Davenport v. Prentice

I think that this judgment must be reversed for an error in instructions to the jury. The appeal is by the administratrix c. t. a. of Augustos Prentice from a judgment entered on a verdict at Trial Term against the estate for $183,690. The plaintiff, as the receiver of the Bank of Staten Island, sues the officers and directors of the bank in a common-law action for negligence, whereby Ahlmann, the cashier and a director, found opportunity for thefts which brought the bank to insolvency and the closing of its doors on December 31, 1903. Ahlmann killed himself on December 30, 1903. Twenty-two thousand five hundred and thirty dollars was recovered from his estate. Augustus Prentice was the president, and he, with A. B. Prentice, R. I/H. Finch, Wood, and Ahlmann, were directors. Finch is dead. Wood was not served, but was called as a witness by the plaintiff, and as to A. B. Prentice the action was dismissed at trial.

The plaintiff read in evidence official reports of the bank to the superintendent of banking, of which all, save the last, were verified by Prentice as president and by Ahlmann as cashier. The last was verified by Ahlmann alone, with the statement that Prentice was ill. The examination by the state bank examiner showed that the report of December, 1902, was correct and, that the assets were intact. There is no doubt, however, that a report was verified by Prentice after securities to a large amount or their proceeds had been made away with by Ahlmann, which report showed that the securities or their equivalent were still assets of the bank; and the contention of the plaintiff is that the fact that Prentice as president verified a report or reports which were false in that respect was evidence of negligence in his offices as presided: and as a director. There were also other acts of alleged omission proved as to the conduct of the bank by him and his fellow officers, such as lack of attention, audit or examination, absence of proper committees of supervision, and of directors’ meetings, improper bookkeeping, lax care of securities, and other matters of alleged slipshod management. If at the time of a verification of a particular report which showed the securities or their equivalent on hand the securities had been stolen, the fact that the verification was made in such ignorance was not the cause of the theft. The cashier did not know but that before the president joined in the verification thereof he might call for a production of the securities. The cashier could only surmise when he abstracted the securities that, as to future reports, the president might'not require the production of the securities, and, if the president had not done so in the past, he probably would be content not to do so in the future. But much stress was laid upon the verification of these reports upon the proposition that, if Prentice had observed due care in qualifying himself to make the oath, he would not have been ignorant of the fact that the'securities were no longer possessed by the bank. Indeed, the learned court, after instructing

“I also charge you that inasmuch as the said reports contained statements that the bank was owner of certain investment securities at the time of making such reports, if the jury, you find that the president of the bank made such reports without knowledge "that such investments were in the possession of the bank, and relied upon the statement of the cashier, instead of informing himself of the fact, and that as a consequence thereof opportunity was given to the cashier to make away with such securities so as the same were lost to the bank, then you may find a verdict for the plaintiff for such amount as you find was lost as the result of such conduct or negligence on the part of the president of the bank.”

And the court thereafter further charged:

“I charge you, further, it is the duty of the president of a bank to keep himself informed, sufficiently familiar with the affairs of the bank, and the conduct thereof—not alone by the cashier, but the general conduct, and the investment of securities, and the securities on hand—to enable him truthfully and faithfully to comply with the requirements of the statute that he verify on oath the several quarterly reports as to the details thereof.”

The stolen securities represented a very great part of the thefts.

I now consider the instructions of the court as to the oath annexed to the report, which were as follows:

“Now, the banking laws of the state of New York in the year 1900 and subsequent thereto made it the duty of'the president of the bank to verify by oath the several quarterly reports to the superintendent of banks which have been put in evidence in this cause, and to verify by his oath as to each of said reports that the same was true and correct in all respects. I charge you as matter of law that it was the duty of the president of the bank to have such knowledge of and such acquaintance with the several matters stated in the quarterly reports that he Could truthfully make oath that the said reports were true in all respects.”

The exception taken to this instruction was as follows:

“Defendants’ counsel excepts to so much of the charge as instructs the jury that it was the duty of the president of the bank to have such knowledge of and such acquaintance with the several matters stated in the quarterly reports that he could truthfully make oath that the said reports were true in all respects.”

