Case Name: IMPERIAL GARAGE, INC. v. BANK OF SIMPSONVILLE
Court: Supreme Court of South Carolina
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1922-12-05
Citations: 122 S.C. 50
Docket Number: 11001
Parties: IMPERIAL GARAGE, INC. v. BANK OF SIMPSONVILLE
Judges: Mr. Chiee Justice Gary concurs.
Reporter: South Carolina Reports
Volume: 122
Pages: 50–52

Head Matter:
11001
IMPERIAL GARAGE, INC. v. BANK OF SIMPSONVILLE
(114 S. E., 760)
Principal and Agent — Whether Employer Was Precluded From Setting Up Forgery or Want of Authority of Employee to Indorse Check Held for Jury. — Where employee deposited check payable to employer in the bank on which it was drawn after having indorsed the check with a rubber stamp used by employer and embezzled proceeds, the question of whether the employer was precluded from setting up forgery or want of authority to indorse check in employer’s action against bank was a question for the jury, under Acts 1914 (28 St. at Large, p. 673), § 23, providing that a signature which is forged or made without authority is wholly inoperative unless the party against whom the instrument is sought to be enforced is precluded from setting up the forgery or want of authority.
Before Ansel, J., County Court, Greenville, November,. 1921.
Reversed.
Action by Imperial Garage, Inc., against Bank of Simpsonville. Judgment for plaintiff and defendant appeals.
Messrs. W. G. Sirrine and Martin & Blythe, for appellant,
cite: Where one of two innocent persons must suffer it must be the one whose conduct caused the loss: 202 Fed., 90; 7 C. J., 686; 44 S. C. L., 336; 44 L. R. A. (N. S.), 580. Proof of agency: 79 S. C, 579; 76 S. C., 217; 44 S. C. L., 336; Story, Agency, Sec. 127; 73 S. C., 57; 1 C. J., 832.
Messrs. Haynesworth & Playnesworth, for respondent,
cite: Who has authority to endorse check: 18 X. R. A., 663; 59 L. R. A., 657; 74 Am. Dec., 442; 46 Mo., 186; 112 Id. App., 594; 37 L. R. A. (N. S.), 201. No implied authority by agent who makes collection to endorse checks: 208 S. W., 309; 181 Pac., 66; 12 A. L. R., 102; 21 R. C. L., ‘Trim-& Agt.” Sec. 45; 73 A. L. R., 324; 37 L. R. A. (N. S.), 201; 119 N. Y., gupp., 317; 88 N. Y. Supp., 952; 19 N. Y. Supp., 252; L. R. A. 1918B, 575; 45 S. E., 316.
December 5, 1922.

Opinion:
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
Mr. Justice Fraser.
The plaintiff in this case sold an automobile to B. M. Moore and took in payment therefor his check for $850.00. McBride, who was in the employ of the plaintiff, took the check to the defendant bank, upon which it was drawn, and cashed it and took the money and ran away. McBride indorsed the check with a rubber stamp used by the plaintiff, as follows: "Imperial Garage, Inc., by............" McBride wrote his own name after the word "by." McBride should have deposited the check in People's National Bank. Both sides moved for the direction of a verdict in their favor. The presiding Judge directed a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, on the ground that the indorsement was unauthorized.
Acts of 1914, p. 673, § 23, reads:
"Where a signature is forged or made without the authority of the person whose signature it purports to be, it is wholly inoperative, and no right to retain the instrument, or to give a discharge thereof, or to enforce payment thereof against any party thereto, can Jie acquired through or under such signature, unless the party, against whom it is sought to enforce such right, is precluded from setting up the forgery or want of authority."
The question pertinent to this case is: Is the plaintiff precluded from setting up the forgery or want of authority? That question is a question of fact for the jury. It was error to direct a verdict. It is very manifest that any discussion of the facts of this case to show why a verdict should not have been directed would be improper.
The judgment is reversed, and a new trial ordered.
Mr. Chiee Justice Gary concurs.
Mr. Justice Marion concurs in result.