Case Name: S. W. Vance vs. First National Bank of Shreveport
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1896-12-14
Citations: 49 La. Ann. 378
Docket Number: No. 12,180
Parties: S. W. Vance vs. First National Bank of Shreveport.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Annual Reports
Volume: 49
Pages: 378–390

Head Matter:
No. 12,180.
S. W. Vance vs. First National Bank of Shreveport.
Tile maker of a note pledged by the holder who is unable to pay the debt can in a suit settling the rights between the parties require a return of the note pledged, or claim its value in case it be not surrendered.
Prior decree amended so that the deposit of the notes and deed in court are not required.
As amended prior decree affirmed.
On Application for Rehearing—Interest on a stated account on which charges are erroneously made is reduced from 12 per cent, to 5 per cent.
The plaintiff will have credits for the deed of trust and -notes of six thousand dollars each, as will, as to their value, be established by testimony, provided there be a timely deposit made in court of these securities.
APPEAL from the Second Judicial District Court for the Parish of Bossier. Watkins, J.
Leonard & Randolph and F. G. Thatcher for Plaintiff, Appellee,
Wise & Herndon for Defendant, Appellant.
Argued and submitted June 5, 1896.
Opinion handed down June 20, 1896.
Argued and submitted on application for rehearing November 21, 1896.
Opinion handed down December 14, 1896.
Opinion handed down on second application for rehearing January 4, 1896.
Rehearing refused January 4, 1897.

Opinion:
The opinion of the court was delivered by
Breaux, J.
The defendant instituted a suit to foreclose on mortgage'notes, executed by plaintiff for fifteen thousand eight hundred dollars. The bank held these notes as pledges to secure an indebtedness of S. J. Zeigler, the original holder.
The plaintiff obtained an injunction to restrain the defendant from foreclosing the mortgage on the ground that he is not indebted to the pledgor, Zeigler, and that, as the notes were pledged after maturity, they are subject to all offsets and equities.
It is not disputed that the mortgage notes were pledged after their maturity. In consequence the defendant must meet the issues raised by plaintiff.
Vance, the plaintiff, carried on in connection with Wyche, under the name of Vance & Wyche, a plantation store. He was in addition engaged in planting.
From 1887, date of Zeigler's first account, to 1893 he had the entire confidence of his young brother-in-law, the plaintiff.
The balance on account, rendered at different times to the plaintiff, was large.
The plaintiff claims that some of the items were improperly charged to him and that certain credits have not been given him on Zeigler's books.
The accounts of Vance and Wyche with Perrin and Zeigler were closed by note.
S. W. Vance's account with Perrin and Zeigler for 1888 was closed by note.
After the dissolution of the commercial firm of Vance & Wyche the balance against this firm was charged to Vance, the plaintiff, with Vance's consent, the defendant contends.
Zeigler testifies that in July of that year the amount of plaintiff's indebtedness having increased more than he had anticipated that it would increase, for that reason other mortgages were taken.
In February, 1890, Zeigler says that plaintiff's indebtedness was so large that he requested a partial payment; that he, plaintiff, finally agreed to borrow an amount, and with that object in view they called on Jacobs, of the defendant bank, who consented to make the loan on the collateral security offered, provided Ziegler executed a note for the amount with the collaterals attached. He further states as a witness that he explained to the lender that it was not for himself but for the plaintiff, to enable him to make a partial payment. He says further that the ten thousand dollars in cash borrowed were received and placed to the credit of Vance & Wyche's account and a receipt given; that a short time afterward a statement was rendered to them showing that it was to their credit.
The plaintiff was present at this, interview; he denies, however, that the loan was for his account.
At the maturity of the note it was paid by the maker Zeigler and the collaterals were returned to him. Afterward, on the 7th of April, 1892, he gave the collateral security previously taken up by him to the bank as collateral to secure an indebtedness then incurred by Zeigler to the bank. Zeigler failed in 1892, a short time after this loan.
It is claimed in this suit on the part of the defendant that it has the right to compel Vance to pay the notes held by it as collateral security.
