Chavelle v. Washington Trust Co.

226 F. 400, 141 C.C.A. 230, 1915 U.S. App. LEXIS 2207
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedOctober 4, 1915
DocketNo. 2512
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 226 F. 400 (Chavelle v. Washington Trust Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Chavelle v. Washington Trust Co., 226 F. 400, 141 C.C.A. 230, 1915 U.S. App. LEXIS 2207 (9th Cir. 1915).

Opinion

ROSS, Circuit Judge

(after stating the facts as above). [1] Under repeated rulings, the trust company was justified in resorting to both appeal and petition to bring up for review the rulings of which it complains, in order to avoid a mistake in its remedy. In re Worcester County, 102 Fed. 808, 42 C. C. A. 637; Lockman v. Lang, 132 Fed. 1, 65 C. C. A. 621; Fisher v. Cushman, 103 Fed. 860, 43 C. C. A. 381, 51 L. R. A. 292; Collier on Bankruptcy (8th Ed.) 434-436. The motion to dismiss is denied.

The findings of fact and evidence show, among other things, that the $23,300, par value, of the bonds issued to McPhaden, were issued [406]*406to him by the Steel & Bolt Company in payment of money he had theretofore advanced to the company, and that McPhaden was then a stockholder, director, and the president of the company; and that the $2,900, par value, of the bonds issued by the Steel & Bolt Company to Pike were issued to him by the Steel & Bolt Company in payment of money he had theretofore advanced to the company; and that Pike was then a stockholder, director, and the secretary and treasurer of the company.

It is true that.the deed of trust declared that none of the bonds should be sold or disposed of directly or indirectly at a greater discount than 5 per cent, of their face value, and that the bonds above mentioned were issued to McPhaden and Pike at 90 cents on the dollar; but it is also true that in the resolution of the board of directors of the company providing for and authorizing the issuance and sale of the bondsit was provided that:

“A commission of five per cent, of the face value of the bonds of said company be allowed to any agent, officer, or trustee of the company purchasing or selling any of said bonds of said company,” and that “the accounts of A. McPhaden and A. G. Pike for money loaned to .the Washington Steel & Bolt Company to (the then) date be settled by giving them bonds of the Washington Steel & Bolt Company, allowing them a discount of five per cent, on said bonds, and a commission of five per cent, for selling the same, and authorizing the trustee to issue to them bonds of said company in proportion to the amount of the claims due each as shown by the books of the company.”

It was under and pursuant to the resolution of the board of directors of the Steel & Bolt Company and upon the certificates that have been set out, that the trustee certified and issued to McPhaden bonds in the amount of $23,300, and to Pike similar bonds in the amount of $2,900.

[2,3] The record shows that subsequently and on the 30th of April, 1909, at a meeting of the directors of the company, the Bank of Montreal was made a depository of the company’s funds, and its banking business directed to be transferred to it from the State Bank of Edmonds, and a resolution adopted authorizing the president and treasurer of the company “to negotiate loans from time to time as they deem necessary to further the interests of the company,” and directing its secretary “to notify the Washington Trust Company to deliver to A. McPhaden bonds of the Washington Steel & Bolt Company to the amount of $20,000.00, or any part thereof, upon presentation of said A. McPhaden’s note to the amount of the bonds delivered, less five per cent, of the face value of the bonds, and five per cent, commission; said note to draw eight per cent, interest, payable on the date when interest on the bonds falls due.”

The last-mentioned resolution purported to authorize the sale of an additional $20,000 of the bonds at 90 cents on the'dollar to Mc-Phaden on credit. The evidence, as well as the findings of the referee, however, shows that after the advances made by him and by Pike, for which $23,300 and $2,900 of the bonds were respectively issued to .them, McPhaden made to the company further advances of money for which were issued to him $11,200 of bonds at 90 cents on the dollar. Subsequently, the company still needing money, McPhaden [407]*407went to the T3ank of Montreal to borrow it, the manager of which bank inquired about the condition of the company, and McPhaden explained to him the number of bonds outstanding and by whom owned. After an examination of the company’s plant by the manager of the bank, he agreed to' advance to the company $20,000 át different times, upon the individual notes of McPhaden and Pike, secured by the bonds of the company that had been issued to them. And that arrangement was consummated; the aggregate loans to the company being made at four different times and in four different amounts, at the rate of 8 per cent, interest per annum.

It appears from the evidence that McPhaden received no salary, as an officer of the company, but did receive -5 per cent, commission on all of the bonds that were issued to him under and pursuant to the resolution of the board of directors of the company which has been set out, in a credit to him at the time of such issue; and that Pike received a like commission in a like manner at the time of the issuance to him of the $2,900 of bonds. Subsequently, the bank demanded of the company additional security, under which demand the minutes of the board of directors of the Steel & Bolt Company show this proceeding:

“Edmonds, Wash., March 20, 1911.
“Meeting of the Board of Directors, Washington Steel & Bolt Co.
“Pursuant to notice given March 16, 1911.
“Meeting called to order by vice president.
“The following directors were present: W. It. Ammon, H. W. Hall, A. G. Pike.
“Minutes previous meeting read and approved.
“Motion made by A. G. Pike seconded by R. W. Hall that $25,000 of the company's unsold bonds be placed with the Bank of Montreal as collateral on a $20,000.00 loan that this company owes, and an order be given the Washington Trust Company to deliver same to the bank. Carried.
“Motion made by A. G. Pike to send a copy of these minutes to Dr. J. W. Cosford and Austin Ready for their consideration (they not being present). Seconded by H. W. Hall. Carried.
"There being no further business meeting adjourned.
“[Signed] A. G. Pike, Sec’y & Treasurer.
“W. R. Ammon.
“II. W. Hall.
“.1. W. Cosford, President.
“Austin Ready.”

In. respect to that resolution, the findings of the referee, approved by the court below, and which, in view of the evidence, we must lake to be true, are as follows:

"That on, or about, the 20th day of March, 1911, a purported resolution of the board of trustees of Washington Steel & Bolt Company was prepared and sent to A. G. Pike, secretary and treasurer of said corporation, for adoption by said board. That said board of trustees at that time consisted of seven members. That no meeting of said board was called, nor did said board of trustees meet; nor did they adopt said resolution. That said Pike signed said purported resolution; that two of the other trustees — Ammon and Hall — were telephoned to to come to the office of the company to sign it. That Ammon went to the office and signed it without any other trustee being present.

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Bluebook (online)
226 F. 400, 141 C.C.A. 230, 1915 U.S. App. LEXIS 2207, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/chavelle-v-washington-trust-co-ca9-1915.