Seminole Phosphate Co. v. Johnson

188 N.C. 419

• Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
• Decided: October 22, 1924
• Status: Published

Opinion

CoNNOR, J.

Defendant’s exception to the exclusion of the testimony of the witness -Goldstein, offered by defendant as evidence upon his allegation that the execution of the notes was procured by fraudulent representations, must be ■ sustained. This testimony was competent as evidence tending to establish a fact proper to. be considered by the jury in determining whether or not the same representation, if made to defendant, was fraudulent. If the jury should find that in selling to another stock of the same series as that sold to defendant, the same representation was made to both as an inducement to purchase the stock, and that plaintiff had failed to comply with its agreement with both purchasers, this would be a circumstance which the jury could properly consider in determining whether or not the representation was made to defendant with fraudulent intent. Brink v. Black, 77 N. C., 60; Robertson v. Halton, 156 N. C., 215. There was error in sustaining plaintiff’s objection to this testimony.

In the case on appeal, agreed upon by attorneys for plaintiff and defendant, it is stated that, at the beginning of the trial, after the court had held, without objection, that by reason of the admissions in the answer, “the burden was upon defendant to satisfy the jury, by the greater weight of the evidence, that the notes were without consideration and were procured by false and fraudulent representations, the court further held as a matter of law that the notes are for value unless the defendant satisfies the jury by the greater weight of the evidence that the consideration for the notes was without value.” No exception is noted to such holding.

In the judgment signed by his Honor there is a recital that “it appearing to the. court that the execution of the notes in question is admitted, and that defendant has failed to produce any staple evidence in support of any defense to the payment of said notes, it is therefore ordered, considered and adjudged that plaintiff recover of defendant.” Defendant excepted to the ruling of the court upon plaintiff’s motion at the conclusion of the evidence for judgment upon the pleadings and also to the judgment as signed.

A careful consideration of the foregoing statement and of the recital in the judgment leaves us in some uncertainty as to whether his Honor held as a “matter of law” that the defense based upon the allegations that the notes were null and void- — for the reason that the contract for the sale of the stock was illegal, because not reduced to writing as required by C. S., 6367 — would not avail defendant, or whether he held that defendant had failed to produce evidence in support of such defense. Evidence was offered from which the jury could have found that the contract of sale of stock by Wade, as agent of plaintiff to defendant, was not in writing and did not contain the provision required by 0. S., 6367, relative to amount to be paid as commission for making the sale; and that the notes were given for stock in plaintiff company, sold in violation of this statute. There was also evidence that the company had agreed to pay the agent, who negotiated the sale, 10 per cent of the amount received as purchase price of the stock as his commission. We must-therefore conclude that his Honor held that the defense was.not available to the defendant in this action, as “a matter of law,” and that plaintiff could recover on the notes, notwithstanding the facts which the jury might find from the evidence.

We are advertent to the fact that there has been some uncertainty, and some doubt expressed as to whether C. S., 6367 applies to sales of stock in corporations organized under the laws of this State. Suggestions have been made that this section applies only to sales of stock by foreign companies; that is, by companies organized under the laws of other states and seeking to do business in this State.

Section 6367 of the Consolidated Statutes is subsection 4 of section 1 of chapter 156, Public Laws of 1913. This statute amends subchapter 14, chapter 100 of the Revisal of 1905; that is, section 4805 of the Revisal, and provides that section 1 of chapter 156, Public Laws 1913, shall be section 4805A of the Revisal. Section 4805 of the Revisal of 1905, provides that “before any bond, investment, dividend, guarantee, registry, title guarantee, debenture, or such other like company (not strictly an insurance company as defined in this chapter) shall be authorized to do business in this State, it must be licensed by the Insurance Commissioner of North Carolina.” Specific reference is made to such companies chartered and organized in this State, and the statute by its express terms applies to such domestic as well as foreign companies. It provides that all such companies, whether organized without the State or within the State, doing business in this State, shall be licensed by and under the supervision of the Insurance Department of North Carolina.

Chapter 156, Public Laws 1913, by its express provision, applies to “every corporation company, copartnership, or association, organized, proposed to be organized, or which shall hereafter be organized, without this State, which shall in this State sell or negotiate for sale any stocks, bonds, or other evidences of property or interest in itself or any other company, all of which are in this act termed securities, upon which sale or proposed sale the whole or any part of the proceeds are used or to be used, directly or indirectly, for the payment of any commission or other expenses incidental to the organization or promotion of any such company.” This act was ratified on 12 March, 1913; subsection 4, section 1 of the act is now C. S., 6367. As originally enacted, it did not apply to sales of stock by domestic corporations, but did apply to all corporations, organized without the State, selling stocks, etc., within the State, where commissions were paid on the sales or deductions were made from the proceeds of the sale for organization expenses. Its effect was to include within its provisions corporations not included within section 4805 of the Revisal of 1905, and to enlarge the supervisory powers of the Insurance Department. It also extended these powers to agents of the corporation, and required these agents to procure license before transacting or offering to transact business in the State as agents of such companies, and made the violation of any provision of the act by an agent a misdemeanor, punishable by fine or imprisonment.

