Smith v. Hoffman

220 N.W. 479, 53 S.D. 113, 1928 S.D. LEXIS 69
CourtSouth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 7, 1928
DocketFile No. 6051
StatusPublished

This text of 220 N.W. 479 (Smith v. Hoffman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering South Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Smith v. Hoffman, 220 N.W. 479, 53 S.D. 113, 1928 S.D. LEXIS 69 (S.D. 1928).

Opinion

MORIARTY, C.

This action was brought by the superintendent of banks to recover the sum of $10,681, which was paid to the defendant by the American State Bank of Parkston, a few months before said bank passed into the hand's of the superintendent for liquidation.

The facts are as follows:

The bank involved in the action was engaged: in the banking business at Parkston from, the year 1899 until April 10, 1924, when the superintendent took charge of it-.

Prior -to the year 1918, this bank was known as the German American Bank, but in 1918 the name was changed tO' American State Bank. During all the time from the year 1910 to April, 1924, John Schmierer, Jr., was cashier of this bank, and from 1899 to until some time early in the year 1924 A. N. Hoffman was vice president, and during all that time, from 1910 to the early part of 1924, these two' men were the only managing officers of the bank. A. N. Hoffman 'died' about April 16, 1924. He was a brother of the appellant. Prom about the year 1900 until December, 1919, the appellant, William Hoffman, was in Zurich, 'Switzerland, in the employ of the International Harvester Company. And during [115]*115a large part of that time he had a deposit in the American State Bank of Parkston.

On January 29, 1911, the appellant mailed two checks to A. N. Hoffman, and in the letter accompanying these checks he acknowledges the receipt of a bank statement of January .8th, instructs that the inclosed checks be deposited to his account, “as heretofore,” and further says:

“I have no time today to comment on the statement, but notice you have made a loan to M'r. 'Schmierer of quite a large amount without consulting me. Please do not make any more loans until further advised by me.”

On July 29, 1911, appellant mailed to the bank a letter reading as follows:

“Inclosed please find my check for four hundred dollars ($400.00) which I deposit with the bank to be known as ‘working deposit fund’ which alone is subject to check by A. N. Hoffman or myself.
“All funds now on deposit or that may be deposited is to be known as ‘regular deposit fund/ which alone is subject to' check by myself or my written order.
“Thus please open up two deposit accounts one to' be known as the ‘regular deposit fund’ and the other ‘working deposit fund,’ the working fund will be replenished by check from myself from time to time as the fund is used up. Please acknowledge receipt of this letter and oblige. Yours truly, Wim. Hoffman.
“Copy to A. N. Hoffman, Parkston, So. Dak., U. S. A.”

And on the same date he mailed' to A. N. Hoffman a letter containing the following language:

“Inclosed please find a copy of my letter to the bank which explains itself which I wish strictly adhered to. Thus you will see that all funds that are paid out for my account are to be checked out from the ‘working deposit fund’ and the ‘regular deposit fund’ is only subject to check by myself or order. All moneys collected or received are to be credited to the ‘regular fund.’ If any loans are to be made, same are to be communicated to me, and, if granted, will issue check for same.”

Accounts with the two funds were opened by the bank. During the time between 1911 and September, 1915, A. N. Hoffman made collections and received payments for appellant and deposited [116]*116some of the funds in the general fund account; some funds belonging to appellant, A. N. Hoffman, sent to- banks at Lane and Alexandria, S. D., and at Sibley, Iowa, and certificates of deposit were issued to appellant therefor. These acts were approved by appellant. During the period mentioned, some loans were made out of appellant’s general deposit account. These loans were negotiated by A. N. Hoffman, but there is no proof that they were made without first being approved by William Hoffman, or that the money for them was withdrawn from the account without his check or written order.

On September 13, 1915, there was over $10,000 in the general fund to William Hoffman’s credit, and on that date $10,000 was charged out of that account, and $5,000 credited to the personal account of A. N. Hoffman, and $5,000 credited to the personal account of John Schmierer, Jr., to balance the debit to William Hoffman’s account.

At that time A. N, Hoffman and Schmierer, in addition to being managing officers of the bank, were engaged as partners in the land business. The $10,000 credited to their personal accounts, as above stated, was checked out and used by them in their said partnership business. There is no' proof as to any check or order authorizing withdrawal from William: Hoffman’s account; the only written record of the transaction being two' deposit slips showing credits to the personal accounts of A. N-. Hoffman and John Schmierer, Jr., of $5,000 each, each deposit slip bearing the written words, letters, and figures, “from Wm. H. $5,000.”

On September 13, 1916, John Schmierer, Jr., drew two notes of $5,000 each, payable to^ William Hoffman, on demand, with 6 per cent interest. Schmierer signed said notes “German American Bank. Jn. Schmierer, Jr., Cashier.” Each of these notes was indorsed with $300 interest, paid September 13, 1917, and each note was stamped on back and face, “Paid Sept. 13, 1918.” Eor these two notes, two renewal notes of $5,000 each payable on demand to William Hoffman were signed by Schmierer in the same manner as the notes for which they were renewals.

William Hoffman testified that he knew nothing of any of these transactions until August, 1917, when he received from A. N. Hoffman a bank statement showing that on September 13, 1916, his general account had been charged with “Check to- G. Am. Bank [117]*117for two (2) notes of $5,000 each, $10,000.” He testified that he never signed any check for this $10,000, or authorized any to- be drawn. William Hoffman returned from Switzerland to' the United States in December, 1919, but did not come out to South Dakota until July, 1920. In October, 1923, he got possession of the two renewal notes payable to him, and signed as notes of the bank by Schmierer as cashier. On October 29, 1923, he went to the bank with these two> notes, insisted on their being paid, and received from Schmierer a draft for $10,681, which was honored and paid. Hoffman’s general account had been credited with $600 per year as interest paid on these notes for the years 1919, 1920, 1921, and 1922. It is for the return of the $10,681 paid h> Hoffman when the notes were taken up in October, 1923, that this action was brought.

On September 13, 1917, Schmierer and A. N. Hoffman executed their personal notes for $5,000 each, payable to- the bank on demand, apparently to balance the $10,000 credited to their personal accounts, and- used by them'. These notes were never paid, but Schmierer testified that, after he had paid William Hoffman the $10,681, he gave the bank his note for the same amount, and as security deeded to the bank 470 acres of land in Plymouth county, Iowa, to which he held title. He never paid the note, but the record does not show whether the bank realized anything out of the land.

At the close of all the evidence the defendant moved for a directed verdict, on the ground that the loan to Schmierer and A. N.

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220 N.W. 479, 53 S.D. 113, 1928 S.D. LEXIS 69, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/smith-v-hoffman-sd-1928.