The first question is whether the exception was sufficient. The, purpose of such" an exception is to call the attention of the court to the instruction 'given and to the fact that it is objected to, in order that the court may have, the opportunity to retract, alter, or modify the instruction. "Comparing the exception with the instruction, it appears that the exception pointed out the precise language of the instruction objected to. The court could not mistake the subject of the

“When it is intended to except to a specific proposition or to particular remarks of a judge in his charge to the jury, the counsel making the exception should put his finger on the proposition clearly and distinctly, beyond any question, and employ language entirely plain, so that there can be no doubt as to the real character of the exception, or as to what was actually intended. This is essential to enable the judge to correct, modify, or change the language used, if he deems it proper, and to prevent any misconception or misapprehension as to what portion of the charge the exception was intended to apply. ' To obtain the advantage of an exception as to language used in the charge, it must be presented either in the same or in equivalent words, or so as to embrace the substance of the charge, and not in phraseology which is at least of a doubtful construction.”

This case is cited and approved in Brozek v. Steinway Railway Company, 161 N. Y. 63 , 65, 55 N. E. 395 . In People ex rel. Dailey v. Livingston, 79 N. Y. 292 , the court say:

"The learned counsel for the relator in answer to this point insists, first, that the exception was not sufficiently specific. At the close of the charge several requests to charge were made by the respective parties, and then the case states that the defendant excepted to the closing of the charge in regard to the ballot boxes. It would have been strictly more accurate to have repeated the language excepted to, but the exception referred to the close of the charge and the subject. There was but a single idea in that part of the charge, and that was expressed in clear and emphatic language. The exception could not have referred to anything else, and it is difficult to see how there could have been any misapprehension as to the application of the exception. We think that the rule requiring specific exceptions was substantially, if not technically complied with.”

I fail to see how the exception could be more precise and definite. It is not the rule that the exceptor is bound to state the reason for his challenge to the law of the instruction. In Requa v. Holmes, 16 N. Y. 202 , the court say:

“In excepting to a charge all that is necessary is to specify the legal proposition therein supposed to be objectionable. In this case the whole charge consisted of but a single legal proposition, and a general exception thereto was sufficient. It was unnecessary to state the reasons why the charge was, or was supposed to be, erroneous.”

In Goldman v. Abrahams, 9 Daly, 223 , the court say:

“The proposition of the charge, in view of the evidence, was erroneous, and to that erroneous proposition an exception is taken. In an exception to a charge counsel are not bound to state the grounds of their exception. They are simply called upon to except to such propositions ¿s they deem erroneous; and this raises the question of law in a proper form.”

In Freund v. Paten, 10 Abb. N. C. 316 , the court say:

“The instructions given the jury were plainly not in accord with the legal rule, and more strongly marked by the omission of the term ‘reasonable’ in qualification of the word ‘doubt.’ The plaintiff’s counsel, by excepting to the court’s charge of legal propositions, did all that was needful to present the ,, question. Under such circumstances counsel are not called upon to suggest amendments or changes to the court; but may rely upon the' exception. Goldman v. Abrahams, 10 Wkly. Dig. 108 ; Allis v. Leonard, 58 N. Y. 291 .”

See, too, Brick v. Fowler, 12 Wkly. Dig. 310 ; Allis v. Leonard, 58 N. Y. 288 ; Baylies’ Trial Practice, 336; 2 Rumsey’s Practice (2d Ed.) p. 368.

The second question is whether the exception was well taken. The instruction of the court was not a correct statement of the statute existing at the time of these thefts ; for the provision of Banking Law, Laws 1892,»p. 1853, c. 689, as amended by Laws 1898, p. 958, c. 333, then was and now is (section 20):

“Every such report shall be verified by the oath of the president and cashier or treasurer of such corporation or by such individual banker, to the effect that the same is true and correct in all respects, to the best of his knowledge and belief.”

Thus it appears that the learned court charged that the law was •that the president must verify by an unqualified oath, when the law required only an oath to the best of his knowledge and belief.

