W. T. Joyce Co. v. Rohan

Sherwin, J. 1. Negotiable Instrument consideration compounding crime. This suit is on an ordinary promissory note made payable to oneE. C. Spurr and alleged to have been transferred to the plaintiff before maturity. The defendant Rohan in his separate . answer admitted the execution of the note, but alleged as a defense thereto that it was without consideration and that it was given for the purpose of settling a criminal charge made against his co-signer, J. A. Mavity, that the note was given for the sole purpose of compromising and compounding a felony, and was so received by said Spurr, who was the plaintiff’s agent, with such understanding. At the close of the testimony the plaintiff moved for a directed verdict, on several grounds; among others, that the defendant had failed to allege in his answer, or to prove, that a crime was in fact committed by the defendant Mavity, the compounding of which constituted any part of the consideration of the note sued on, and that the defendant had failed to show that the plaintiff had any knowledge or notice, actual or constructive, that the note in suit was obtained by the compounding of a felony. The court was clearly right in setting aside the verdict which had been directed and in granting a retrial of the case. It is true there was no evidence tending to support the charge of embezzlement that had been made against Mavity in an information sworn 14 to and filed by Spurr, the payee of tbe note, but it is not necessary in a case of this kind to show that the crime which it is alleged was compounded was in fact committed. Shaulis v. Buxton, 109 Iowa, 355; Smith v. Steely, 80 Iowa, 738; State of Iowa v. Ruthven, 58 Iowa, 121. 2. Same questiion of fact. There is evidence in the record tending to show that Spurr, who was the payee named in the note, was the agent of the plaintiff in Carroll county. As we have seen, the information which was filed against Mavity was filed by Spurr. It charged Mavity with the crime of embezzling from the plaintiff in this case, the W. T. Joyce Company, alleging the company to be a corporation. It is a general rule of law that whatever evidence has a tendency to prove an agency is admissible, even though it be not full and satisfactory, and it is the province of the jury to pass upon it; and it is equally as well settled that, when one knowingly and without dissent permits another to act as his agent, the capacity will be conclusively presumed. In this case Spurr was shown to be the agent of the plaintiff in the transaction of other business, or, at least, there was evidence before the jury tending to so show. He appeared before the justice and ’filed an information against Mavity, charging him with the crime of embezzling from this plaintiff; thereafter this note was given for the purpose of settling that criminal charge, and still later the note was transferred to the plaintiff by Spurr, their agent, and sued upon by them.- All of these transactions constituted evidence from which the jury might have found that Spurr was in fact acting as the plaintiff’s agent and for it in making the criminal charge and in settling the alleged embezzlement by taking the note in suit. This being true, it was clearly error, under the rule heretofore announced, to direct a verdict for the plaintiff. It was a question for the jury, and should have been submitted to it. The order setting aside the verdict was right, and it is affirmed.