Clark v. Merchants' Bank

The material question, as stated by the court below, is whether the bill in question was transmitted to Smith

If this was a question of fact, proper to be submitted to the jury, their verdict for the plaintiffs has disposed of the whole question, and there is nothing to review. If, however, it was a question of law arising upon facts undisputed, then the inference should have been drawn by the court, and the motion for a nonsuit will present it for our consideration.

Two witnesses were called by the plaintiffs, as to the course of dealing between them and Smith & Co. of N. York. There is no discrepancy in their testimony, and both parties assume the evidence as true in every particular. Whether, therefore, it establishes the agency for which the plaintiffs contend, would be a question of law, and so the learned court, in their opinion, seem to regard it. From one of the witnesses we have the facts that funds were transmitted by the plaintiffs to be drawn against, or held subject to their order. From the other, that Smith & Co. received drafts, checks and notes, to be placed to the credit of the plaintiffs, who generally drew against the fund, unless special directions were given ; that the remittatices of the plaintiffs were account (I,) and those of Smith & Co. account (2;) that on the 15th of May, the plaintiffs wrote the New-York house, enclosing $2496,08 in notes for collection, and $17,975,-62 in bank notes, checks and drafts, including the $7000 draft in question, for account (I,) and advised their correspondent, in the same letter, that they had drawn upon them to the airouut of $20,832,26, at sight. The $17,975,62 was therefore transmitted to Smith & Co. to.be placed to the credit of the Philadelphia house in account (I,) to be drawn against in the usual course of business. As the mode of dealing had been continued for years, and was perfectly understood by all parties, the plaintiffs had a right to draw against funds remitted, and Smith & Co. were bound to accept. The whole fund was, by the course of dealing, and in this instance by the directions of the plain

The plaintiffs in this case drew, and were, as we have seen, entitled to draw, by arrangement. Their bills at sight amounted to $20,832, although the paper transmitted was only $20,-471,70, of which $2,496,08 was sent for collection, and not available under some days. There is no proof of the actual state of the accounts between the different firms on the 16th of May; but whether it was in their favor, or otherwise, can we suppose that the plaintiffs expected that their drafts would be dishonored, if the $17,000 in securities were not paid at sight? The case is much stronger than that of a customer with a banker. The parties were exchange brokers; mutual correspondents ; receiving funds for, and making drafts upon, each other. Unquestionably it was their intention to keep each other in funds to answer the bills, drawn by them respectively. But in case that the paper transmitted should, from accident, or any other cause, be unavailable, a principal object of the arrangement was to prevent these drafts from being returned dishonored, by making it the duty of their correspondents to accept and pay, notwithstanding. Each would be safe in so doing, because they would have the responsibility of all the parties to the paper, including the firm whose drafts they were to pay. The whole arrangement was one of mutual convenience; and to hold that such drafts were transmitted for collection merely, with no right to a credit, or to draw against them, until they were actually paid, is to lose sight of the situation of these brokers, their business, and its necessities.

It is probably true, that Clark & Co. expected the $17,000 in securities would be available on the 16th of May; but if unavailable, the plaintiffs’ witness says, it was a fund to be drawn

The error of the learned judge, I apprehend, consists in the assumption, that nothing went into account (1) properly; or, what is the same thing, nothing was credited to Clark & Co. in the course of business, until collected. This inference is opposed to the testimony of the only witnesses who speak as to the nature of the business, and mode of transacting it, and to instructions of the plaintiffs.in the letter of the I5th of May. How are we to account for the different instructions in reference to the two drafts forwarded for collection, and the other funds, upon the supposition that neither were to be credited in account (1) until collected, and when collected, both would be thus credited in the ordinary course of business ? Why distinguish, when all were sent for collection only, and when the credits were to be given on the same contingency, and the rights of the parties were precisely the same, in reference to both classes of securities ?

We think that these different firms were agents and bankers for each other. This is proved by the course of business. The letter of the 15th of May covered securities for account (1,) and for collection, together with an order to receive bills of exchange, and hold them, until the return of Mr. Underwood. For the first class they were to be credited, with the right to draw upon their correspondents; as to the second and third, the N. York firm were the mere agents of the plaintiffs, and had no other interest in, and control over, the assets, than such as were necessary to the discharge of their agency; that the title to the