Prior to 1919 domestic corporations, included within section 4805 of the Revisal of 1905, were only required to procure license before engaging in business in North Carolina; the more effective provision of section 4805A ’(chapter 156, Public Laws 1913) applied only to foreign corporations doing business included within .the terms of said statute.

By chapter 121, Public Laws 1919, said section 4805A was amended by adding the following: "Provided, that this act and its provisions shall apply also to every corporation, company, copartnership or association organized *or to be organized in this State, where such company or organization by its organizers or promoters puts or proposes to put tbe stock of tbe company on tbe market in person or by agents.” Tbis act was ratified 3 March, 1919.

Tbe effect of tbis amendment was to make all tbe provisions of section 4805A applicable to domestic as well as foreign corporations. Section 4805, and section 4805A of tbe Eevisal of 1905, witb all amendments, appear in tbe Consolidated Statutes as Article 10, chapter 106, sections 6363-6375, inclusive. Tbe law upon tbis subject since 1 August, 1919 (O. S., 8107) is contained in these statutes. Section 6367 of Consolidated Statutes applies to both domestic and foreign corporations, corporations organized within as well as without tbis State, which put or propose to put tbe stock of tbe company on tbe market in person or by agents.

It is true, as is earnestly urged upon us by plaintiff’s attorney, in bis brief and on tbe argument of tbis appeal, that chapter 121, Public Laws 1921, now appears in C. S., 6363, and seems to be limited in its operation to tbis section. When, however, tbe history of tbis legislation, together witb tbe conditions which have prevailed from time to time in tbis State, since tbe enactment of chapter 156, Public Laws 1913, and witb which it was tbe manifest purpose of tbe General Assembly to deal, is considered, tbis construction ought not and cannot be sustained. Tbe evil sought to be remedied has been progressive,'as appears from tbe dockets of tbis Court, and as all men in tbis State know, tbe General Assembly has been prompt to amend and strengthen tbe laws designed to protect tbe people of tbe State by making tbe statutes more comprehensive, and tbe powers of tbe Insurance Commission more effective. A construction of these statutes, highly remedial, and hurtful to no honest person or corporation, doing business in the State, favorable to corporations and their stock salesmen, who are eager to pay or to receive excessive commissions, or to deduct from sums paid in as capital stock excessive amounts for promotion and organization expenses, ought not to be adopted by tbe courts — rather tbe courts should construe these statutes so that they may lessen tbe evil and advance tbe remedy.

At its sessions in 1921 and 1923, tbe General Assembly has further amended these statutes (cb. 233, Public Laws 1921 and cb. 180, Public Laws 1923), but as these amendments are not applicable “to tbis action, they need not be discussed.

“In tbe case of a general revision or codification of statutes it is well settled that a mere change or phraseology or tbe omission or addition of words will not necessarily change tbe operation or construction of former statutes, for tbe new language may be attributed to a desire to condense and simplify tbe law. Tbe language of tbe statute as revised or tbe legislative intent to change the former statute must be clear before it can be pronounced that there is a change of such statute in construction and operation.” 25 R. C. L., 1050.

“Revisers of statutes are presumed not to change the law if the language which they use fairly admits of a construction which makes it consistent with the former statutes; and it is a well settled rule that in the revision of statutes neither an alteration in phraseology, nor the omission or addition of words in the latter statute shall be held necessarily to alter the construction of the former act, excepting where the intent of the Legislature to make such change is clear.” 33 Cyc., 1067. Hughes v. Smith, 64 N. C., 493; In re Jenkins, 157 N. C., 430.

“A statute should be construed as a whole, and not by the wording of any particular section or part of 'it. The law requires that, in the interpretation of a statute, we should give it that meaning which is clearly expressed, and if there is doubt or ambiguity we should construe it so as to ascertain from its language what was the true intention of the Legislature.” McLeod v. Comrs., 148 N. C., 86; S. v. Bell, 184 N. C., 701.

