Case Name: KELLY v. ALBANY TRUST CO. et al.
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1908-01-15
Citations: 108 N.Y.S. 214
Docket Number: 
Parties: KELLY v. ALBANY TRUST CO. et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 108
Pages: 214–216

Head Matter:
KELLY v. ALBANY TRUST CO. et al.
(Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department.
January 15, 1908.)
Gifts—Inter Yivos—Transfer of Bank Account.
A depositor of a trust company executed an instrument directing the company to add the name of a third person as owner and creditor with the depositor of moneys deposited under a designated account. Authorized signatures of the depositor and third person were delivered to the company. A bankbook issued in the name of the depositor was changed by adding under her name the w'ords, “or (name of third person) payable to either or the survivor of either.” Held, that the gift was complete, and the trust irrevocable.
[Ed. Note.—For cases in point, see Cent. Dig. vol. 24, Gifts, §§ 52-57, 65.]
Cochrane and Chester, JJ., dissenting.
Appeal from Special Term, Albany County.
Action by Sarah E. Kelly against the Albany Trust Company and others. Erom a judgment for plaintiff, defendants appeal. Affirmed.
Argued before SMITH, P. J., and CHESTER, KELLOGG, COCHRANE, and SEWELL, JJ.
Harris & Rudd (Milton H. Merwin and William P. Rudd, of counsel), for appellants.
Countryman, Nellis & Du Bois (Andrew J. Nellis, of counsel), for respondent.

Opinion:
KELLOGG, J.
The facts in this case are substantially the same as in Kelly v. Home Savings Bank, 103 App. Div. 141, 92 N. Y. Supp. 578, except that no officer of the trust company was sworn, and the only evidence as to what took place at the trust company is the books and papers of the trust company as follows:
Exhibit B, dated January 12, 1903:
"The Albany Trust Company will please add the name of Mrs. Sarah E. Kelly as owner and creditor with me of all moneys heretofore or which may hereaftér be deposited in the said bank under this account No. 2,104, together with all the interest .which has been or may hereafter be credited to the said account, with full'authority for each or either of us or the survivor of us to draw out from the bank the whole or any part of such money or such interest.
"[Signed] - . Mrs. K. V. Beers.
"Witness: A. P. Adams, Jr."
Exhibit C:
"Albany Trust Company. Authorized signature K. V. Beers. Please find authorized signature, which you will recognize in payment of funds and the transaction of business, Special Account No. 2,104, K. V. Beers. Address, 87 Livingston Ave. Indorsed by Charles Beeney. To the Albany Trust Company, Albany, N. Y."
Exhibit D:
"Albany Trust Company. Authorized signature Sarah Kelly. Special Account No. 2,104, Sarah Kelly: Please find authorized signature, which you will recognize in payment of funds or the transaction of business. Sarah E. Kelly. Address, 87 Livingston Ave. Indorsed by -. To the Albany Trust Company, Albany, N. Y."
It is also admitted that the bankbook was issued September 5, 1902, in the name of Kate V. Beers, and the writing underneath, "Or Sarah E. Kelly, payable to either or the survivor of either," was added January 12, 1903. Bankbook No. 2,104 produced was indorsed:
"Special interest account with Kate V. Beers."
The reading on the inside was:
"No. 2,104. Albany Trust Company in account with Kate V. Beers or Mrs. Sarah E. Kelly, payable to either or the survivor of either.
Within Hallenbeck v. Hallenbeck, 103 App. Div. 107, 93 N. Y. Supp. 73, Augsbury v. Shurtliff, 180 N. Y. 138, 72 N. E. 927, and the Kelly Case, above cited, the judgment is right. The codicil was properly excluded. It only disclosed Mrs. Beers' intent at the time it was executed. The rights of the parties had been previously fixed.
The judgment should therefore be affirmed, with costs. All concur, except COCHRANE and CHESTER, JJ., who dissent.