Campbell Banking Co. v. Worman

68 N.W. 912, 99 Iowa 671

Opinion

Given, J.

1 I. The case before us is upon the issue joined on plaintiff’s cause of action. It is not claimed that the name “J. A. Worman” was signed to that note by this defendant. It is conceded that it was written by his brother, the defendant C. W. Worman, and the contention is whether C. W. Worman had authority to so sign the same. For some years prior -to November, 1890, C. W. Worman was engaged at Centerville, Iowa, in buying and shipping poultry, and while so engaged transacted his banking business with the plaintiff. C. W. Worman became indebted to the plaintiff in the sum of thirteen thousand, four hundred and twenty-nine dollars and forty-five cents, evidenced by his two promissory notes. On September 7, 1889, he executed on account of this indebtedness a note for fourteen thousand dollars, payable to plaintiff, and a mortgage on real estate to secure it, which he left with Clark & Peatman. On the eleventh day of September, 1889, the parties met for the purpose of making some futlier arrangement as to the said indebtedness, and their negotiations resulted in the execution of writings as follows:

Exhibit B: “Centerville, Iowa, Sept. 11, 1889. To the Campbell Banking Co. — Gentlemen: I hereby authorize Mr. C. W. Worman to use my name as surety on all loans you may make him, up to and including six thousand dollars. J. A. Worman.”

Exhibit C: “Centerville, Iowa, Sept. 11, 1889. To the Campbell Banking Co., Centerville, Iowa — Gentlemen: I hereby agree to allow my brother, C. W. Worman, to use my name as security to your bank for $6,000 dollars upon these conditions: He having handed you a mortgage for fourteen thousand dollars ($14,000.00), Sept. 7th, covering his homestead (and two other pieces of property), specified in deed, — that this deed or paper be not placed upon record or made public without the consent of both C. W. Worman and myself. Also, that he shall have same credit at your bank and may have (as previously), should he so desire, from one to three years in which to pay said amount, from time to time as this amount- is paid you — I am to receive receipts and same reduced in amount of my guarantee. You are also to advise me how C. W. Worman affairs stands, in your judgment. Should sale of \ int. in property take place, and C. W. Worman apply money to extent of $7,500.00 to his obligation here, my obligation to you shall cease, and you will also release said mortgage to him. D. C. Campbell.”

At the same time, and as a part of the same transaction, C. W. Worman and wife executed to plaintiff, on account of said indebtedness, their note for seven thousand four hundred and twenty-nine dollars and forty-five cents, and C. W. Worman and J. A. Worman executed to plaintiff their note for the balance of said indebtedness, namely, six thousand dollars; whereupon-said two former promissory notes, evidencing said indebtedness; were canceled. At the maturity of said six thousand dollars, C. W. Worman executed a note in renewal thereof, signing his own and J. A. Worman’s name thereto. He also paid interest on said six thousand dollars indebtedness. Subsequently, J. A. Worman paid a part of said six thousand dollars indebtedness, and gave his own individual note for the balance, which he afterwards paid to plaintiff in full. C. W. Worman continued in business after September 11,1889, and transacted his banking with the plaintiff, and on November 7, 1890, executed to plaintiff the note sued upon for the balance then due to plaintiff, and signed the name, “J. A. Worman,” thereto. During all this time, J. A. Worman resided at Minneapolis, and had no notice of the accumulation of said last indebtedness, nor of the giving of the note sued upon, until served with the original notice in this case.