The sale of stock in the plaintiff corporation for which the notes sued on were given was made in July, 1920. At this time C. S., 6367 was in full force and effect, and applicable to this sale. There is evidence that this sale was not made in compliance with the terms and provisions of this statute; this is expressly set up as a defense to the plaintiff’s action on the notes. What is the effect upon plaintiff’s right to recover if the jury shall find that the notes were given for the purchase of stock sold without compliance with C. S., 6367?

This Court has said in Fashion Co. v. Grant, 165 N. C., 453, Brown, J., writing the opinion: “It is well settled that the courts of a state will not lend their aid to the enforcement of a contract which violates the positive legislation of the State of the forum. The principle of the rule is that no man ought to be heard in a court of justice who seeks to enforce a contract founded in or arising out of moral or political turpitude. Where a party is privy to the original illegal contract or transaction, then he is not entitled to recover any advance made by him connected with the contract.”

In Culp v. Love, 127 N. C., 460, Faircloth, C. J., writing for the Court says: “The objection of a party to an illegal contráct does not sound well in his mouth. It is not for his sake that the objection is allowed, but it is found in general principles of policy, of which he has the advantage by the accident of being sued by his confederate in wrongdoing; an executory contract, the consideration of which is contra bonos mores, or against the public policy, or laws of the State, or in fraud of the State, or of any third person, cannot be enforced in a court of justice. Blythe v. Lovinggood, 24 N. C., 20.”

The distinction is sometimes made between contracts malum in se and contracts malum prohibitum, but this distinction is not recognized in this State. Annuity Co. v. Costner, 149 N. C., 294.

An action cannot be maintained in the courts of this State upon a note or an account, the consideration of which is intoxicating liquor sold in violation of law. Pfeifer & Co. v. Israel, 161 N. C., 410; Vinegar Co. v. Hawn, 149 N. C., 355; Bluthenthal v. Kennedy, 165 N. C., 372.

A contract made in violation of chapter 167, Public Laws 1911 (C. S., 2563, subsection 2), Anti-Trust Act, will not be enforced by the courts of this State. Fashion Co. v. Grant, supra.

A note given for the purchase price of stock-food sold in this State in violation of C. S., 4742, will not be enforced in this State. Miller v. Howell, 184 N. C., 119.

In Courtney v. Parker, 173 N. C., 479, Hoke, J., (now the honored Chief Justice of this Court) holding that there can be no recovery on a contract made in violation of chapter 77, Public Laws 1913 (amended by chapter 2, Public Laws 1919, by expressly providing that failure to comply with statute shall not affect civil liability on a contract made by or with a partnership which has not complied with statute), C. S., 3288, says: “It is well established that no recovery can be had on a contract forbidden by the positive law of this State, and the principle prevails as a general rule whether it is forbidden in express terms or by implication arising from the fact that the transaction in question has been made an indictable offense or subjected to the imposition of a penalty.”

In Covington v. Threadgill, 88 N. C., 186, plaintiff’s cause of action was founded upon notes and account; the defense was that the consideration for said notes and account was intoxicating liquor sold to defendant by plaintiff, and defendant relied upon statute, which was as follows: “No retailer of liquors by the small measure shall sell to any person, on credit, liquors to a greater amount than ten dollars unless the person credited sign a book or note in the presence of a witness in acknowledgment of the debt, under the penalty of losing the money so credited.”

Chief Justice Ruffin, writing for the Court, says: “The plaintiff however, insists that inasmuch as the statute does not in positive terms declare the act of selling, though upon a credit and in excess of the designated amount, to be unlawful, but simply prescribes the penalty for it, its effect is not to make the selling so absolutely illegal, as that it .will vitiate the whole of the note or other contract, of which it may form, in part, tbe consideration. A distinction like that attempted to be made, between tbe effect, in this regard, of statutes wbicb affirmatively declare acts done in contravention of tbeir provisions to be unlawful, and those wbicb merely visit sucb acts witb penalties, bas been at times, and perhaps still is, recognized in some of tbe authorities, but never in tbe courts of this State.” He cites and approves tbe following from tbe opinion in Sharp v. Farmer, 20 N. C., 255: “After a vast number of cases, upon tbe subject, it seems now to be perfectly settled, that no action will be sustained in affirmance and enforcement of an executory contract to do an immoral act, or one against tbe policy of tbe law, tbe due course of justice or tbe prohibition of a penal statute. Tbe distinction between an act malum in se and one malum prohibitum was never sound and is entirely disregarded; for tbe law would be false to itself if it, allowed a party through its tribunals to derive advantage from a contract made against tbe intent and express provisions of tbe law.”

