Deichmann v. Aronoff

296 S.W.2d 171, 1956 Mo. App. LEXIS 8
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedDecember 4, 1956
Docket29483
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 296 S.W.2d 171 (Deichmann v. Aronoff) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Deichmann v. Aronoff, 296 S.W.2d 171, 1956 Mo. App. LEXIS 8 (Mo. Ct. App. 1956).

Opinion

ANDERSON, Presiding Judge.

This case began as a claim in the Probate Court filed by William Deichmann against the estate of Goldie Rovin. The claim was grounded on a check for $1,000 and six promissory notes, secured by chattel mortgages on automobiles — three of the notes being in the amount of $1,000 each; one in the amount of $500; one in the amount of $600; and one in the amount of $800. The notes provided for interest and attorney’s fees. The statement filed in the Probate Court allowed a credit of $200.

After trial, the Probate Court allowed the claim in the total sum of $5,700, and ordered it placed in the fifth class. The exec-’ utrix, Sophie Aronofif, appealed to the Circuit Court, In the Circuit 'Court a jury was waived and a trial had before the court. Said trial resulted in a judgment for claimant in the sum of $5,700. From this judgment, the executrix appealed. Subsequent to the appeal, claimant died, and the executors of his estate, William David Deich-mann, Jr., and Margaret Elizabeth Deich-mann, were substituted as party plaintiffs.

The check for $1,000 was dated February 2, 1949. It was drawn on the Citizens National Bank of Maplewood, payable to the order of William Deichmann, and was signed Maplewood Auto Mart by Morris D. Rovin and Leo Gibstein. On the back of the check was the endorsement of William Deichmann and the stamped endorsement “Pay to the order of any Bank, Banker or Trust Co. Previous Endorsements Guaranteed Apr. 18, 1949, Webster Groves Trust-Co. SO — 121 Webster Groves, Mo. 80-121.” From the testimony, it appears that this check was not paid, and that the drawers of the check thereafter paid plaintiff $200. ‘ This testimony was given by plaintiff. He stated: “there was one, a $1,000 check come back, gave me $200, which I accepted, they didn’t want to go to jail. Mrs. what-you-call-it came out — Gibstein’s wife, and I accepted it * * * so I said, ‘all right’, I said T know it is only a promissory note after that’, so I accepted that.”

It was stipulated at the trial that the signatures of Morris D.' Rovin and Leo Gibstein were genuine.

All of the notes were payable to “Wm. Deichmann” and were signed “Maplewood Auto Mart, by Morris D. Rovin.” It was admitted by defendant’s counsel at the trial that the signature of Morris D. Rovin appearing on the notes was the genuine signature of said Morris D. Rovin. Defendant objected to the introduction bf the check and notes unless there was a proper foundation laid by proof that Goldie Rovin was the owner of Maplewood Auto Mart and that she had notice or knowledge of these transactions, or authorized them. The court overruled the objection subject to such proof.

Plaintiff’s theory, as developed by his evidence, was that Goldie Rovin, the deceased, was either the owner or part owner of the Maplewood Auto Mart, a used car business. In support of this theory plaintiff attempted to show that Goldie Rovin’s funds were used to open the bank account of Maplewood Auto Mart at the First National Bank in St. Louis, and that certain checks of the Maplewood Auto Mart were deposited in her personal account at said bank. The bank account of *174 Maplewood Auto Mart was opened July 26, 1948.

Earl B. Barnard, Assistant Auditor of the First National Bank, produced in court a photostatic copy of a document which he stated was a part of the records of the bank, and under which the account of the Maplewood Auto Mart was opened. This document was marked and introduced in evidence as Plaintiff’s Exhibit 6, the material portions of which are as follows:

“To First National Bank in St. Louis
“The undersigned desires to estab- , lish with the First National Bank in St. Louis a checking account to be known as Maplewood Auto Mart, and hereby certifies that said name is a trade name used in the conduct of an unincorporated business owned entirely by the undersigned.
“Checks .and orders for the payment of money withdrawing funds from said account may be signed by:
“Morris D. Rovin and Leo Gibstein.

“Notes and mtgs. for floor plan of autos with titles either signature acceptable.

“Checks, drafts, notes, bills of exchange and orders for the payment of money may be endorsed by any of the above and deposited with First National Bank in St. Louis for the credit of said account. Such endorsements may be made in writing or by a stamp and without designation of the person so endorsing.
“The undersigned authorizes and requests First National Bank in St. Louis ■ to pay and charge to said account checks, obligations and orders for the payment of money drawn on or payable at, or which shall be paid or honored by First National Bank in St. Louis when so signed whether payable to the order of any of said signers or not; and further authorizes and requests First National Bank in St. Louis to receive deposits and conduct the said account in accordance with the instructions stated above, and stated on the authorized signature card filed with First National Bank in St. Louis by the undersigned.
“If any other persons become interested in said business as co-partners of the undersigned, or if the business should become incorporated, the undersigned will notify First National Bank in St. Louis promptly.
.“Morris D. Rovin Goldie Rovin
“Leo Gibstein ,Sole Owner.”

When the exhibit was offered defendant’s counsel objected to any testimony with reference to it unless it was 'shown that Goldie Rovin either signed or authorized someone to sign her name to .the instrument. The objection was overruled, and the exhibit received in evidence subject to a later showing that deceased authorized her signature to the document.

The first item credited to the account was a check for $500, dated July 26, 1948, payable to Maplewood Auto Mart and signed “Goldie Rovin, by Sophie Rovin.” Defendant objected to this evidence on the ground that there was no proof that the check was signed by Goldie Rovin or that she authorized someone to sign it in her behalf. The court overruled the objection, subject to proof that the party who signed the check was authorized to do so by Goldie Rovin. Thereafter, it was shown that Goldie Rovin could not write her name in English, and her daughter, Sophie Rovin, was authorized by a power of attorney to sign her mother’s name to checks drawn on said bank. This power of attorney was never revoked prior to Goldie Rovin’s death.

It appears from the records of the bank that on August 18, 1948, there was a check for $2,000 drawn on the account of Maple-wood Auto Mart, signed “Maplewood Auto *175 Mart, by Morris D. Rovin and Leo Gib-stein,” payable to Goldie Rovin. The records also show that this check was credited to Goldie Rovin’s account on August 19, 1948. On August 19, 1948, there was a check of Maplewood Auto Mart for $1,000 drawn in favor of Goldie Rovin and deposited in her account at the bank on the same date.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
296 S.W.2d 171, 1956 Mo. App. LEXIS 8, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/deichmann-v-aronoff-moctapp-1956.