Equitable National Bank v. Griffin & Skelley Co.

Temple, J.

This appeal is by the defendant, a corporation, from the judgment and from an order denying a new trial. It is conceded that the facts are fairly stated in the findings. From the findings it appears that the appellants had dealings with A. R. Clark & Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio. They bought and sold goods to and from each other. It was the understanding and agreement between them that each firm should draw upon the other as shipments were made; bills' drawn by defendant upon A. R. Clark & Co. were drawn payable sixty days after acceptance, but those drawn by A. R. Clark & Co. upon defendant were payable at sight, less one and one-half per cent for cash. December 8, 1892, A. R. Clark & Co. sold and shipped to defendant goods to the amount of six hundred and seventeen dollars and fifty cents, and thereupon mailed the bill to the defendant, and also, in pursuance of the previous agreement, drew a bill of exchange on the defendant payable at sight to plaintiff for the amount of the goods shipped. The bill of exchange was delivered to plaintiff, which thereupon paid the amount to A. R. Clark & Co.

The bill was then sent to plaintiff’s agent in San Francisco for collection, being received there December 13,1892, and on the same day was presented to defendant for payment. Defendant’s manager on the same day called at the office of Wells, Fargo & Co., which was plaintiff’s agent, and gave its check on the CrockerWoolworth Bank for the amount. The clerk having the bill of exchange not then being at the office, the bill was sent by Wells, Fargo & Co. to defendant that evening by mail, as requested by defendant. Pursuant to that request the bill of exchange was marked “paid.”

It was received by the defendant on the following morning. Some time after its reception, but on the same day, defendant learned that A. R. Clark & Co. had become insolvent. Then defendant sent to plaintiff’s agent, offered to restore the bill of exchange, and demanded the return to it of the check on the CrockerWoolworth Bank, which had not then been paid. This Wells, Fargo & Co. refused to do, and then defendant requested the bank to refuse payment of the check, which it did.

Plaintiff then demanded payment from defendant, and, payment having been refused, this action was'eommenced upon the check.

Appellant contends that at the time the return of the check was demanded the check given by it may be regarded as an acceptance, and that as the plaintiff still held it and its position had been in no way changed by reason of the act of defendant, it was entitled to recall the acceptance, under the rule laid down in section 3198 of the Civil Code.

But the position of plaintiff had been changed by the transaction. The check given by defendant would not have constituted payment unless it had been so understood. Defendant delivered the check with express direction that the draft of A. R. Clark & Co. should be marked paid and sent to it, and these terms were acceded to, and the draft was so marked and surrendered to defendant. This shows a distinct understanding by both parties that the bill of exchange had been paid. Suppose afterward, but before the check was paid, defendant had become insolvent, could not A. R. Clark & Co. have contended that the bill of exchange had been paid?

The authorities seem to be uniform that under such circumstances the money paid cannot be recovered by the drawee. (First Nat. Bank v. Burkham, 32 Mich. 328; Hoffman v. Bank of Milwaukee, 12 Wall. 181; Fort Dearborn etc. Bank v. Carter, 152 Mass. 34.)

It follows, I think, that the judgment must be affirmed, and it is so ordered.

Henshaw, J., and McFarland, J., concurred.