Opinion · Supreme Court of the United States

State Bank v. United States

114 U.S. 401

Type: Opinion
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction: Federal
Date: 1885-04-13
Topic: general

Me. Justice HaelaN, after stating the facts as above recited, delivéred the opinion of the court. The present case differs materially from United States v. State Bank, 96 U. S. 30.

Citator

UpLaw has not yet analyzed State Bank v. United States. The absence of a flag is not a finding that it is good law.

Cited by: 10 opinions

STATE BANK v. UNITED STATES,114 U.S. 401(1885)

5 S.Ct. 888

STATE BANKv. UNITED STATES.

APPEAL FROM THE COURT OF CLAIMS.

Argued April 2, 1885.

Decided April 13, 1885.

Where, by the connivance of a clerk in the office of an assistant treasurer of the United States, a person unlawfully obtains from that office money belonging to the United States, and, to replace it, pays to the clerk money which he obtains by fraud from a bank, the clerk having no knowledge of the means by which the latter money was obtained, the United States are not liable to refund the money to the bank. The case distinguished fromUnited Statesv.State Bank,96 U.S. 30.

The appellant brought this action in the Court of Claims to recover from the United States the sum of $125,000 with interest from March 1, 1867. The petition having been dismissed, the question, upon this appeal, was as to the liability of the United States to any judgment in favor of the appellant.

The facts found by the Court of Claims, and upon which the correctness of the judgment below must depend, were as follows:

The appellant, in February and March, 1867, was a national banking association, having its place of business in the City ofPage 402Boston, Massachusetts; and there was in that city a firm of brokers, under the style of Mellen, Ward Co., the junior member of which was Edward Carter.

At the same time George D. Whittle was the chief clerk in the office of the Assistant Treasurer of the United States, in Boston, having its general management, and Julius F. Hartwell was disbursing clerk or paying teller.

Prior to the 28th day of February, 1867, Mellen, Ward Co., acting through Carter, succeeded in inducing Hartwell to take out of the sub-treasury at various times, and to place in Carter's hands, large amounts of money belonging to the United States, until, first and last, the sums so abstracted aggregated from a million to a million and a quarter dollars. This money was used by Mellen, Ward Co. in stock speculations. About the middle of February, 1867, the amount so obtained by Carter being then very large, Hartwell informed him that in the use of the public money they were guilty of a crime. This, it was found by the court below, was the first information Carter had of the criminal character of these transactions.

Between the middle of February and the 1st of March, 1867, several conversations were held between Carter and Hartwell, in which the former expressed his purpose to make the latter's money right for the examination of the sub-treasury, which was expected to take place on the 1st of March, upon Hartwell's solemn assurance that he would let him have the money out of the sub-treasury again on the 2d of March, after the examination should be over, when Carter would repay the parties the moneys he had obtained, and, selling all the stocks and securities his firm held, replace as much as possible of the money in the sub-treasury, so as to reduce the loss to the smallest possible amount. Carter promised Hartwell that he would return all the money before the 1st of April, not again to come out of the sub-treasury. During the period within which those conversations between Carter and Hartwell occurred, the latter knew in a general way the extent of the resources of Mellen, Ward Co., and how they were using the money he had let Carter have.Page 403

On the 28th of February Carter returned to Hartwell all the money the latter had let him have, except the sum of $157,000, which the former promised to return to him the next morning. Among the funds so returned were United States gold certificates to the amount of $580,000. On the afternoon of the same day, Hartwell made known to Whittle, that he had been loaning to Carter the funds of the government, and that all had been returned, except about $150,000. He told Whittle that the money had been paid out to Carter, from time to time, to assist in stock speculations; that it was paid back again to tide over the monthly examination; that he had promised Carter that the money should be repaid to him the following day; and had told him that he would ask Whittle's consent that the money go back to him again. Whittle told Hartwell that it was an impossibility to let the money go back to Carter, and that any deficiency must be paid in before 10 o'clock the next morning.

About 9 o'clock A.M., of the 1st of March, Hartwell called on Carter at Mellen, Ward Co.'s office and asked him if he had that money. Carter told him he did not then have it, but could give it to him before 10 o'clock, and asked Hartwell if he could not take a draft on New York, stating to him that Mellen, Ward Co. would have a very large amount of New York funds to dispose of as soon as Hartwell returned to them the gold certificates aforesaid. Hartwell said he would take the New York funds, and the interview then ended. It did not appear that up to that time Carter had any knowledge or intimation of Hartwell's disclosures to Whittle; nor did it appear that Carter informed Hartwell as to how he intended or expected to get the draft on New York. At the close of this interview Hartwell returned from Mellen, Ward Co.'s office to the sub-treasury.