Tbe courts of this State have uniformly and consistently held that contracts founded upon or growing out of acts or transactions, wbicb have been declared unlawful by statutes, making sucb acts or transactions crimes and misdemeanors, and prescribing punishment for tbeir violation, or wbicb have been prohibited by statutes prescribing a penalty to be enforced against those who fail to conform to or who disregard tbe provisions of sucb statutes in matters to wbicb sucb statutes are applicable, or wbicb are merely prohibited by statutes, without regard to whether sucb acts or transactions are punishable as crimes and misdemeanors, or subject those who fail to conform to or disregard them, to penalties, where tbe manifest purpose of tbe General Assembly in enacting them' is to safeguard and protect tbe people of tbe State from sucb acts or transactions, either by forbidding them or by prescribing tbe manner and form or the terms and conditions upon wbicb sucb acts may be done or sucb transactions entered into — will not be enforced in this State.

In Planters Bank and Trust Co. v. Felton, ante, 384, this Court bas said, Justice Clarkson writing tbe opinion, in wbicb be discusses tbe effect of a violation of C. S., 6367 upon a contract, in wbicb tbe parties did not comply witb tbe statute, “Tbe question arises, if these provisions are not complied witb, is a note given for stock enforceable in tbe courts of this State? We think not, as between tbe parties. Tbe courts will not lend tbeir aid to enforce tbe collection of a note between tbe parties, given without complying witb tbe statute and wbicb makes tbe officer or agent who violates this provision of tbe act guilty of a crime. It would be contrary to public policy. Tbe transaction is illegal — voidable, not void.”

A full and comprehensive statement of the law with full citation of authority, with reference to this matter, will be found in Corpus Juris, Vol. 13, p. 420 et seq. It is there stated: “Where a statute expressly declares that certain kinds of contracts shall be void, there is then no doubt of the legislative intention, and an agreement of the kind voided by the statute is unlawful. The same is true where the contract is in violation of a statute, although not therein expressly declared to be void. It is immaterial whether the thing forbidden is malum in se or merely malum prohibitum. A statute prohibiting the making of contracts, except in a certain manner, ipso facto, makes them void if made in any other way.”

Again, “Frequently a statute imposes a penalty on the doing of an act, without either prohibiting it or expressly declaring it illegal or void. In cases of this kind, the decisions of the courts are not in harmony. The generally announced rule is that an agreement founded on or for doing such penalized act is void.”

Again, “If an act is prohibited by statute, an agreement in violation of the statute is void, although the act is not penalized, for it is the prohibition, and not the penalty, which makes the act illegal. Smathers v. Ins. Co., 151 N. C., 98; 6 R. C. L., p. 699, Article on Contracts, see. 105.

We must therefore sustain defendant’s assignment of error based upon his exceptions to the order allowing plaintiff’s motion for judgment on the pleadings and to the judgment as signed by his Honor. Issues should have been submitted to the jury. If upon a new trial, a verdict shall be rendered sustaining the allegations in the answer that the notes sued on were executed pursuant to a contract made without compliance with C. S., 6763, then the contract or sale as between the original parties was illegal and no recovery can be had on the notes. The law as to the rights of an innocent holder for value of notes executed pursuant to a contract made in violation of this section is not involved in this action. In Bank v. Felton, supra, it is .held 'that such notes as between an innocent holder for value and the maker, are not void.

The fact that the plaintiff corporation, since the beginning of this action has been declared insolvent and that a receiver has been appointed, does not affect the rights of defendant in this action. The receiver takes whatever title the corporation had to the notes and no more. Mfg. Co. v. Buggy Co., 152 N. C., 633.

As there must be a new trial we shall not discuss defendant’s exception for that his Honor held that the evidence offered was not sufficient to sustain the allegation that the notes were procured by false and fraudulent representations. Defendant, however, testified that the agent told him that a dividend had been declared by the company on the first issue of stock of 14 per cent and that the same would be paid immediately. This statement, if made, was in effect a representation that the corporation had a surplus of net profits arising from its business of at least 14 per cent or that its debts, whether due or not, did not exceed two-thirds of its assets; C. S., 1179. Defendant further testified that no dividend has ever been 'paid to him; although he was the holder of three shares of the outstanding stock of the corporation.

Defendant further testified that the agent stated to him that the stock for which the notes were executed would be issued to defendant at once and that no stock or certificates for same have been issued or tendered to defendant; that the money derived from the sale of the new stock of the second series, amounting to one million dollars, would be invested in the building of a new plant at Raleigh. It is true that there is no evidence as to whether or not a plant costing a million dollars or thereabouts, has been built at Raleigh. If upon the new trial this and other evidence is offered, it will be for the court then to determine whether the law as declared in DesFarges v. Pugh, 93 N. C., 32, is applicable.

New trial.