National Bank of Burlington v. Marshburn

Schenck, J. This is an action instituted on a note signed under seal by the defendant, payable to the Home Fertilizer & Chemical Company for $472.10, dated 1 November, 1937, due 1 July, 1938, and negotiated by the payee to the plaintiff. The defendant admits signing the note in suit, but denies making any delivery thereof, or receiving any consideration therefor, and alleges that the plaintiff took the note with notice of the infirmities therein and was not therefore a holder in due course. The plaintiff’s evidence tended to show that the Home Fertilizer & Chemical Company was indebted to the plaintiff in a substantial amount and executed its note for such indebtedness and gave the note in suit, together with others, as collateral therefor, and that its note was not paid and the plaintiff thereby became the holder in due course of the note in suit. The defendant’s evidence tended to show that one Crenshaw sought the note of the defendant to use as collateral for the note of the Home Fertilizer & Chemical Company to the plaintiff, and that he agreed to execute and deliver the note in exchange for 500 shares of stock in the fertilizer and chemical company of which Crenshaw was president, and did sign the note and intended to deliver it when the shares of stock were delivered to him, and placed the note in his check book in his office to await the procurement and delivery to him of such shares of stock, but that said shares of stock were never delivered to him and the note was consequently never delivered by him; that said note was taken from his office by Crenshaw and delivered to the plaintiff bank without his (defendant’s) knowledge or consent. And further, that in procuring the note in suit in the manner in which it was procured Crenshaw was acting as an employee and agent of the plaintiff bank. The plaintiff’s evidence, more particularly on rebuttal, tended to show that while Crenshaw was an employee of the plaintiff and its agent for the purpose of collecting certain notes due it and placed in his hands for the purpose of collection, he had no further authority than to collect *690 tbe notes placed in bis bands; tbat Crensbaw bad no authorization from tbe plaintiff bank to procure for it collateral for tbe note of tbe Home Fertilizer & Cbemical Company beld by it, and tbat in procuring tbe note in suit, however be procured it, be was acting as agent of tbe fertilizer and cbemical company tbat be might place tbe note as collateral for tbe fertilizer and cbemical company’s note to plaintiff and thereby strengthen tbe credit with tbe bank of tbe company of which be was president; tbat tbe plaintiff bank bad no knowledge of tbe manner in which tbe note in suit was procured. There was a definite issue drawn as to whether Crensbaw at tbe time be procured tbe note in suit was acting as agent and in tbe interest of tbe plaintiff bank, or as agent and in the interest of tbe Home Fertilizer & Cbemical Company. This issue was vital to tbe determination of tbe defendant’s liability, because, ordinarily, if Crensbaw was acting as agent and in tbe interest of tbe plaintiff, and within tbe scope of bis authority as such agent, in tbe procurement of tbe note in suit, then tbe plaintiff would be fixed with notice of tbe infirmity in said note and would not be a bolder thereof in due course; whereas, ordinarily, if Crensbaw was acting as agent and in tbe interest of tbe payee in tbe note, tbe Home Fertilizer & Cbemical Company, of which be was president, in tbe procurement of tbe note in suit, then tbe plaintiff would not be fixed with notice of tbe infirmity in tbe note and would be a holder thereof in due course. His Honor charged tbe jury: “Mr. Marsbburn would not be liable upon a note stolen out of bis possession by an agent of tbe plaintiff.” This is assigned as error by tbe plaintiff, and we are constrained to sustain tbe assignment. There was no controversy as to Crensbaw being an agent of tbe plaintiff, or as to Crensbaw being an agent of tbe Home Fertilizer & Chemical Company. Tbe question presented was in which capacity and in whose interest was be acting when be stole tbe note in suit, if be did steal it. If be was acting in tbe scope of bis employment by and in tbe interest of the plaintiff, then Mr. Marsbburn would not be liable, but if be was acting as president or agent of tbe fertilizer and cbemical company and in its interest, then Mr. Marsbburn would be liable, nothing else appearing. Trust Co. v. Anagnos, 196 N. C., 327; Bank v. Wells, 187 N. C., 515. Since there must be a new trial for tbe error indicated, it becomes unnecessary to discuss the other interesting assignments of error set out in appellant’s brief, since tbe questions presented thereby are not likely to be raised on another trial of tbe case. New trial.