About half past nine o'clock of the same morning Carter went to the banking house of plaintiff and obtained from Charles H. Smith, its cashier, his draft, as cashier, on the Manhattan Company, New York, in favor of Mellen, Ward Co., for $125,000, which draft was in the words and figures following, to wit:Page 404

"THE STATE NATIONAL BANK OF BOSTON, BOSTON,March1, 1867.

Pay to the order of Mellen, Ward Co., one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars.

No. 215. C.H. SMITH,Cashier.

To the cashier of the Manhattan Company, New York."

The facts and circumstances connected with his obtaining that draft were as follows: Carter asked Smith for the bank's draft on New York for $125,000, promising to give him immediately, in return, Mellen, Ward Co.'s draft on New York for the same amount, with $100,000 in United States gold certificates attached, or else The Adams Express Company's receipt for that amount in gold. Upon the faith of this promise Smith drew and delivered to Carter the draft aforesaid. In this interview between Smith and Carter nothing was said by the latter about there being any deficiency in the sub-treasury for which he was responsible; nor that he desired to use the draft to help make good a deficiency there; nor what his purpose was in obtaining it; nor does it appear that Smith had, at any time before or during this interview, any knowledge or intimation of the transactions between Carter and Hartwell. Within fifteen or twenty minutes after Carter received from Smith the draft for $125,000, the former, at the office of Mellen, Ward Co., delivered it, together with $32,000 in currency, to Hartwell. The latter paid Carter nothing for the draft; it was passed to him by Carter to make good that deficiency; and Carter supposed it would not be wanted for that purpose over an hour. Neither before nor at the time Hartwell received from Carter the draft for $125,000 did the former know anything of the means by which the latter obtained it from Smith.

Immediately after Hartwell received that draft and the $32,000 in currency from Carter, he took both to the sub-treasury and delivered them to Whittle, who objected to receiving the draft, because the rules of the government required the sub-treasury to receive nothing but gold, silver, legal-tender notes, or national bank notes; and, besides, he had an impression that,Page 405in some form or other, the plaintiff's cashier was involved in the stock speculation which Hartwell had, the day before, told him of Mellen, Ward Co.'s being engaged in; for Hartwell had then, after Whittle's refusal to let the money go out again mentioned, among others, the name of Smith as one who was going to be hurt. Whittle then directed Hartwell to go out and collect the currency. Hartwell tried at several banks to raise the currency on the draft for $125,000, but could not find sufficient amount in any one bank. He then went to the Eagle National Bank of Boston, and obtained from it, in exchange for that draft, three of its drafts on New York, one for $75,000, and two for $25,000 each, with the idea that currency might be obtained in smaller amounts at different banks; but the hour was so late then — it being about ten o'clock — that he took the three drafts directly to Whittle, at the sub-treasury, saying to him that he had obtained them from the cashier of the Eagle National Bank, in exchange for the draft for $125,000, and that was the best he could do. The Government examiners were at that time at work in the sub-treasury upon their monthly examination of the funds therein. Whittle then went out from the sub-treasury with the three drafts of the Eagle National Bank, and sold them to the Second National Bank of Boston, and returned to the sub-treasury with the proceeds of the sale, $125,000 in currency, which he turned over, along with the $32,000 aforesaid, to the examiners. These sums made up Hartwell's deficiency, and balanced the cash account of the office. No part of the $157,000 which those two sums made up, was ever returned to Hartwell, or Carter, or Mellen, Ward Co., or the plaintiff.

Neither when the draft for $125,000 was taken by Hartwell to Whittle, nor when it was exchanged by the former for the drafts of the Eagle National Bank, did Whittle have any knowledge or notice of the consideration or means by which that draft had been obtained from the cashier of the appellant; but he had an impression that Carter had procured it.

