Baker v. First National Bank

AILSHIE, C. J. This action was instituted by the plaintiff against the defendant bank to recover the sum of $3,633.33, claimed as a balance due on an account that was opened with the bank in the summer of 1908 in the name of Squire & Baker. The account was opened in the first place by an overdraft of $12,340, the check was signed by Squire & Baker, and the money was used in the purchase of cattle. The cattle were subsequently sold from time to time and the receipts from the sale were turned over to the bank in reduction and payment of this overdraft. In May, 1909, the deposits from sales of cattle had paid off the Overdraft and left a balance to the credit of Squire & Baker in the sum of $2,004.50. The bank divided this sum into three parts, and paid one-third thereof to the plaintiff and placed the other two-thirds to the credit of Squire. The plaintiff himself, according to his tes [653] timony, made demand from time to time for the payment of the other two-thirds which had been placed to the credit of Squire. Subsequent to the purchase of the cattle, Squire transferred all his interest in the business to his partner Baker and never claimed any further interest in the deposit or the business. The controversy that has arisen between Baker, who is respondent here, and the sole remaining member of the firm, and the bank which is appellant in this case, grows out of the contention that one John T. Sebree had at one time been a member of the firm and that the firm had then been known as Squire & Sebree, and that later it had been succeeded by the firm of Squire & Baker. The cashier of the bank contends that Squire had told him to transfer two-thirds of the Squire & Baker account to the Squire & Sebree account which had previously been maintained in the bank and to credit one-third to Baker. The bank appears to have had some transactions with Squire & Sebree and some demands against them, which had been satisfied by the sum transferred to their credit in this transaction. The conflict in the evidence, which is abundant, and the real controversy in the case arises over the transfers of these different accounts and of the purported conversations and authorizations which took place between the parties. The respondent maintained and so testified that the bank had no authority to make such a transfer and that Squire had no interest in the account and no authority to authorize any transfer or deposit of the same, and that the whole deposit in the bank to the credit of Squire & Baker belonged to respondent. The jury evidently-believed the contention made by the respondent and the evidence he produced in that behalf. It could serve no useful purpose to recite the evidence in this opinion or to enter upon a discussion of it or speculation as to the probabilities of one witness having told the truth and another having testified falsely. We are content with the verdict of the jury in the ease. There was sufficient evidence before them to justify them in finding in favor of the plaintiff. [654] It has been contended that respondent was bound by the regular monthly statements which the bank claims to have mailed him showing the condition of the account. Respondent denies having received such statements. However that may be, we do not think under the evidence as adduced in this case sufficient has been shown to bind respondent by any itemized statements on the theory of an account stated. The case of Haman v. Sanford (Or.), 137 Pac. 772, cited and relied on by appellant, states a sound principle of law but is hardly applicable to the facts of the ease at bar. We find no valid reason for disturbing the verdict and judgment entered in the trial court. Judgment affirmed, with costs in favor of respondent. Sullivan and Stewart, JJ., concur.