One of the grounds of defence is that the notes held by the bank were given Zeigler only to secure payment of advances to plaintiff for the year 1889.
That out of the crop of that year he shipped cotton sufficient to pay these advances and thereby satisfied the note and mortgage. Another ground of defence is, that without reference to the proceeds of the crop of that year Vance was not indebted to Zeigler on the 7th of April, 1892.
In stating the facts of the case it becomes necessary to return to the accounts and give consideration to the different items upon which balances are based.
Perrin and Zeigler's accounts rendered prior to March 11, 1888, show a balance due by Vance, which should have been charged, he urges, to Mrs. M. B. G. Vance, his mother, and plaintiff— i. e., half to each, as,they were partners for whom the payments had been made by Zeigler.
lb is claimed that he is entitled to other amounts as credits than those allowed in the accounts in evidence.
The amounts improperly charged as averred by plaintiff, Vance, are the following, viz.:
1888.
April 2 — 8. Sell, should be, it is contended, Wash. Vanee............................... $360 00
May 5 — 9. Miss Molly Vance........................................................................... 43 00
August 1 — 10. G. W. Senteli & Co., for Wash. Vance......................................... 200 00
November 10 — 11. G. W. Senteil & Co., for Wash. Vance................................ 250 00
November 5 — 13. Miss O. Vance, only one-third of amount charged, due by plaintiff, it is claimed................................................................................ 66 66
November 5 — 14. Interest................................................................................... 242 37
November 5 -15. Interest.................................................................................. 436 81
November 5 — 16. Interest............................................................................. 78 47
1889.
February 5 — 12. Interest....................................................................................... 200 50
$1,830 81
The witness Zeigler admits that all items charged in plaintiff's account as money remitted G. W. Senteil & Co. was to pay the expenses of plaintiff's brother, a minor, and that it should not have been charged to plaintiff, Vance. It was done, he says, through a misunderstanding of the book-keeper.
We will later recur to the other items of this account.
Taking up the account of 1889; here, also, it is charged that many of the items are not due by the plaintiff, and he claims that others should be placed to his credit. In addition to those carried in the name of Senteil & Co. for Wash. Vance, the following are claimed, as having been improperly charged:
November 27 — No. 19. M. B. G. Vance.............................................................. $60 80
September 12 — No. 22. Note due April 1, 1889, given in error for Perrin and Zeigler account......................................................................................... 3,800 66
September 12 — No. 23. Interest.................................................................;......... 318 92
September 12 — No. 24. Interest....................................................................... 222 90
The note stated will be considered later.
The only item not a remittance to Senteil & Co. for Wash. Vance is an entry November 7, No. 28: Remittance to Miss C. Vance.
To tbis item we have found no reference in tbe testimony.
The following are the items charged in 1891, which are, plaintiff alleges, erroneously charged:
January 20 — No. 29. Account of Vance & Wyche........................................... $1,766 1 8
" " " 30. Difference in interest........................................... 1.992 25
February 21. " 31. Interest on notes........................................................ 1,100 00
March 2. " 32. G. W. Senteil & Co..................................................... 200 00
" 25. 33. Miss Molly................................................................ 76 00
July " " 34. F. Jacobs, part on note........................................ 600 00
" " " 35. Interest...................................................................... 796 00
" " " 36. Miss Vance....................... 9 00
" " " 37. G. W. Senteil & Co., for Wash. Vance......................... 115 30
" " " 38. Interest....................................................................... 963 70
The Wash. Vance items were deducted in the account as having been erroneously charged.
.The question arises shall we deduct from the account of Zeigler all the items plaintiff asserts are incorrectly charged to his account, and charge him (Zeigler) with the amounts proven correct, for which he has not heretofore given plaintiff credit?
As to the latter, it does not admit of question; they must be charged.
It is a matter of detail that will receive attention in the decree.
As to the former,.the evidence is conflicting. It remains that the burden of proof is with the plaintiff, Vance, and that, with the exception of his own testimony on this point, the evidence sustains defendant's position.
