Beaver Valley Lodge, No. 749, I. O. O. F. v. First National Bank ( 1898 )

Opinion by

Orlady, J.,

The plaintiff brought suit on a certificate of deposit, in form-as follows:

“ No. 1416. $300.00.

“ First National Bank.

“Beaver Falls, Pa., Nov. 22, 1895.

“ Trustees of Beaver Valley Lodge, No. 749,1. O. O. F. have deposited with this Bank $300.00. Payable to their order in current funds on return of this certificate. If left six months interest to be computed hereon at the rate of three per cent per annum' on even months. Interest to cease in twelve months frbm date. This certificate not subject to check.

(Signed) “W. F. Bell,

“ Assistant Cashier.”

and in the statement averred:

“ That the plaintiff has since lost the certificate of deposit, and, after having made diligent search for the same, has been unable to find the same, and believes that the same has been destroyed,” that payment had been demanded and payment refused, and “that it has not assigned, transferred, sold or indorsed said certificate of deposit to any person, and that the right and title thereto is still in itself.”

The affidavit of defense, admitted the receipt of the money and the issuing of the certificate, but denied the right of the plaintiff to judgment “ until such time as the plaintiff surrender said certificate or indemnify, with security approved by ■ the board of directors of the defendant bank, against loss, by reason of the failure of the said plaintiff to surrender the aforesaid certificate, that the said defendant has always been willing, and is-still willing, in case said certificate is lost, to pay the said sum with interest, upon giving security,” etc. A rule for judgment for want of a sufficient affidavit of defense was discharged and the plaintiff appeals to this court.

In Snyder v. Wolfley, 8 S. & R. 328, in an action to recover the amount of a prize drawn in a church lottery, the ticket of which was averred in the declaration to have been lost, the Supreme Court says: “ By the express terms of the ticket, whatever prize should be drawn opposite to its number was to be payable only to the bearer; which, by necessary implication, would require the production of the ticket itself; or as an equivalent, in case of its loss, security against damage from payment being made without having it delivered up. Tender of indemnity, therefore, was a substantial part of the plaintiff’s title, and no right of action would accrue, till it were made; the sufficiency of the security being a matter to be judged of at the trial.” If a note is lost after the commencement of the action, it is no objection to the rendition of judgment. Justice may be effectually administered by restraining the plaintiff from issuing his execution without proper indemnity being given: Bisbing v. Graham, 14 Pa. 14; Bigler v. Keller, 8 W. N. C. 323 ; West Phila. N. Bank v. Field, 143 Pa. 473.

The certificate in this case is stated Ííovember 22, 1895, and the affidavit to the statement of claim is made December 23, 1896, by two persons, who described themselves as trustees of the plaintiff lodge, but whether they were the trustees who made the deposit and received the certificate is not stated. Whether they have knowledge of the facts narrated in the statement is as well omitted. All that the defendant fears may exist and yet the affidavit of the trustees be true.

The defendant is entitled to protection from costs and expenses incident to litigation, and where it is admitted that the certificate has been lost before the suit is instituted, the offer to indemnify should accompany the summons; and it can as.conveniently be submitted at that time as at a later stage of the action. The trial court would judge of the sufficiency of the security offered to protect the defendant, and his decision to exact it before entering judgment will not be disturbed.

'The judgment is affirmed.