In re Cross

244 F. 844, 1917 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1092
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. New York
DecidedSeptember 5, 1917
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 244 F. 844 (In re Cross) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Cross, 244 F. 844, 1917 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1092 (N.D.N.Y. 1917).

Opinion

RAY, District Judge.

[1,2] The claimant, City National Bank of Syracuse, N. Y., contends that, at the time of the bankruptcy of Cross, it held the cases of peas, the right to the proceeds of which is in question here, under a valid pledge of same, evidenced by writings, and accompanied by the necessary delivery, as collateral security for a loan of $2,500 cash, made to the bankrupt by said bank on the 4th day of October, 1916; while the trustee in bankruptcy contends that the transaction and writings constituted a chattel mortgage only, unaccompanied by immediate, or any, delivery of the property, and that, as the papers constituting the mortgage were not filed as required by the New York statute, same is void as to the trustee in bankruptcy and creditors, and that the trustee is entitled to the whole of the proceeds of such sale. The trustee also contends that, if the transaction between Cross and the bank was a pledge of the property or intended as such, there was no sufficient delivery of the properly to malee it valid or effectual as such. There is no question that the money was loaned by the hank.

The bankruptcy proceeding was instituted October 25, 1916, on which day Frank B. Hodges was duly appointed receiver of the bankrupt’s estate, and on the 26th day of December, 1916, he was duly appointed and qualified as trustee. October 4, 1916, the City Bank of Syracuse loaned to John M. Cross, the now bankrupt, the sum of $2,500 cash, and took from him his promissory note reading as follows ;

•‘$2,500.00 Syracuse, N. Y., Oet. 4, 1916.
“One month after date I promise to pay to the order of City Bank twenty-live hundred dollars for value received; payable at the City Bank of Syracuse, with use.
"I have deposited or pledged as collateral security for the payment of this note
Corporation. Issue. Numbers.
8,134 Doz. cans peas or 1,567 cases in storage at Cont. Can Co. Plant.
“The margin of collaterals hereunder shall always be kept good as at present, and at not less than 25 per cent., and In default thereof, this note shall immediately become and be payable on demand; and I hereby give to the holder hereof full power and authority to sell or collect at my expense all or any portion thereof, at any place, either in Syracuse, New York, or elsewhere, at public or private sale, or otherwise at holder’s option, on the nonperformance of the above promise, and at any time thereafter, without advertising the same or otherwise giving me any notice. In case of sale theréol’, public or private, the holder may purchase without being liable to account for more than the net proceeds of such sale, and any surplus arising in any manner from said collateral may be applied on any other indebtedness now or hereafter owing by me to said bank for which I am or may be liable in this manner. John N. Cross.”

[846]*846And also another written paper signed by said Cross, which reads as follows:

"Continental Can Company.
“Syracuse, N. Y.
“John M. Cross Statement.
30 cases #1 Fancy June peas. 123 “ #2
215 “ #3
475 • “ #4 “ “ “
215 “ #3 Med. “
38 “ #2
40 “ #1 Fancy " ' “
147 “ #2 “ “ “
73 “ #4
215 “ #3
“1567 cases (2 dozen to the case), or 3134 dozen @ $.95 per dozen, $2,977.30, less $1.00 per 1,000, label allowance, or 37,608 hy $1.00. $37.61
$2,939.69
“Stored at the Continental Can Co., Cor. E. Washington St. and University Ave., Syracuse, N. Y., insured for $3,000.00.
“I hereby assign all my right, title,' and interest in the above-described property on account of loan of $2,500.00 secured this day.
“Oct. 4, 1916. John M. Cross.”

On that day the cases of peas mentioned in said papers were stored in the warehouse of the Continental Can Company at Syracuse, N. Y., as the property of Cross, where they had been for some time. On the same day, and after loaning such money and taking such papers, the said bank, by its authorized officers, mailed to said Continental Can Company a letter reading as follows:

“October 4, 1916.
“Continental Can Co., Syracuse, N. Y. — Gentlemen: There has been assigned to this bank 1,567 cases of peas placed in storage with the Continental Can Company by John M. Cross. We hereby request that you recognize releases signed only by this bank for. goods delivered. Kindly acknowledge receipt of this letter stating that you are complying with our request.
“Very truly yours, A. N. Ellis, Vice-president.”

This was received by said Can Company, which on the 7th day of October, 1916, sent to the said City Bank a letter in reply, which it received, reading as follows:

“Continental Can Company. Oct. 7, 1916.
“The City Bank, Syracuse, N. Y. — Gentlemen: In reply to your favor of the 4th inst., in reference to the 1,567 cases of peas stored in our warehouse, belonging to Mr. John M. Cross, beg to advise that wé have taken out of this stock nineteen cases which Mr. Cross has sold to some of our people at this plant, leaving a balance of 1,548 cases now in storage. As requested by you, we will only recognize release signed by you for the removal of these goods.
“Yours very truly, Continental Can Company, Inc.,
“Arthur G. Chase, Secretary.”

The said Can Company took out the 19 cases of peas mentioned in this letter, and the balance of such peas remained where they were in the storehouse of said Continental Can Company. The receiver, on his appointment, claimed the remaining 1,548 cases so in storage, and that same were not subject to any valid pledge or lien. So far as ap[847]*847pears, there was no physical deliveiy or handling of said peas, or of any part of same, at the time said writings were signed and delivered to the bank, or at any time thereafter, until the Can Company removed its 19 cases, the others remaining as and where they had been until sold by the receiver under the order of the court.

The two papers executed and delivered by Cross to the bank clearly gave to it the right to take physical possession of and remove the cases of peas. Kramer v. Haeger S. W. Co., 123 App. Div. 316, 108 N. Y. Supp. 1. The letter and directions sent to the Continental Can Company was an exercise of dominion over such cases of peas, and notice of its right on the part of the bank to the -warehousemen, but not a physical taking possession. The letter sent the bank by this Can Company was a recognition on its part of the rights of the bank in .and to the peas, whatever they were, and constituted a promise to retain possession and control thereof for the hank; that is, hold for and subject to the orders of said bank.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
244 F. 844, 1917 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1092, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-cross-nynd-1917.