The orders of Vance were not written so as to enable Zeigler to separate the items. On their face they were for the. account of the one by whom signed. Accounts were rendered, and no objection was made.
A meeting was held at the town of Benton in March, 1893. There were present at this meeting the plaintiff and members of his family. They were represented by counsel and no objection was made to these items. As to Wash. Vance's indebtedness it was explained by Zeigler as a witness that S. W. Vance would give orders to remit moneys to Wash. Vance. The former's indebtedness increased to such an extent that he inquired of S. W. Vance if those items were not properly chargeable to the account of Wash. Vance? He assented to a change, charging to the latter. At the meeting of 1893 these credits had been given to S. W. Vance, who did not claim any other credits.
This witness, Zeigler, further says that S. W. Vance always said that he was keeping these accounts against the before named members of his family, and that they owed him a great deal. He also states as a witness that he would have much preferred to charge those items to the mother and sister of Vance, as they were solvent and he had cause to fear that Vance was not. He was not given needful information to make such a charge, he did not know that the items were for them, but was led to believe by Vance that they were for his own account. This testimony is corroborated in part by that of the book-keeper who kept the books and made the entries of these items.
S. W. Vance testifies: "The debits on these accounts were for different things, such as improvements, items charged' erroneously on Zeigler's account and other things. It was goods that were charged to me and to Vance & Wyche that was for them. I kept an account in the books so that I would have a settlement with all of them."
As to the commercial firm (Vance & Wyche) there is evidence of record that the change in the account from Vance & Wyche to Vance was made with the consent of S. W. Vance; moreover, Vance was responsible for the whole debt without the necessity of any consent.
Vance knew that his creditor had pledged these claims and he never objected. He was, at least, present when the loan on pledge was discussed with the pledgee Jacobs. Zeigler and his pledgee acted upon the faith of the correctness of these charges.
Concluding upon this point, we quote from the testimony of S. W. Vance: "When we could get goods from Hicks & Co., and pay for them by orders on Zeigler, we would not inform him for whom we were getting tbe goods, but would make the proper charges on our books." Zeigler positively denies that he was ever informed of purchases for any other than the plaintiff himself.
The following items do not seem tobe disputed: Numbers 8 (as above), 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 21, 28.
As relates to item 22, the note is subject to the deduction of amounts erroneously charged; the same is true of item 29.
Item 39 also is erroneous. Interest on Zeigler's indebtedness to Jacobs, or to the defendant, should not be charged to the plaintiff. For the same reason item 34 is also erroneous.
The foregoing all relate to the account of Perrin and Zeigler transferred to the latter.
On another, the account (Abstract B) due Zeigler, growing out of transactions personal in character, there seems to be no dispute about the rent of December 1, 1887, (1) Coushatta plantation, year 1887, $166; December 11, (2) Coushatta plantation, $100; December 11, (3) one-third rent Haynes place, 1888, $150; January 1, (4) Improvement South Buck Hall. That is, that these items should, as erroneous, be deducted.
Item 5, January 1,1889, also for improvement of South Buck Hall, is admitted by Zeigler in answer to interrogatories.
Item 6 also should be corrected; February 26, 1889, by allowing credit to plaintiff on note transferred by Zeigler to Perrin; amount not credited and balance due on the note held by the succession representatives against Zeigler as maker.
Items 9 and 10 are charged on account, seem .to us correct, by plaintiff and cover December, 1889, rent Haynes place, $150; December, 1889, rent Coushatta, $70.
A credit of $12,000 is claimed for two notes, secured by mortgage given by Vance to Zeigler in 1891 in pledge by the holder to the Merchants and Farmers Bank. We do not find it possible to determine the value of these mortgage notes at this time.
The insolvency of the maker does not seem to be questioned and there is no evidence of record showing the value of the property.
The maker will be entitled to the credit remaining after his indebtedness will have been settled; for whatever balance there may be. It is not, in our judgment, chargeable against Zeigler or his transferee at this time. There is variance in the testimony relating to the deed of trust of land in Arkansas. We do not think that we would be justified in decreeing that plaintifr be credited at this time.
