Liberty Banking Co. v. Chatham Bank & Trust Co.

Bloodworth, J. The court did not err in its rulings on the demurrers, nor in excluding evidence, and a nonsuit was properly awarded. Judgment affirmed. Broyles, C. J., and Luke, J., concur. On the trial the plaintiff introduced in evidence parts of the defendant’s answer, which in substance were as follows: The defendant had on deposit to the credit of Noord Amerikaansche Hypotheekbank certain funds deposited for the purpose of making loans to be secured by deeds to real estate. The Georgia Land & Securities Company had negotiated a loan from these funds to C. 'W. Smiley, to be secured by deed to certain real estate; and the check in question was delivered by the defendant to that company to be turned over by it to Smiley in payment of the loan negotiated with him in behalf of the above-named depositor. It was to be delivered to Smiley on the execution and delivery of a security deed by him, and for this purpose the Georgia Land & Securities Company transmitted the check to a named attorney at law, residing at Ludowici, Georgia. “Defendant does not know whom ” the said attorney “ represented in the transaction; defendant had no connection or relation with him whatever.” The name of Smile}1, the payee, was forged and indorsed on the check, and it was also indorsed below his name by the attorney mentioned, and the attorney presented it to the Liberty Banking Company, which paid it and indorsed it, guaranteeing the prior indorsements, and transmitted it to the Savannah Bank & Trust Company; the latter company made a like indorsement and guaranty, and collected from the defendant the amount of the check, and the check was canceled and marked “paid,” with a punch which perforated the paper. The defendant subsequently discovered that the indorsement in the payee’s name was forged, and demanded and obtained from the Savannah Bank & Trust Company a return of the amount paid, and delivered the canceled check to that company in order to enable it to go back on the Liberty Banking Company, to which it had transmitted the money collected. The Savannah Bank & Trust Company transmitted the cheek to the Liberty Banking Company, and the latter company procured from Smiley an indorsement of the cheek, “without recourse,” and again indorsed it and demanded payment from the defendant. From the testimony of the plaintiff’s cashier it appears that after the canceled check was returned to the plaintiff the cashier took it to Smiley, who said that he had never before seen it, and the cashier induced him to indorse it, assuring him that he would not be liable on the indorsement. No consideration was paid or promised for the indorsement. The loan transaction for which the check was given had never been consummated. The check was never in Smiley’s possession except when it was handed to him by the plaintiff’s cashier for the purpose of signing his name on the back of it. After this witness had testified the plaintiff tendered in evidence the check sued on. The defendant objected to it, on the ground that “-the plaintiff had shown no delivery either to Smiley, or by the bank to him.” No other witness testified. On motion of the defendant the court granted a nonsuit. To this and the other rulings stated the plaintiff excepted. Edwin A. Cohen, Hitch & Denmark, for plaintiff, cited: Civil [219] Code (1910), §§ 2342-3; Tiedeman, Com. Paper, 251; 34 Olda. 388 (125 Pae. 1115, 33 Am. & Eng. Ann. Cas. 1914 C, 233); 3 Pick. 194; 26 Ark. 660; 6 Cush. 19 (52 Am. Dec. 761); 4 Allen, 336 (81 Am. Dec. 707); 6 Colo. App. 303 (40 Pac. 473); 1 Dan. Neg. Instr. (3d ed.) 74, 75. Lawton & Cunningham, E. Ormonde Hunter, for defendant, cited: 62 Ga. 272; 4 Ga. App. 534; 17 Ga. App. 170 (3); 10 Ga. App. 98; 124 Ga. 965; 134 Ga. 364; 8 Corp. Juris., 43; 99 Ga. 379; 111 Ga. 486; 1 Dan. Neg. Instr. (6th ed.) 91, 93; 16 Ga. App. 23; 23 N. E. 180.