About fifteen or twenty minutes after Smith delivered the draft for $125,000 to Carter, as heretofore stated, Smith went to Mellen, Ward Co.'s office to inquire the reason why CarterPage 406had not brought to him the gold certificates as he had agreed to do. Carter was then absent from the office, and his partner Mellen told Smith that Carter was out about the matter at that time, and, as soon as he brought the certificates, Mellen would take them to Smith. Immediately after this, Mellen, Ward Co. sent to Smith their draft on New York for $125,000, but did not send with it any gold certificates, nor a receipt of the Adams Express Company. After waiting, perhaps fifteen minutes, Smith went again to know why the certificates or the receipt had not been brought to him, and then, for the first time, learned that Carter was at the sub-treasury, and in trouble.

After all the foregoing transactions occurred, the plaintiff voluntarily paid to the Eagle National Bank the draft for $125,000 which Carter obtained from Smith; and the three drafts of that bank were duly paid on presentation in New York. The aforesaid draft of Mellen, Ward Co. for $125,000 was never paid, nor was it presented to the drawee for payment.

At the time Smith let Carter have the draft for $125,000, Smith was, as cashier, under bond to the plaintiff, with sureties, in the sum of $30,000, and after the plaintiff paid the draft it made demand upon him and his sureties; and the sureties, without being sued, paid to the plaintiff, within ninety days after the 1st of March, 1867, the full amount of their bond, and took a receipt therefor in terms such as the following:

"State National Bank, Boston, received of ____ ____ the amount due from them as sureties on the bond of Charles H. Smith, late cashier of said bank, by reason of the defalcation of said Smith, resulting from an unauthorized draft made by the said Smith upon the Manhattan Co., New York, for the sum of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars ($125,000), which was applied to his own use.

"If the said Smith shall hereafter pay to the State National Bank the said sum of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, the bank will return to the sureties the amounts by them severally paid, or if he shall pay so much thereof that the bank shall be in the receipt, including the payments made byPage 407the sureties, of a surplus beyond one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, the bank will return and distribute such surplus to the sureties in proportion to the sums by them severally paid.

"But this receipt is not to be construed or understood as an admission or recognition of any obligation on the part of the bank to take any measures to make up said defalcation, nor as the assertion of any claim by the said bank upon any funds, property, or means whereby the said defalcation, or any part thereof, can be made good, nor as any admission by the said bank that any such funds, property, or means are in existence."

The Court of Claims dismissed the petition, and the bank appealed from that judgment.

Mr. George O. Shattuckfor appellant. The claimant paid the draft to the Eagle Bank because it had purchased it in good faith. This is found as a fact. The good faith of both banks in the transaction is unquestioned. The bad faith was on the part of agents of the United States. This suit is in the nature of an action for money had and received upon a promise implied from the receipt of money which equitably belonged to the claimant. The method used to convert the claimant's draft into currency was wholly immaterial. This precise question was discussed by this court in the former case growing out of the transaction of which this was a part.United Statesv.State Bank,96 U.S. 30,35. That case is authority for holding, on the facts in this case, that Hartwell was privy to the entire fraud. This case is stronger than that because it is found that Hartwell knew that the draft came from claimant's cashier, and that he was to be hurt by the refusal to let the funds go out of the sub-treasury after the count. It must be held on these facts that Hartwell was privy to the fraud from beginning to end, and that Whittle also was a party to the fraud, or at least to the consummation of it. Hartwell and Carter were acting together for a fraudulent purpose, and the knowledge and acts of each were the knowledge and acts of the other. Whether each actually knew all the details known to the other was of no consequence.Lincolnv.Claflin, 7Page 408Wall. 132;Moorev.Tracy, 7 Wend. 229, 235;Skinnerv.Merchants' Bank, 4 Allen, 290;Boazv.Tate,43 Ind. 60;Pagev.Parker,43 N.H. 363;Tappanv.Powers, 2 Hall, N.Y. Sup'r. Ct. 277. A party coming late into a conspiracy is even responsible for the prior acts of the conspirators.Stewartv.Johnson, 3 Harrison, N.J. 87. Hartwell requested Carter to obtain the funds to tide over the count, and solemnly promised to return them as soon as the count was over; he knew that Carter was relying upon the gold certificates which he expected to receive back to raise the funds, and it was clearly his intention that Carter should act upon his assurances in dealing with the parties from whom the funds came, and when the draft of the State Bank was offered to him, he had notice that the State Bank had acted upon Carter's representations that he was to have the funds. Any one for whom false representations were intended, and who has acted upon them, has a right of action.Polhillv.Walter, 3 B. Ad. 114;Langridgev.Levy, 2 M. W. 519 — 4 M. W. 337;Gerhardv.Bates, 2 El. B. 476. The same rule applies to a case of fraudulent concealment. From no point of view is the United States in the position of a holder in good faith and for value. When their agent took the money from Carter, it had been and was distinctly stated for what it was delivered,i.e., to be used as a counter and returned. When Whittle retained it after the examination was over, he held it wrongfully and in violation of the agreement under which it was originally received. It was and is therefore held to the claimant's use. It is contended in behalf of the United States that the claim of the bank has been reduced or wholly lost by the receipt of $30,000 from the sureties on Smith's official bond as cashier. It has been found that Smith had no knowledge of the fraud, but issued the draft in good faith, and his act at the worst was negligence. On the ground that the issuing of the draft was unauthorized until the cashier actually received the security, his sureties paid his bond. The bank is now in pursuit of the fund from a party who holds it by the fraud of its agents. If the bank should recover the full amount of its claim and interest, it will be legally and equitably bound to refund to the sureties. If Smith had paidPage 409the full amount of the claim, he would have been subrogated to the rights of the bank. The case is analogous to that of an insurer who pays a loss without affecting the party primarily answerable.Yatesv.Whyte, 4 Bing. N.C. 272;Hallv.Railroad Companies, 13 Wall. 367.Mr. Solicitor Generalfor appellee.

