Chapman v. First National Bank

56 Ohio St. (N.S.) 310
CourtOhio Supreme Court
DecidedApril 27, 1897
StatusPublished

This text of 56 Ohio St. (N.S.) 310 (Chapman v. First National Bank) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Chapman v. First National Bank, 56 Ohio St. (N.S.) 310 (Ohio 1897).

Opinion

Burket, C. J.

Two questions arise in this case. First — Whether in the administration of our tax laws in this state, the holder of shares in a national bank has the right, under the statutes, state and national, to deduct his legal bona fide debts from the value of such shares, and to be taxed only upon the remainder, or must he pay taxes on the assessed value of such shares without a deduction of such debts? Second — Has the defendant in error by the record in this case, shown itself entitled to enforce such deduction for its said shareholders? The determination of these questions in this case, must depend upon the record, and the law property applicable thereto.

These are federal questions, and can only be finally and authoritatively determined by the Supreme Court of the United States. They will both be considered together.

Sections 2730 and 2737, Revised Statutes of this-state, contain most of the statute law of the state bearing- on the subject. They are as follows:

Section 2730. In this title, the terms “real property” and “land” shall be held to mean and include not only land itself, whether laid out in town lots or otherwise, with ail things contained therein, . but also, unless otherwise specified, all buildings, structures, and improvements, and fixtures of whatever kind thereon, and all rights and privileges belonging, or in anj^wise appertaining thereto; the terms “investment in bonds,’’shall be held to mean and include all moneys in bonds, or certificates of indebtedness, or other evidences of indebtedness of whatever kind, whether issued [317]*317by incorporated or unincorporated companies, towns, cities, villages, townships, counties, states or other incorporations, or by the United States, held by persons residing in this state, whether for themselves or others; the terms “investments in stocks,” shall be held to mean and include all moneys invested in the capital or stock of any association, corporation, joint stock company, or other company, the capital or stock of which is or may be divided into shares, which are transferable by each owner without the consent of the other partners or stockholders, for the taxation of which no special provision is made by law, held by persons residing in this state, either for themselves or others; the terms “personal property,” shall be held to mean and include, first, every tangible thing being- the subject - of ownership, whether animate or inanimate, other than money, and not forming part of any parcel of real property, as hereinbefore defined; second, the capital stock, undivided profits, and all other means not .forming part of the capital stock of every company, whether incorporated or unincorporated, and every share, portion or interest in such stock, profits or means, by whatsoever name the same may be designated, inclusive of every share or portion, right or interest, either legal or1 equitable, in and to every ship, vessel or boat, of whatsoever name or description, used or designed to be used either exclusively or partially in navigating any of the waters within or bordering on this state, ■ whether such ship, vessel, or boat, shall be within the jurisdiction of this state or elsewhere, and whether the same shall have been enrolled, registered, or licensed at any collector’s office, or within any collection district in this state or not; [318]*318third, the money loaned on pledge or-mortgage of real estate, although a deed or other instrument may have been given for the same, if between the parties the same is considered as security merely the term “money” or moneys,” shall be held to mean and include any surplus or undivided profits held by societies for savings or banks having’ no capital stock, gold and silver coin, bank notes of solvent banks, in .actual possession, and every deposit which the person owning, holding in trust, or having the beneficial interest therein, is entitled to withdraw, in money on demand; the term “credits,” shall be held to mean the excess of the sum of all legal claims and demands, whether for money or other valuable thing, or for labor or service due. or to become due to the person liable to pay taxes thereon, including deposits in banks or with persons in or out of the’ state, other than such as are held to be money, as herein before defined, when added together (estimating every such claim or demand at its true value in money), over and above the sum of legal tona fide debts owing by such person; but in making up the sum of such debts owing, there shall be taken into account no obligation to any mutual insurance company, nor any unpaid subscription to the capital stock of any joint stock company, nor any subscription for any religious, scientific, literary, or charitable purpose; nor any acknowledgment of any indebtedness, unless founded on some consideration actually received, and believed at the time of making such acknowledgment to be a full consideration therefor; nor any acknowledgment made fqr the purpose of diminishing the amount of credits to be listed for taxation; nor any greater amount or portion of any liability as [319]*319surety, than the person required to make the statement of such credits believes that such surety is in equity bound, and will be compelled to pay, or contribute, in case there be no securities! provided, that pensions receivable from the United States shall not be held to be credits ; and no person shall be required to take into account in making up the amount of credits, a greater portion of any credits than he believes will be received or can be collected, or any greater portion of any obligation given to secure the payment of rent than the amount that shall have accrued on any lease and remain unpaid; words importing the masculine gender shall apply to females also, and the word ‘person’ or ‘party, ’ or other word importing the singular number, shall be held to include firms, companies, associations, and corporations; and all the words in the plural number shall apply to single individuals also, in all cases in. which the spirit and intent may require.”

Section 2737. Such statements shall truly and distinctly set forth, first, the number of horses, and the value thereof; second, the number of neat cattle, and the value thereof; fourth, the number of sheep, and the value thereof; sixth, the number of pleasure carriag’es (of whatever kind), and the value thereof; seventh, the total value of all articles of personal property, not included in the preceding or succeeding classes; eighth, the number of watches, and the value thereof; ninth, the number of pianofortes and organs, and the value thereof; tenth, the average value of the goods and merchandise, which such person is required to list as a merchant; eleventh, the value of the property which such person is required to list asa banker,'broker, or stockjobber; twelfth, [320]*320the average value of the materials and manufactured articles which such person is required to list as a manufacturer ; thirteenth, • moneys on hand or on deposit subject to order; fourteenth, the amount of credits as hereinbefore defined; fifteenth, the amount of all moneys invested in bonds, stocks, joint stock companies, annuities, or otherwise; sixteenth, the monthly average amount or value, for the time he held or controlled the same, within the preceding year, of all.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
56 Ohio St. (N.S.) 310, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/chapman-v-first-national-bank-ohio-1897.