Wasgatt v. First National Bank

Bunn, J.

Plaintiff’s testator, Emeline Erskine, died at tbe home of David E. and Polly Perrine, at Blue Eartb City, on tbe evening of March 1, 1909. Sbe bad been living with tbe Perrines since November, 1908. Erom December 25, when sbe was taken ill, to ber death, sbe paid no board, and was cared for by tbe Perrines. On February 21, sbe indorsed and delivered to David Perrine a certificate of deposit for $1,500, for tbe purpose of having tbe same cashed and tbe proceeds placed to ber credit in tbe defendant bank, and on tbe same day tbe certificate was so cashed, and tbe proceeds, $1,498.50, deposited to ber credit. On tbe same day Mrs. Erskine delivered to Polly Perrine a check upon tbe defendant bank for $850. On the following Monday morning, March 1, David Perrine presented the check to tbe defendant bank for payment, was told that it was good, but that it would have to be indorsed by Polly Perrine, tbe payee, before payment. Tbe check was again presented to tbe bank, duly indorsed, on March 2, but payment was refused, because Mrs. Erskine was then dead. Subsequently tbe check was deposited in tbe Farmers National Bank of Blue Eartb to the credit of Putnam & Nicholsen, presented to tbe defendant bank in tbe regular course of business, and paid. Plaintiff demanded of defendant bank payment of $850, and, tbe demand being refused, brought this action to recover that sum. Tbe case was tried by tbe court without a jury, findings made substantially as stated above, and judgment ordered for defendant. A new trial was denied, and plaintiff appealed.

1. Tbe record presents squarely tbe mooted question whether a check on a bank, given for only a part of tbe funds of tbe drawer on deposit, is an assignment pro tanto as between tbe drawer and tbe payee, and as between tbe payee and the bank wben tbe check is presented for payment. This question is an open one in this state. Two propositions are, however, settled by our decisions. The first is that a bill of exchange or draft, payable generally, and not out of any particular fund or debt, will not amount, before acceptance, to an assignment to the holder of funds in the hands of the drawee belonging to the drawer, or of a debt due from the former to the latter. The second is that a draft for the whole of a particular specified fund or debt, or a check on a bank for the whole of the fund on deposit to the credit of the drawer, amounts in equity to an assignment of such fund or debt, even without acceptance. Lewis v. Traders Bank, 30 Minn. 134, 14 N. W. 587; Varley v. Sims, 100 Minn. 331, 111 N. W. 269, 8 L.R.A.(N.S.) 828, 117 Am. St. 694.

But upon the question whether a check drawn for part of the funds of the drawer is an assignment pro tanto, the authorities outside of this state are in hopeless conflict, and while the question was discussed at some length by this court in Northern Trust Co. v. Rogers, 60 Minn. 208, 62 N. W. 273, 51 Am. St. 526, and in Varley v. Sims, we have never decided it. It was said by Justice Brown in the Yarley case that “it is probable that the reasoning of those courts holding to the position that a check operates, between the parties, as an assignment pro tanto, is the better law, and should be adopted.” This statement, while not a decision, indicates the views held by the court on the question, and the full and able arguments in this case convince us that the views so indicated are sound.

The question has been so often and so thoroughly discussed that an extended opinion is unnecessary. The rule that an order, bill of exchange, or draft drawn by a creditor on his debtor for a part of the debt is not an assignment pro tanto rests upon the basis that the debtor cannot be subjected to several actions by different parties to recover portions of one debt. The rule is wholly for the protection of the debtor. When he consents to the splitting up of the debt, the basis for the rule disappears, whether the consent is in the form of an acceptance when the order or draft is presented, or in any other form. The relation between a bank and its depositor is that of debt- or and creditor. The bank agrees, when the relation is created, to pay the checks of the depositor when presented, whether drawn for •the whole or a part of the deposit. It is the universal understanding between banks and their depositors arising from the customs of trade that the checks of the latter are to be paid upon presentation. 2 Daniel, Negotiable Instruments (4th Ed.) § 1638.'

The objection that there is no privity between the bank and the payee or holder of the check is without substance under the modern rule that a person in whose favor a contract is made may sue upon it, though not a party to it, and such objection entirely disappears when the check is presented for payment. By that act the payee and the bank are brought in privity, and the right of the payee against the bank is complete. Without further discussion of the authorities, •or of the reasons for and against the so-called “new doctrine,” we hold that a check on a bank in which the drawer has .funds on deposit subject to check is an assignment of such funds of the drawer to the amount of the cheek, which assignment is complete as between the drawer and payee when the check is given, and complete as between the payee or holder and the bank when the check is presented for payment. Upon such presentation the bank, unléss its right to pay has been taken away by some occurrence before presentation, is legally bound to pay the check. When, therefore, the check was presented to the defendant bank in this case, it became legally •obligated to pay it.

It is unnecessary, in view of this holding, to decide whether there was an acceptance of the check by defendant bank.

2. Blaintiff contends that the findings do not show that the check was given as a-gift causa mortis, and in any event that a check by Mrs. Erskine on her own bank would be inoperative as a gift causa mortis. No question of a gift causa mortis or a gift inter vivos is involved. The evidence is not before us, and there is no claim that it does not sustain the findings. The findings show a check given for a valuable consideration. The check itself imported a consideration, and the burden was upon plaintiff to show want of consideration.

Our conclusion is that the trial court was right in holding that plaintiff was not entitled to recover.

Order affirmed.