The third question is whether the error is fatal to the judgment. “If it is possible that the defendant was injured by this error, the verdict must be set aside. It is not for the defendant to show how or to what extent he was prejudiced. The existence of the error establishes his claim to relief. If the plaintiffs wish to sustain the verdict, it is for them to show that the error did not and could not have effected it”—citing authorities. Greene v. White, 37 N. Y. 405 . If the court had instructed the jury that the oath was limited to the best of Prentice’s knowledge and belief, can it be concluded that the jury would have found in such verification (and such was the verification actually made) evidence of negligence? It is to be noted that at no time was the oath as required by the statute stated to the jury, nor have we any proof that the jury ever heard read or ever- read the statute. Indeed, at the close of the case, the court asked the jury whether they desired to take any exhibit with them, and it does not appear that anything was submitted to them but a statement of the alleged items of loss. Even if the jury had before them in their jury room the reports as verified, can it be at all certain that they would have assumed that the reports were verified

(a) A substantial difference between the oath charged and the oath in the statute book is shown by 'the fact that originally the statute read every such report should «“be verified by the oath of the president and cashier * * * to the effect that the same is true and correct in all respects” (section 20, c. 689, p. 1853, Laws 1892), and that by an amendment made by chapter 333, p. 958, Laws 1898, the limitation of the oath “to the best of his knowledge .and belief” was grafted upon the statute. It seems to me that the reason for the modification is not far to seek. The Legislature thought that a conscientious bank president or official might discharge his duties to the full, and yet be not qualified and could not in the nature of things qualify himself to make positive “oath to the report and its details. The original requirement might éxclude. that kind of man required to discharge the duties of president or of cashier, and thus limit the occupancy of such places to those who would take such an oath without compunction, though it might, in fact, be “false as dicers’ oaths.”

(b) I- think that the jury in passing upon the negligence of Mr. Prentice as evidenced by his acts of omission'indicated by his act of

What was the negligence attributed to the verification of the report? I admit that, as the rule is that the respondent must establish that the error could not have affected the verdict (Greene v. White, supra; People v. Smith, 172 N. Y. 243 , 64 N. E. 814 ), a discussion of this question is perhaps unnecessary, even for the purpose of showing that the jury might have absolved the president if they had been instructed that he was only required to make a qualified oath to the reports. And I do not intend to be understood as intimating, much less declaring, that, if the court had charged the jury correctly as to the oath, the jury could not have found negligence in the circumstances surrounding the verification of the reports by Prentice.

(a) It does not satisfactorily appear that the opportunity to thus dispose of the securities was due to any failure on the part of Mr. Prentice to inspect the books, and the investment account of the bank prior to the verification of the report. The reports, verified by Mr. Prentice and Ahlmann, seem to be in accord therewith. It is true that the investment account did not, as it had prior to 1902 and 1903, specify the securities nor were they specifically listed in the books; but that is another matter. Whether Mr. Prentice knew this does not appear; but Mr. Wood knew it. The state examiner had seen that system (or omission, if you please), but it did not appear that he had made any sign or had taken steps in the way of requiring change of method. The negligence asserted necessarily was that Mr. Prentice- did not see that the securities were on hand at the time when he verified the reports. The bank was in Stapleton, Richmond county. It was incorporated in 1885 with a capital of $25,000 of 500 shares with par value of $50 a share. When Ahlmann died, he owned 347

“The cashier of a bank is, virtute officii, generally intrusted with the notes, securities, and other funds of the bank, and is held out to the world by the

liank as its general agent in the negotiation, management, and disposal of them.”

See, too, United States v. City Bank of Columbus, 21 How. (U. S.) 356, 364, 16 E. Ed. 130.

