National Bank of Commerce v. Williams

159 F. 615, 86 C.C.A. 605, 1907 U.S. App. LEXIS 4054
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit·Decided December 10, 1907·No. No. 1,656·Published

Opinion

McCORMICK, Circuit Judge

On May 1, 1903, J. E. of the city of Toomey, state of Louisiana, had lumber mills at that place known as the “Toomey Lumber Mills.” On the date above named lie made, at Houston, Tex., with H. E. Miller, a representative of Walter A. Zelnicker Supply Company, a contract to buy 114 to 1% miles of 20-relay iron rails, and such splices as are with them, at prices [616] named f. o. b. Fants, Tex., H. E. Miller’s inspection to govern, with freight allowed to Toomey, Da.; one 13-ton narrow-gauge Shay locomotive, at a price named, Walter A. Zelnicker Supply Company inspection to govern; with other material described in the contract; providing for a cash payment on acceptance of the contract, and for the giving of four notes for the balance of the purchase price, specifying dates, etc.; and further providing that “for the purpose of securing the payment of said notes, the buyer is to execute and deliver to the seller, at the time of tender of bill of lading as aforesaid, a deed of trust or mortgage on the property covered by this contract.” On December 17, 1903, the Brady-Stein Dumber Company, writing from San Antonio, Tex., to the Walter A. Zelnicker Supply Company, St. Douis, Mo., say:

“We take pleasure to notify you that we have completed the organization of the undersigned stock company which has assumed all assets and liabilities of Mr. J. B. Brady at Jacksonville, as shown on the books of his plant known as the Toomey Lumber Mills at that place. Mr. Brady will remain with the company as director and superintendent and as the largest individual stockholder of the same.”

On February 1, 1904, at Jacksonville, Da., Walter A. Zelnicker Supply Company contracts in writing to sell, and Brady-Stein Dumber Company, of the city of Jacksonville, state of Douisiana, contracts to buy certain steel rails described, and splices complete with- bolts, at prices named f. o. b. Pittsburg, Pa., subject to acceptance by Walter A.' Zelnicker; providing for the payment of one-fourth of the price on tender of bill of lading, and for, at the same time, giving' three notes for the balance of the purchase price, specifying the due dates. The contract of May 1, 1903, and of February 1, 1904, both in writing, provide that, “for the purpose of securing the payment of said notes, the buyer is to execute and deliver.to the seller, at the time of tender of bill of lading as aforesaid, deed of trust or mortgage on the property covered by this contract.” Early in February, 1905 (the exact date not shown), the Brady-Stein Dumber Company made a general assignment to a Mr. Gross for the benefit of its creditors. Thereupon an involuntary petition in bankruptcy was filed against the company, and the referee appointed the respondent, Mason Williams, receiver of the company’s estate, and he, as such receiver, took charge of the Toomey Dumber Mills and the tramway in connection therewith. Brady-Stein Dumber Company was duly adjudged a bankrupt on the 16th day of February, 1905, and Mason Williams was then appointed trustee and qualified. On March 4, 1905, the Galveston Hat & Shoe Company, one of the interveners and respondents, appeared as a creditor and asked and obtained certain relief, and on the same day, with the consent of that creditor (and no other creditor objecting), the referee made an order authorizing and directing the trustee to operate the mill property and tramway as a g'oing concern. On the 3d of October, 1905, the petitioner filed with the referee its application to have the property involved in this cause set aside to it upon the following state of facts, which having verified by the record, we adopt from the petitioner’s brief, viz.: On December 1, 1903, September 1, 1904, and

[617] May 25, 1904, the Brady-Stein Lumber Company, through itself and J. F. Brady, executed its several written obligations to Walter A. Zelnicker Supply Company, of St. Louis, by the terms of which said Walter A. Zelnicker Supply Company bound itself to deliver, and did thereafter deliver, material described in the written obligations to the bankrupt at its place of business in Calcasieu parish, ill the state of Louisiana, where the bankrupt then conducted a mill for the manufacture of lumber. This material was used by the bankrupt in the construction of a tramway which was built in connection with the mill and for use in hauling logs to the mill. These writings obligated the bankrupt to pay to Walter A. Zelnicker Supply Company, or order, the purchase money for the materials in several different installments, at the times stipulated, and in which is contained the following provision :

“It is agreed and understood that the above described property is to remain the property of the payee, or its assignee, and whatsoever equity we may be entitled to in same by virtue of any payments thereon, is hereby pledged to said payee, or its assignee, and held by us as their trustee until all of said notes shall have been paid. In the event of any of said notes not having been paid at maturity, the payee or its assignee may, without further notice to us and without any liability whatsoever for trespass, take possession of the above said property for its own benefit”

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National Bank of Commerce v. Williams, 159 F. 615, 86 C.C.A. 605, 1907 U.S. App. LEXIS 4054 (5th Cir. 1907).

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