The value of the pledged property is not shown. After settling and paying the amount of his indebtedness the plaintiff will be entitled to the pledged property not applied to the payment of his debt.
It is admitted that plaintiff should be charged with thirteen hundred dollars rent for 1891, and a sum of five hundred and eleven dollars and eleven cents; amount of a judgment of Dreyfous & Oo. with which Zeigler should be charged, and which Vance does not contest.
The plaintiff has introduced testimony to prove that the notes held by the defendant had been given only to secure advances for 1889.
It will be borne in mind that ten thousand dollars was the sum borrowed and placed to plaintiff's credit, or to plaintiff and Wyche, the commercial firm. This loan plaintiff says was paid by shipment and sale by Zeigler of the crop of 1889, as acknowledged, he asserted, by Zeigler himself.
This position is controverted, and Zeigler denies that he made such an acknowledgment. As a naked original proposition, the testimony on this point is against him — plaintiff.
This acknowledgment in the course, as we understand, of a friendly conversation does not absolutely conclude the parties.
From the facts we gather that Vance did not demand his notes thus deposited as collateral; that he executed other mortgage notes for a large amount, and placed them in the hands of his creditors without any consideration whatever, unless it was to secure the indebtedness. The crop of 1889 amounted to about six thousand seven hundred dollars. The difference between the advance and the amount of the crop was due by the plaintiff.
The conclusion does seem reasonable that, as between the defendant and Zeigler, the former owns the latter's right on the accounts, notes and mortgage, and that for the balance due Vance, plaintiff is indebted to the defendant bank.
After the plaintiff will have secured all his rights, aud all proper deductions will have been made, it can not be of great concern to him whether he pays Zeigler or the defendant.
In calculating the interest, plaintiff complains of the amount of interest and of the compound interest charged.
These calculations were made years ago. We do not think we are authorized to strike out the interest entirely.
In making needful deductions to carry out our decree, the interest charged on the amount deducted must also be deducted.
In conclusion, our summary is:
Deduct items 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 12, 19, 29, 30, 33, 34, 36, 37.
That all interest charged on amount deducted be also deducted at the rate charged.
The plaintiff is entitled to credit of the following not given on accounts rendered:
1887.
December 1 — 1. One-sixth rent Coushatta, year 1887.............................................$166 00
1888.
December 2 — 2. One-sixth rent Coushatta, year 1888 . 100 00
December 2 — 3. One-third rent Haynes Place, year 1888........................... 150 00
1889.
January 1 — 4. Improvement South Buck Hall.................................................... 250 00
January 1 — 5. Improvement South Buck Hall................................................... 250 00
February 26 — 6. Credit which should have been given on the R. W. Vance
note:
Credit admitted on paper (R. 114,1-2)..................................... 436 00
Rent of Haynes Place (R. 114,1-2)............................................ 150 00
Rent of Coushatta...................................................................... 70 00
1892.
February 13-15. One-eighth purchase price Haynes Place............................... 604 00,
The following claims are allowed to defendant:
Rent note....................................................................................................... $1,300 00
Judgment Dreyfous & Oo..................................................................................... 511 11
The notes, each for $6000, secured by mortgage, given by Zeigler to Vance, and by Zeigler negotiated with Merchants and Farmers Bank, is left open with rights of parties reserved.
The deed of trust — lands in Arkansas — is left open also for future adjustment.
It is ordered, adjudged and decreed that the judgment appealed from is annulled, avoided and reversed.
It is ordered and adjudged that all items be' deducted as stated in the foregoing opinion; that proper credits be allowed as detailed above; interest, cost and balance of indebtedness fixed in accordance with the view herein expressed.
It is further ordered, adjudged' and decreed that the injunction be dissolved to the amount that the plaintiff is indebted to the defendant, after deductions as decreed; that it be made perpetual in so far as it enjoined the defendant from collecting an amount not due, as shown by balance fixed in accordance with view herein expressed.
The defendant to pay the cost of the lower court, and the plaintiff and appellee those of the appeal.