“The cashier of a bank is ordinarily its chief executive officer, through whom the financial operations of the bank are conducted. Directly or through subordinate officers, he receives and pays out its moneys, collects and pays its debts, and receives, discharges, and transfers its commercial securities.” 21 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law (2d Ed.) 862; Coats v. Donnell, 94 N. Y. 168 , 176; Merchants’ Bank v. State Bank, 10 Wall. (U. S.) 604, 650, 19 E. Ed. 1008. See, too, Morse on Banks and Banking, § 157, and cases cited; section 160, and cases cited. There was the legal right to impose confidence in Ahlmarin in everything within the scope of his duties. Scott v. Depeyster, 1 Edw. Ch., especially at pages 540 and 541. It does not appear but that the cashier with the securities at hand in the bank and under his control could not as readily have abstracted them and disposed of them as he did from the safe deposit box in Manhattan. He did not obtain them from the safe deposit box in Manhattan and fly; but he took them therefrom and sold them in the market as for account of the bank, and received a check therefor in favor of the bank. The bank cleared with a bank in Manhattan, and the securities were a reserve fund kept near the financial district to raise money speedily if required. The fact that they were kept there did not make the cashier immune from producing them if called upon to do so any more than if they had been kept in the bank vaults. The point of this discussion is that the mere place of deposit and the absolute control of the cashier thereat do not necessarily in themselves indicate any greater laxity than if the securities had been kept in the bank under the normal control of the cashier. The reports were prpared by Ahlmann or under his supervision, and were then brought over by Ahlmann to Mr. Prentice, who would look them over and consult with his son, who would make suggestions. The conversions over the affairs of the bank on such days were protracted beyond the usual hour, and were about the details of the report. Mr. Prentice would take time to consider the report before he signed it. Mr. Wood began to work in the bank in 1887, and rose to assistant cashier in 1895, and became a director in 1896. He was paying and receiving teller and always at the bank, save vacation time. He examined the daily balance book every day. “To some extent” he was in supervision of the bookkeeping, and the routine work thereof in a general way was in his charge. He had no suspicion at any time that “anything was wrong with the bank,” and, so far as he knew, everything was in proper shape and in good order until Ahlmann killed himself. Ahlmann came then to Mr. Prentice with the reports as the managing agent of the bank, who apparently had administered its affairs under the scrutiny of the bank examiners successfully and with diligence for many years. He was the chief executive officer, the practical power in the bank, and had so far as the evidence shows achieved a reputation in his community such as attaches to a substantial man of

I repeat that I do not' assume to say that if the learned court, who» tried the case with much fairness and ability, had instructed the jury as to the terms of the oath required by the statute and had submitted the case to the jury without instruction as to Mr. Prentice’s negligence as matter of law, and thereupon a like verdict had been returned, we would have had cause to disturb it. But I am convinced that we cannot uphold this verdict on the ground that the trial was without substantial error to the prejudice of the defendant.

(dissenting). The law in respect' of the duty of bank directors to their bank is settled in this state. They are trustees of the bank, and are “bound to exercise care and prudence in the execution of their trust, in the same degree that men of common prudence ordinarily exercise in their own affairs”; and for failure in this they are liable in damages to the bank. Hun v. Cary, 82 N. Y. 65 , 37 Am. Rep. 546 . The measure of the care and supervision required of a director who is also president of the bank (as was the case here) is this and something more, according to his extra duties of care and supervision as president required generally by law, or put upon him by the power and duties entrusted to his position by his directors, by the by-laws, or by the custom or course of business in his bank. The learned trial Judge charged the jury that the duty of the deceased president, for whose negligence this action is brought by the Receiver of the bank against his administrator, “was to exercise the same care in respect of the function of his office, both as director and as president, as a' man of ordinary business capacity and prudence would exercise in the conduct of his own interests.” This was so fully explained and reiterated that the jury must have fully understood it, and the charge of the learned trial judge may not be understood as departing from that to some other rule, unless it does so expressly or by necessary implication.

