Gammond v. Bowery Savings Bank — 15 Daly (N.Y.) 483

Majority

p. 483

Sabah B. Gammond, Respondent, against The Bowery Savings Bank, Appellant.

(Decided February 3d, 1890.)

Headnote

The rules of a savings bank provided that “ drafts sent by mail or otherwise will not be entitled to payment unless the deposit book is produced, and the depositor sends, by letter accompanying the draft, correct answers to the questions asked when the first deposit was made in the bank. On the decease of the depositor the amount standing to the credit of the deceased shall be paid to his or her legal representatives. Drafts may be made personally or by the order in writing of the depositor if the bank have the signature of the party on their signature book, or by letters of attorney duly authenticated. ” Held, that such rules relate only to the dealings between the bank and the depositor, and do not prevent the depositor fromi passing the demand by general or specific assignment, by gift, bequest, or operation of law; and a demand made in the ordinary way by the assignee, donee, etc., is sufficient.

Appeal from a judgment and order of the General Term of the City Court affirming a judgment of that court entered upon a verdict rendered by direction of the court.

The facts are stated in the opinion.

Carlisle Norwood, for appellant.

Cromwell G. Macy, for respondent.

The original action was tried by Judge Ehblich at a Trial Term of the City Court with a jury, but, after the testimony was all in, the parties consented to the discharge of the jury, and the case was submitted to the judge to be determined on both the law and the facts, and a verdict directed as if the jury were present. There was-little or no contradiction in the testimony. From that it appears that, on or about the 2nd of September, 1875, one Michael Galliger opened an account with the defendant, and

p. 484

received therefor a pass-book in the usual form. Thereafter Galliger withdrew from defendant’s keeping $44.53, leaving due from defendant, upon January 1st, 1877, the sum of $440. Before the commencement of the action Galliger gave, assigned, and transferred to the plaintiff all his right, title, and interest in the indebtedness of the defendant, together with the bank-book. It appeared from the testimony that this was a gift, inter vivos, and that subsequently thereto Galliger died. Thereafter the plaintiff, through her attorney, demanded payment of the sum on deposit, explaining the circumstances under which she came in possession of the book to an officer of the bank, who thereupon refused to pay the same.

■On the trial the defendant relied upon' the following rules of the bank as sufficient grounds for the refusal to pay: “ 8. Drafts sent by mail or otherwise will not be entitled to payment unless the deposit book is produced, and the depositor sends, by letter accompanying the draft, correct answers to the questions asked when the first deposit was made in the bank. 6. On the decease of the depositor the amount standing to the credit of the deceased-shall be paid to his or her legal representatives. 7. Drafts may.be made personally or by the order in writing of the depositor if the bank have the signature of the party on their signature book, or by letters of attorney duly authenticated.”

These rules clearly relate to the dealings -between the bank and the original depositor, and do not contemplate a case like the present of an assignment or gift inter vivos, even if the mere acceptance of a pass-book containing the by-laws constitutes a contract between the parties (Smith v. Brooklyn Savings Bank, 101 N. Y. 60 ). These rules do not prevent a creditor from passing the demand by general or specific assignment, by gift, bequest, or operation of law, appointment of a receiver, or in any other legal way that may arise. It is obvious it would be impossible in many instances for an assignee or other stranger coming into the lawful possession of the pass-book to answer the test questions contemplated by section 8; nor do any of the rules prescribed by the bank

p. 485

determine the nature of the evidence which shall be given it of such gift, assignment, transfer, etc. The relation between defendant and Galliger was that of debtor and creditor, and the gift being conceded by the defendant, the plaintiff has succeeded to all the title and rights of Galliger. Such being the case, we do not see why the judgment rendered was not entirely proper.

Upon the argument it was strongly contended that the plaintiff should have procured the appointment of the public administrator upon the estate of Galliger, and that through him the demand should have been made. But obviously this is unnecessary, and would have been unavailing as a protection to the bank, as is shown in the recent case of Walsh against the present appellant (ante, p. 403), for in that case the payment was made to the administrator of the depositor, and yet the defendant was compelled to pay the claim to the owner of the bank-book, who received it as a gift. .Besides, the gift from Galliger to the plaintiff having been made before the death of the latter, the title was in her from that time on, and there would have been no title in the public administrator to the funds in the hands of the bank after his death.

The judgment should therefore be affirmed, with costs.

Bischoff, J., concurred.

Judgment affirmed, with costs.