Wileman v. King

SteveNS, J., delivered the opinion of the court. Appellee exhibited his bill of complaint against appellant, T. W. Wileman, and one Green, trustee, seeking to enjoin the foreclosure of a certain deed of trust which King executed in favor of Wileman, as beneficiary, to secure a note of seventy-five dollars. The bill for injunction was answered, and the cause set down for hearing on bill, answer, and proof, and from the decree, declining to overrule the injunction, appellant prosecutes this appeal. In April, 1916, Wileman loaned King seventy-five dollars and took a note and deed of trust on certain crops of corn, cotton, and other agricultural products raised during the year 1916, and also on certain live stock. In the fall, and before the maturity of the note, King was carrying to market in the town of Bonnville a bale of cotton. On the way he met his creditor, Wile-man, and stated that he was carrying the cotton to be sold and desired to pay his note 'out of the proceeds. There is some conflict in the testimony between the parties as to what was said on this occasion; King contending and testifying that Mr. Wileman told him to sell — 396 — the "bale of cotton and to deposit the proceeds to his (King’s) account, and that King might give him a check for the full amount of the indebtedness. King sold the cotton and deposited approximately ten dollars in the bank, and used the balance of the money in paying some other debts. King, however, already had on deposit in the Bank of Booneville seventy-nine dollars and fifty cents, which, together with the ten dollars, made an amount sufficient to pay the secured note and interest. The next day King went to Mr. Wileman to take up his note and deed of trust, and executed his check in settlement. When this transaction was had, Wileman was at home ill, and for his reason did not go to town to present the check until after the lapse of about ten days. In the meantime another creditor of King had sued out an attachment against King' and garnished the bank. This attachment and garnishment was made returnable to the justice, court, and the bank, in answering, suggested that appellant had an assignment of the funds and claimed an interest therein. It does not appear, however, that appellant was summoned to appear in the justice court and propound his claim. When Kang tendered his check for the indebtedness, appellant inquired if the money was in the bank and King responded that it was. There was something also said as to whether the amount of eighty-one would fully cover the note and interest, and in this conversation King remarked that, “if that was not all right, he would make it all right.” Appellee contends that this statement referred alone to the amount of the check, while" appellant' contends that it had a broader meaning. The statement, thus far is according to King’s version of the facts. On the trial of the case appellant contended, and so testified, that he directed King to sell the bale of cotton, deposit the- proceeds to Wileman’s account, and bring him the deposit slip; that although this had not been done he did accept King’s check, but upon the — 397 — assurance that the money was in the bank, and that, if everything was not all right, King would make it all right. The chancellor ruled that the note and deed of trust had been paid and satisfied by the execution and delivery of the check. The learned chancellor incorporated in the record his written opinion, in which, among other things, he says: “I am of the opinion that, when - Mr. Wileman endorsed this check, he owed it at least to King to try and secure this money and at least file his claim with the justice court. While my opinion is not binding upon the justice court, yet I am of the opinion that his claim was good, and, that being the case, there is nothing to do, except'make the injunction perpetual.” Appellee’s contentions in this case are not supported by the law or the facts. There is no. controversy about the fact that appellant held a valid promissory note and that this note was amply secured. The debtor upon his own initiative harvested and sold a bale of cotton and tendered his creditor - a check for the amount of the secured claim. When the check was presented for payment it was dishonored, and that through no fault, fraud, or collusion of the creditor, the holder of the chéck. There is no proof justifying thé inference that appellant suggested or inspired- the prosecution of the attachment suit, or knew anything about the funds having been garnished until the check had been presented. It affirmatively appears that when the check was presented the funds of the depositor had been impounded by a valid garnishment proceeding. Thereupon appellant tendered the check back to appellee and demended a return of his note and deed of trust. Appellee declined to give up the note and trust deed, and, to employ his own language, responded: “I just told him I did not care about exchanging the note.” There is no evidence of ,a definite and special agreement t-o the effect that appellant accepted the check in full payment and discharge of the — 398 — secured indebtedness. It, was one of the usual transactions of business, where the'debtor in the usual way executed and delivered a check upon his bank, and the check through no fault of the holder was dishonored. Under such circumstances the general rule is applicabe, and the check is not payment. In Bank of Greenville v. Kretschmar, 91 Miss. 608, 44 So. 930, our court, by Mayes, J., gave utterance to the well-known rule of law that: “A check is not payment, unless the check is paid, unless it is specially agreed by the parties that the check, whether good or not, shall have that effect. The presumption is against its being taken as payment the party asserting it to show that the check was to have that effect. The presumption is against its being so received, and this presumption can only be overcome by clear proof to the contrary.” Our court cited with approval Wadlington v. Covert, 51 Miss. 631, a case which, though it deals with the acceptance of an order in the nature of a bill of exchange, discusses the rule of law here applicable, and especially upon the point, hereinafter referred to,.as to whether the check constituted an assignment pro tanto of the funds to the depositor’s credit in the bank. Any further reference to the substantive law that a check ordinarily does not constitute payment is unnecessary. The general rule is conceded. The facts do not. in our opinion show, but on the' contrary rebut, any special agreement that the check was accepted as payment, whether it was good or bad. The case at bar does not present an instance where the check or negotiable instrument of a third party is assigned and accepted in settlement of a prior indebtedness, and there has been a delay prejudicial to the rights of any of the parties to the instrument. This is a transaction solely between the creditor and debtor. Any delay, therefore, in the presentment of the check for payment, has caused no one a loss. We assume that the — 399 — attachment was properly sued out and the funds lawfully garnished. If so, the money in the hank has been appropriated for the payment of appellee’s lawful indebtedness. Appellee lost nothing. There is evidence, however, tending to show that appellant' was delayed in presenting the check on account of illness. We proceed, then, to a .consideration of the thought, reflected by the chancellor’s opinion, that appellant had an interest in the funds and was privileged to propound his claim thereto in the justice court. This position is untenable. Whatever may be the minority rule as reflected by certain decisions of other states, the great. weight of authority is to the effect that a check does not operate as an assignment pro tanto of the funds on deposit to the credit of the depositor in a banking institution. Case note, 35 L. R. A. (N. S.) 1. Our court fell in line with the great majority of the courts of the Union in the case of Bush, Redwood & Co. v. Foot, 58 Miss. 5, 38 Am. Rep. 310. It is different if the instrument is' a mere. order, to be paid out of a special found. Wadlington v. Covert, supre. But further discussion of the authorities on this point is unnecessary, because of the enactment by our legislature of the Uniform Negotiable Instruments Law. Chapter 244, Laws of 1916. By section 189 of this act (section 2767, Hemingway’s Code) it is expressly provided: A check of itself does' not operate as an assignment of any part of the funds to the credit of the drawer with the bank, and the bank is not liable to the holder, unless and until it accepts or certifies the check.” It follows that appellant could not have propounded successfully any claim to the funds garnished, and had no interest, legal or equitable, in the money on deposit in the Bank of Booneville to appellee’s credit. Equity demands that his promissory note and deed of trust be restored to him. The secured indebtedness has not been paid. The injunction was wrongfully sued out, and — 400 — should have been dissolved. The decree of the learned chancellor will be reversed, and decree entered here dissolving the injunction and remanding the cause for the assessment of any damages which appellant has sustained by reason of the wrongful issuance of the writ’. Reversed and remanded.