Hayden v. Alton National Bank

Green, -J. P. Appellant brought suit against appellee to recover an amount of money deposited with the latter by appellant in the name of “William H. Hayden, agent.” The cause was tried by the court without a jury, under a plea of the general issue and notice of “set-off,” stating that the defendant would insist the money sued for was the property of George D. Hayden and not plaintiff’s, and came to and was received by plaintiff as agent for George D. Hayden, and was deposited with defendant by plaintiff in his name, but as agent for George D. Hayden, who, before the commencement of this suit, was and is indebted to defendant on three notes, two for 81,000 each and one for 8300 (describing notes), signed by Geo. D. and Sarah Hayden, which notes became due before the commencement of the suit, and offers to set off and allow against demand sued for so much of said money due from said George D. Hayden to defendant as will be sufficient to satisfy and discharge such demand. ¡No findings of law were requested on behalf of either party. The court found the issues for defendant and rendered judgment against plaintiff for- costs, whereupon plaintiff took this appeal, his motion for a new trial having been overruled. It appears from the evidence said George D. Hayden had been engaged in business in Alton until August 2, 1887, when he disappeared, leaving no one in charge of his business; that a few days after his de. partnre, his brother, the appellant, came to Alton, and, as he says, at the instance of creditors of George D. Hayden, took charge of the business as the agent of his brother to look after it until it should be ascertained, where his brother was. During the time he was so acting, and on September 3, 1887, he opened an account with appellee in the name of “ William H. Ilayden, agent,” and between September 3 and 7,1887, deposited with appellee to the credit of that account §566.54; against this account a check for §40 and one for §22.50 had been drawn by appellant and paid by the bank, leaving a balance of §504.04, to recover which this suit is brought. It is claimed on behalf of appellant that this deposit was made by him in his own name; that it was received, accepted and entered by appellee upon its books as his; that the greater part of it was deposited and to be appropriated for a certain specific purpose with the consent of the bank, and under this state of facts appellee had no lien, as a bank, upon the sum deposited for the debt of George D. Hayden, and had no legal right to apply such balance of the depositas a credit upon the note of George D. and Sarah Hayden, or set off such note against said balance. The state of facts so claimed to exist was denied on behalf of appellee, and on its behalf it is claimed the money was deposited by plaintiff as the money of George D. Hayden, and it was so understood and made known to defendant by plaintiff; that the plaintiff was acting with defendant in depositing this money as the agent of George D. Hayden in conducting the business out of which the mouey deposited was derived. The evidence introduced in support of these disputed facts by the respective parties was conflicting, but the trial court, who saw the witnesses and heard them on the stand while being examined as such, occupied a position and had an opportunity enabling it to determine more accurately and fairly the weight and credit to be given the testimony of each witness than is afforded this court, and has settled that conflict and determined the disputed facts in favor of defendant below. Such finding ought not to be disturbed unless it is manifestly and clearly wrong. We have carefully examined all the evidence contained in the record and are satisfied the court below was warranted in finding that plaintiff, as agent of George D. Hayden, deposited the money with the bank as George D. Hayden’s money, derived from his business then being carried on by plaintiff as his agent; that defendant was notified of these facts at the time said account was opened, and was never informed to the contrary, and that no part of the money so deposited was set apart or appropriated for any specific purpose with the knowledge or consent of the hank; and in saying this we arc not unmindful of the fact that Wade testified, after the balance of the deposit had been indorsed as a credit upon the note of George D. and Sarah Hayden, and plaintiff was told of it and made no objection, plaintiff told him there were some debts incurred he felt morally bound to pay, and exhibited a memorandum showing the nature and amounts thereof, aggregating §207.13, and said if this sum was allowed him he had no objection to such application of the balance, and thereupon witness, after consultation with his associates in the bank, agreed to the request and consented to allow him that sum. Ho lawful consideration supports such promise, and the next day the plaintiff repudiated the arrangement by bringing this suit. If this finding of the court was justified by the evidence, the questions remaining to be decided are, could defendant below set off a debt of George D. Hayden against the demand sued for? And was the note upon which said balance was indorsed as a credit a debt of his? Both these questions, we- think, must be answered in the affirmative. When appellant claimed and was known to be acting for George D. Hayden merely as his agent, his acts and contracts must be deemed to be the acts and contracts of his principal only, and “ involve no personal responsibility on the part of appellant.” Story on Agency, Sec. 261, et seq. And in an action by him to recover money due his principal, a debt of the principal may be set off. Huntington v. Knox, 7 Cush. 371. If the suit is brought in the name of the agent instead of the principal, upon any contract knowingly made by the former for the latter, the other contracting party will generally be entitled to make the same defense, and establish the same claims against the agent that he would be entitled to if the suit was brought in the name of the principal. Story on Agency, Sec. 404. Where a depositor is indebted to a bank, the latter has the right to apply so much as may be necessary of the funds deposited, undisposed of and remaining in its hands, to the payment of his matured indebtedness. Commercial Bank of Albany v. Hughes, 17 Wend. 94; Morse on Banks and Banking, 27. But appellant insists that a bank has a right of set-off against a deposit only in a case where a depositor and debtor is the same person, and that here appellant is the depositor and his principal is the debtor; hence, under the rule, defendant was not entitled to the set-off claimed. In law, however, under the facts found, George D. Hayden was the depositor, notwithstanding the deposit was made by his agent. The authorities cited, and many others not cited, support the view we have expressed. If the finding of the trial court was justified by the evidence, the debt of George D. Hayden due defendant was properly allowed as a set-off against the demand sued for. Appellant claims, however, that the note noon which the credit of $504.04 balance of deposit sued for was .indorsed, was not a debt of George D. Hayden’s, but was a joint debt of him and Sarah Hayden, and therefore not a proper set-off against his separate demand. The note reads as follows: “$1,000 Alton, April 22, 1887. “ Hinety days after date I promise to pay to the order of Alton national Bank one thousand dollars, with interest at eight per cent, per annum until paid, for value received,'payable at the Alton national Bank. “ Geo. D. Hayden, “ Sabah Hayden.” On this note appellee could maintain suit against George D. Hayden alone, and if so, no legal objection forbids its allowance as a set-off against any separate demand of his against appellant. Set-off of a joint and several note against the debt claimed to be due one of the makers is admissible. Stadler v. Parmlee, 10 Iowa, 23, White v. Rogers, 6 Blackf. 436, and numerous other cases announce this rule. We conclude, therefore, said note was a proper set-off as a debt of George D. Hayden against the demand sued for, and the court below did not err in so holding. • The judgment of the Circuit Court is affirmed. Judgment affirmed.