MR. JUSTICE HARLAN, after stating the facts as above recited, delivered the opinion of the court.

The present case differs materially fromUnited Statesv.State Bank,96 U.S. 30. Our judgment there proceeded upon the ground, that the gold certificates deposited in the sub-treasury by Smith, the cashier of the State National Bank of Boston, were known by Hartwell, at the time he received them, to be the property of that bank, and not of Mellen, Ward Co. The deposit was made by Smith, in the presence of Carter; and, although the receipt for the certificates was made out to Mellen, Ward Co. or order, it was immediately indorsed by Carter, in the name of his firm, to Smith as cashier. The cancellation of the certificates and their transmission to the Treasurer of the United States at Washington, was, therefore, in derogation of the rights of the bank. It was adjudged that money or property of an innocent person, which had gotten into the coffers of the nation by means of fraud to which its agent was a party, could not be held by the government against the claim of the wronged and injured party.

There is no room in the present case for the application of that principle. Apart from his responsibility for the crime committed in using the money of the United States, Carter, representing Mellen, Ward Co., was under a legal obligation to replace the amount abstracted from the sub-treasury. Of his purpose to do so Hartwell was informed. But he had no reason to believe that Carter would bring him money or securities which belonged to some one else, and which he could not rightfully deliver in discharge of his indebtedness to the government. When the draft of $125,000 was delivered by Carter to Hartwell, the latter was unaware of the means by which the former had obtained it from Smith, the cashier of appellant.Page 410It was, on its face, the property of Mellen, Ward Co. Upon its receipt by Hartwell for the United States, the government acquired the same rights, in reference to it, that any private citizen, receiving it in the course of business, would have acquired. That the bank, by its cashier, made and delivered the draft to Carter upon the faith of his promise to give immediately, in return, Mellen, Ward Co.'s draft on New York for the same amount, with $100,000 in United States gold certificates attached, or else the receipt of The Adams Express Company for that amount in gold, is a circumstance that does not affect the legal rights of the United States, to whom the draft was passed without knowledge, by its agent, of the condition upon which Mellen, Ward Co. had received it from the bank's cashier. Nor do we deem of any significance the fact that Hartwell promised to return to Carter the money which the latter should place in the sub-treasury for the purpose of concealing from the officer supervising the examination of its books the criminal transactions in question. Carter knew that that promise could not be kept, without subjecting both himself and Hartwell to criminal prosecution, and it was no violation of his legal rights for the agents of the government, after receiving from him the draft for $125,000, without any knowledge of the circumstances under which he had obtained it, to dispose of it and place the proceeds in the sub-treasury. After these proceeds reached the sub-treasury they could not be used or withdrawn except in the mode prescribed by law. The essential difference, therefore, betweenUnitedStatesv.State Bank, ubi supra, and this case, is, that, in the former, the agents of the government appropriated to its use the property of an innocent person, knowing at the time that it belonged to that person and not to the government, while in the present case, they received, in the discharge of a debt due the government, a draft belonging to the debtor, without any knowledge or notice that the debtor had obtained it upon conditions which had not been complied with, or by means of fraudulent representations.

We perceive no ground to question the correctness of the judgment below, and it isAffirmed.Page 411