Clark v. National Bank of Kansas City

66 F. 404, 1895 U.S. App. LEXIS 2341
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
DecidedFebruary 12, 1895
DocketNo. 332
StatusPublished

This text of 66 F. 404 (Clark v. National Bank of Kansas City) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Clark v. National Bank of Kansas City, 66 F. 404, 1895 U.S. App. LEXIS 2341 (5th Cir. 1895).

Opinion

PARDEE, Circuit Judge

(after stating the facts as a,bove). There are numerous assignments of error, but, under the view we take of the case, only the first, to wit: “Because, as is shown by the record, the deed of trust under which complainant claims was voluntarily made and put on record by AY. S. Ikard without the knowledge, consent, or procurement of the complainant bank, or any one acting for it. and that same was not known to complainant at all until July 25, 1887, which was subsequent to the date of the levy of the attachment as actually made,” — need be considered. The record titles were all proved as alleged in the complainant’s bill and the defendants’ answers. It was admitted that the levy of the attachment in the case of the Merchants’ National Bank of Ft. Worth against E. E. & W. S. Ikard et al. on the lands in controversy was made substantially as charged in complainant’s bill, to wit, that, while the sheriff of Clay county received the writ at 2 o’clock and 20 minutes p. in. on July 23, 1887, he only indorsed the levy upon the attachment after 6 o’clock p. m. on the 23d day of July, 1887, completing the indorsement at about II o’clock of the same day, and that the deed of trust granted by E. F. & W. S. Ikard in favor of the complainant was filed for registration in the clerk’s office of the county court of Clay county, Tex., at 3 o’clock p. m., July 23, 1887; the only contested fact being as to when the deed of trust of E. E. & W. S. Ikard to the complainant was accepted by the beneficiary thereof, it being conceded that the trustee in [406]*406said deed Rad no notice thereof nntil July 25, 1887, two days after the levy of the attachment. The complainant contends that the deed of trust was delivered to its agent, one J. W. T. Gray, and was accepted by him, and by him delivered for record on and before 3 o’clock p. m. July 23d. The defendants contend that the said Gray was not the agent of the complainant, and that he did not accept said deed of trust for and on behalf of the complainant.

The testimony on the subject is given by the president of the National Bank of Kansas City, J. S. Chick, and by J. W. T. Gray. Chick testifies as follows:

“J. W. T. Gray had authority to receive and accept the deed of trust datea on or about July 23, 1887, executed by W. S. Ikard for the firm of E. E. & W. S. Ikard in favor of the plaintiff, to secure an indebtedness of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000). He had authority to receive and accept said deed of trust for and on account of the National Bank of Kansas City, Missouri, plaintiff in the above-entitled cause. It was through Mr. J. W. T. Gray that the loan to E. E. & W. S. Ikard was made. He came to our bank, and induced us to make the loan. He did the same thing as to some other loans that we made about the same time to some cattle men in and about Henrietta, Texas, It was on the strength of his statement to us that we parted with our money. We knew Mr. Gray, and had much confidence in him; and we fully expected Mr. Gray to look after our matters, and to protect as in case anything happened in the Ikard or other transactions in and about Henrietta, Texas. He was authorized to do this, and he had given us assurances that he would look after any interests we had there, and under this general authority and understanding he took the mortgage or deed of trust in question. Mr. Gray had aiathorityNto do anything that was necessary to protect our interests in case of an emergency in the Ikard matter or any other matter. • He was on the ground, and was expected by us to take such steps as might be necessary to secure us in case it was required. Under this general authority, as I have stated, he did accept for us the deed of trust in question, and we ratified his action in the matter immediately. XQ. 1. If, in answer to the foregoing direct, interrogatories, you have stated that said J. W. T. Gray had authority to receive and accept said deed of trust for the plaintiff bank, then please state whether or not said Gray did accept and receive said deed of trust for said bank, and how you know this. A. As I have stated, Mr. J. W. T. Gray did have authority to receive and accept the deed of trust for said bank, and wired us to that effect immediately upon its acceptance, — that he had accepted it.”

In a subsequent deposition, he again testifies:

“At the time this loan was made, J. W. T. Gray came to me, and stated that the Ikards wanted to make the loan. I talked this matter over with Mr. Gray, and told him I would make the loan. Gray was a negotiator between the bank and the Ikards. I do not remember what my information was as to the connection the Ikards had with the bank of which Mr. Gray was cashier. At the time the loan was made, Gray agreed to look after this loan and others that were negotiated at the same time; and the loan of Belcher and Babb, as well as the Ikard loan, he secured at the same time, and, as I have heretofore stated, was fully authorized to protect us in case of an emergency. It was in the National Bank of Kansas City, Jackson county, Missouri, that Mr. Gray agreed to do this for us. At that time we did not anticipate trouble, but the loan was a large one, and made at some distance from this city. Mr. Gray was on the ground, and knew about the transactions, and we thought he could look after it better than anybody else in case an emergency should arise.”

Gray’s testimony is as follows:

“On the 23d day of July, 18S7. I resided at Henrietta, Texas, and was cashier of the Henrietta National Bank. E. F. & W. S. Ikard was a cattle firm [407]*407composed of E. F. and W. S. Ikard, and they were each directors of said bank, and W. S. Ikard was vice president of said bank.- I sustained no relationship to them beyond that of being an officer in the same bank with them. I sustained no relationship to the National Bank of Kansas City with reference to any notes due by the said It. F. & W. S. Ikard to said National Bank of Kansas City, beyond the fact that I assisted the lkards in obtaining the loan from said bank. I know nothing with reference to the execution of said trust deed. As to the delivery of it, will say that on the 23d day of duly, 1887, W. S. Ikard handed to me a package of trust deeds. Among them was one or more securing the Henrietta National Bank in payment of moneys due by him to said bank, as well as by himself and brother. There were other papers in the package, the contents of which I did not then know, or at least, if I did, I do not now remember. I now understand that the trust deed in question was among the package of papers above referred to. 3 accepted the trust deed securing the Henrietta National Bank, as its representative, and had the other papers recorded with them at the instance of Mr. Ikard. In having all the papers recorded except those securing- the Henrietta National Bank, I acted as the representative of Mr. Ikard, and at Ms request, in having them recorded.”

On cross-examination be testified, further:

“XQ. Is it not a fact that Mr. Chick, president of said National Bank of Kansas City, authorized you to lake, receive, and accept any additional security to what they had for said debt prior to the making- of the deed of trust mentioned in the 3d direct interrogatory, and that, acting under said instructions, did you not take the said deed of trust, so mentioned, and accept the same for said bank, and did you not place the same in the hands of S. M.

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Bluebook (online)
66 F. 404, 1895 U.S. App. LEXIS 2341, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/clark-v-national-bank-of-kansas-city-ca5-1895.