2 3 II. The controlling issue is whether, under the authority given in Exhibit B, C. W. Worman had the right to sign the name of J. A. Worman as security to plaintiff for further indebtedness, or, in other words, to the note in suit, which was given to evidence a further indebtedness. Plaintiff contends, that the authority therein given relates to any subsequent indebtedness that O. W. Worman might incur to plaintiff, not exceeding six thousand dollars, and defendant contends, that it relates only to the six thousand dollars of the then existing indebtedness, for which he became liable. Defendant contends, that it is a guaranty, confined to that single credit, or transaction, while plaintiff contends that it is a continuing guaranty, limited as to amount, but indefinite as to time. Numerous authorities are cited as to when a guaranty is limited to a single transaction, and when it is an open and continuing guaranty, but as there is no contention as to the law upon this subject, the authorities need not be noticed. The question before us is simply as to the proper construction to be given to Exhibits B and C, in the light of the attending circumstances. These two exhibits, and the two promissory notes, executed September 11,1889, were, we think, manifestly parts of one transaction, and must, therefore, be construed together. Plaintiff insists, that, because of the order in which they were executed, they are independent transactions; that Exhibit B stands alone, and, so taken, confers authority on C. W. Worman to use the name of his brother as security to the plaintiff for all loans thereafter made, not exceeding- six thousand dollars. While it may be, that the one first executed may have been made without contemplating the others, it is entirely clear that the others were made in view of it, in relation to the same subject-matter, and atNhe same time, and thereby each became a part of the same transaction. Whatever other arrangement may have been contemplated, there is no doubt but that, ultimately, Exhibit B was to be left with the plaintiff, and. Exhibit C, with the defendant, J. A. Worman, that each might have this evidence of the one transaction. It might be said, that Exhibit B, taken alone, shows authority to C. W. Wormap to use the name of his brother as security to plaintiff for “all loans you may make him, up to and including six thousand dollars:” but, considered in connection with Exhibit C, and attending circumstances, we think a different intention appears. Exhibit C expresses the same authority, upon- the same condition as to amount, and the further condition, that the mortgage from C. W. Worman to plaintiff should not be placed on record or made public, without the consent of both C. W. Worman and J. A. Worman. The mortgage referred to, it will be remembered, stood as security for the existing indebtedness.- Appellant relies largely upon the provision that C. W. Worman “shall have same credit at your bank, and may have (as previously), should he so desire, from one to three years in which to pay said amount.” It is insisted that this can only relate to future indebtedness, but it will be observed that the credit to be given is of one to three years in which to pay said amount, — not a further amount, but the amount of 'the indebtedness already existing. The provision that J. A. Worman is to receive receipts of payments made from time to time, and that the payments shall reduce the amount of his guaranty, is to the end that he may have the evidence of the payments, and thereby know the extent to which his guaranty was reduced. As matters stood when these instruments were executed, C. W. Worman was the principal debtor for the entire amount, and it was his duty to pay the same. J. A. Worman, having become liable for a part thereof, namely, six thousand dollars, was interested in knowing how payments might be applied; and hence the provision that payments should reduce the amount of his guaranty, and that if seven thousand five hundred dollars, that might be derived from a sale of property, should be applied on the indebtedness, the obligation of J. A. Worman should cease, and the mortgage should be- released. Surely these provisions cannot relate to other than the existing indebtedness. - While it is true that the language of these exhibits, and especially of Exhibit C, is somewhat ambiguous, yet, read together in the light of attending circumstances, we think it clear that the intention of the parties was that the guaranty of J. A. Worman was not as to future indebtedness, but as to the six thousand dollars of the existing indebtedness. It is true that J. A. Worman then, and as a part of the transaction, signed the six thousand dollar note, and that it was unnecessary to confer authority upon his brother with reference thereto; but it will be noticed that the brother was to have from one to three years in which to pay said amount, and to avail himself of this credit it would be necessary to renew the six thousand dollar note at its maturity. J. A. Worman resided at a distance, and lienee the necessity of conferring upon C. W. Worman the authority to use his name.

It is argued on behalf of defendant that if this was a continuing guaranty the plaintiff is not entitled to recover, for the reason that he did not notify defendant of advances made under the guaranty. In the view we take of the case, it is unnecessary that we consider this claim of the defendant.

Our conclusion is that the guaranty was as to six thousand dollars of the existing indebtedness, that the authority given to C. W. Worman to use the name of J. A. Worman as security to the plaintiff was as to said six thousand dollars, and that, the note in suit being given for another and different indebtedness, C. W. Worman had no authority to sign the name of J. A. Worman thereto. Entertaining these views, we think the court properly sustained the defendant’s motion for a verdict on plaintiff’s cause of action. The defendant not having appealed, we are not called upon to consider the action of the court in directing the verdict for the plaintiff on the defendant’s counter-claim. For the reasons stated the judgment of the district court is affirmed.