to do so, if he were wholly unconnected with the principal. As was said by the court in Wickersham v. Chicago Zinc Co., 18 Kan. 481 [26 Am. Rep. 784]: 'Neither the acts nor knowledge of an officer of a corporation will bind it in a matter in which the officer acts for himself and deals with the corporation as if he had no official relations with it.' Or as was said in Barnes v.Trenton Gaslight Co., 27 N.J. Eq. 33: 'His interest is opposed to that of the corporation, and the presumption is, not that he will communicate his knowledge of any secret infirmity of the title to the corporation, but that he will conceal it.' This doctrine has been applied to the case of a director procuring the discount of a note for his own benefit, having knowledge that it is founded upon an illegal consideration (Bank v.Christopher, 40 N.J. Law, 435 (29 Am. Rep. 262]), or, that it was made for his accommodation (Bank v. Cunningham, 24 Pick. 270 [35 Am. Dec. 322]), or that it was obtained upon a false pretense of having it discounted for the maker (Washington v.Lewis, 22 Pick. 24), or that it was affected in his hands with certain conditions (Bank v. Senecal, 13 La. 525), or with a claim of recoupment of which the bank had no notice (Loomis v.Bank, 1 Dismey, 285), or with other equities (Savings Bank v.Boston, 124 Mass. 74; Innerarity v. Bank, 139 Mass. 332 [1 N.E. 282, 52 Am. Rep. 715]; Stevenson v. Bay City, 26 Mich. 44;Frost v. Belmont, 6 Allen [Mass.] 163, and other cases)."

But the charge of the court in the case at bar goes much beyond this or any other case which we have seen, for the jury is instructed that, if the Hart-Parr Company and the bank were corporations, and if the officers and directors or stockholders who dealt in the notes sued on were interested both in the Hart-Parr Company and the bank, this was a fact to be considered by them in determining whether they had notice. We know of no case which holds that notice to a stockholder of a corporation is under any circumstances notice to the corporation, unless communicated to it by the stockholder.

Another question, however, is presented in this case on the $500 note. It will be noticed that this note, dated May 1, 1905, provides for interest at 8 per cent. from November 1, 1905, until paid, interest from date if not paid when due. There is no evidence in the record as to what the laws of Iowa are in regard to the negotiability of a note containing this provision. In our court the decisions are conflicting.

In Randolph v. Hudson, 12 Okla. 516, 74 P. 946, it was held that a note reading, "Thirty days after date I promise to pay to the order of J.H. Thomas two hundred and seventy-five dollars, with interest at the rate of 12 per cent. from date if not paid at maturity," was not negotiable.

In Citizens' Savings Bank v. Landis, 37 Okla. 530,132 P. 1101, it is held that a note reading, "December 1, 1907, after date, for value received, we jointly and severally promise to pay McLaughlin Bros., or order, $1,200.00 at the Walters National Bank, of Walters, Okla., with interest at 6 per cent. per annum, before maturity, and thereafter at 10 per cent. per annum until paid, interest payable annually," was a negotiable instrument.

In Bracken v. Fidelity Trust Co., 42 Okla. 118, 141 P. 6, L. R. A. 1915B, 1216, it is held:

"Under sections 3592, 3593, Wilsons' Rev. Ann. St. 1903 of Oklahoma, a note dated January 12, 1906, containing the following provision: 'With interest at 6 per cent. per annum before maturity, and thereafter with interest at 10 per cent. per annum until paid; interest payable with note' — was a nonnegotiable note."

There is a direct conflict between the decisions in37 Okla. 530, 132 P. 1101, supra, and the case just cited. The language of the note under consideration is not precisely that in the Landis or Bracken Cases, supra. In the Landis Case the language was "with interest at 6 per cent before maturity, and thereafter at 10 per cent. until paid." This was a note held negotiable. In the Bracken Case the note was "with interest at 6 per cent. before maturity, thereafter with interest at 10 per cent. until paid," which is identical, in substance, with the note in the Landis Case. The note in the case at bar is identical in substance with that in the Randolph v. Hudson Case, 12 Okla. 516, 74 P. 946, supra, which reads, "with interest at the rate of 12 per cent. from date if not paid at maturity." In the case under consideration the language is "with interest from date if not paid when due."

In this conflict of authority in this court it becomes necessary to look at the decisions of other states to determine which line of cases we should follow. The decided weight of authority seems to be in favor of holding the note in the present case negotiable, and in support of the rule laid down in the case of Citizens' Savings Bank v. Landis, 37 Okla. 530,132 P. 1101. In Parker v. Plymell, 23 Kan. 402, a note contained a promise to pay interest at 12 per cent. after maturity, followed by the words, "if this note is not paid at maturity the same shall bear 12 per cent. interest from date," and this was held not to render the note nonnegotiable. In Hopev. Barker, 112 Mo. 338, 20 S.W. 567, 34 Am. St. Rep. 387, it is held that an instrument promising to pay a stated sum without interest thereon if paid at maturity, if not paid at maturity, to pay 10 per cent. interest from date, is a negotiable instrument. In Crump v. Berdan, 97 Mich. 293, 56 N.W. 559, 37 Am. St. Rep. 345, it is held that a note providing for the payment of a certain sum, with interest at 7 per cent., was not rendered nonnegotiable on the ground that it was uncertain as to amount by the provision that, if not paid when due, 10 per cent. interest from date should be paid, and the same thing is held in Christian County Bank v. Goode, 44 Mo. App. 129; and see Clark v. Steen, 61 Kan. 526, 60 P. 327, 49 L. R. A. 190, 78 Am. St. Rep. 337.

Many additional cases holding the same way will be found collected in the note to Bracken v. Fidelity Trust Co.,42 Okla. 118, 141 P. 6, L. R. A. 1915B, 1216. In Merrill v.Hurley, 6 S.D. 592, 62 N.W. 958, 55 Am. St. Rep. 859, it is held that the negotiability of a promissory note is not affected by the provision for a specified additional rate of interest after maturity. This case is of special interest, as it throws doubt upon the decision of Hegeler v. Comstock,1 S.D. 138, 45 N.W. 331, 8 L. R. A. 393, relied upon by the Supreme Court of the Territory of Oklahoma in Randolph v.Hudson, 12 Okla. 516, 74 P. 946. See, also, Crump v. Burdan,97 Mich. 293, 56 N.W. 559, 37 Am. St. Rep. 345.

Upon consideration of these cases, we are of opinion that the true rule is laid down by this court in Citizens' Savings Bankv. Landis, 37 Okla. 530, 132 P. 1101, and that the cases ofRandolph v. Hudson, 12 Okla. 516, 74 P. 946, and Bracken v.Fidelity Trust Co., 42 Okla. 118, 141 P. 6, L. R. A. 1915B, 1216, should be overruled.

We therefore recommend that the judgment below be reversed, and a new trial granted.

By the Court: It is so ordered.