The cashier of the bank stole securities of the bank, and the question was whether the negligence of the president, measured by the requirement of his duty of care and supervision, as laid down by the learned trial Judge as stated above, enabled or encouraged him to steal them. The evidence showed not only general inattention by the president to the bank’s business during several years before the theft, but also that he had during the same time signed and sworn to the quarterly reports to the state banking department, giving, as the law requires, a particular statement of the items of assets of the bank, without .ever looking to see whether the securities so reported were among the bank’s assets. There was also evidence by the state superintendent of banks that after an examination of the affairs of the bank in 1890 (two to three years before the theft) he and the examiner who had made the examination went to the president and informed him that they had found a deficiency of $5,810 in the bills discounted compared with the amount shown by the ledger as the total amount of such discounts, and that after the discovery, and while the examination was in progress, two notes amounting to such deficiency, and purporting to be made one by “H. Kirchman” and the other by “Chas. Beinert,” which they exhibited to the president, were put among the bills and found there by them before their examination was completed, and that the cashier when spoken to by them about such notes, and shown them, admitted that he had made them. The witness kept them and produced them on the trial. It is minimizingly said that although this information was communicated to the president, there was really no evidence that the notes were forgeries

This being the state of the case, it was claimed on the trial that the neglect of the president to examine the securities, and his continually making the quarterly reports to the banking department of their possession by the bank without looking to see if that was true, encouraged the cashier to believe, and taught him, that he could take them without danger of such a derelict president making discovery of his theft, and that in that way the neglect of the president led to such theft. This naturally led the learned trial Judge to charge on that head, and no exception was taken to his entertaining that view of the case. The exception principally relied on is to his charge that it was the president’s duty “to have such knowledge of and such acquaintance with the several matters stated in the quarterly reports that he could truthfully make oath that the said reports were true in all respects”; and later on that it was his duty “to keep himself sufficiently informed, sufficiently familiar, with the affairs of the bank and the conduct thereof — not alone by the cashier, but the general conduct, and the investment of securities, and the securities on hand, to enable him truthfully and faithfully to comply with the requirements of the statute that he verify on oath the several quarterly reports, as to the details thereof.”

The criticism of this is that it says that the president had to make a positive oath to the quarterly reports that they were “true in all respects,” whereas the oath required of the president by statute was that they were “true and correct in all respects, to the best of his knowledge and belief”; and that it therefore, sets up. a standard of care higher than that which the learned trial Judge had already so carefully charged the jury was the standard, viz., that the care and oversight had to be s.uch as to enable the president to make a positive oath, i. e., of his own personal knowledge, that the securities were in the bank’s possession. But it is not justly nor honestly open to such a criticism. The learned trial Judge correctly said that the president had to make oath to the report that it was ■“true in all respects.” That is what the statute requires. He was not speaking of the form or quality of the oath; he did not say that the oath had to be positive, or of the affiant’s own knowledge. He simply said that an oath had to be taken that it was true, and this was strictly true. The form and quality of the oath was another matter. No one understood him as saying that the oath had to be a positive one. The express words of the statute left no room for discussion as to the form of oath it prescribed. If the learned trial Judge had made an inadvertent error in respect of it, from lack of

But even if the learned trial Judge had charged the jury that it was the duty of the president to take the trouble to look at the securities before making the report, instead of taking the bare word of his cashier, would we say it was error?—especially as he was credibly informed that his cashier had already embezzled the money of the bank and tried to conceal it by fabricating two fictitious notes. Can the law permit the suggestion that a prudent man would, dealing with his own affairs, take the word of such a man in such a matter? If, not, the question is not one of fact but of law. That his oath might be to the best of his knowledge and belief did not permit him to go without knowledge which was at hand and accessible.

There are other exceptions to the charge on the ground that the learned trial Judge charged negligence as matter of law on certain facts enumerated by him, but on referring to the text it is found that the charge was that the jury “may” or “might” find negligence therefrom, the question being thus left to the jury as one of fact.

If there be any error presented, it is not of sufficient gravity to justify the reversal of a wholesome and just judgment. Persons who accept trusts must be made to understand that they enter into solemn obligations and corresponding liabilities thereby. The swindled depositors of this bank are entitled to have this case judged in a broad and wholesome spirit of accountability of bank directors and officers. ■Much has been made of the fact that the cashier received a large salary and the president a small one, and that the latter was aged and somewhat infirm; but such considerations have to be inexorably suppressed.

The judgment should be affirmed.