Court Opinion

ID: 4499216
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-01-23 18:16:21.378116+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:49:29.529604
License: Public Domain

GeatjpneR and Phillips,
dissenting: As the only two members of the Board who heard all of the testimony in this appeal, we feel it incumbent on us to express our opinion that the satisfactory evidence in this appeal does not justify the decision of the Board. It is true that certain incidents disclosed by the record may be considered as raising suspicions, but, on the other hand, these same incidents are susceptible of a different interpretation. From the conclusions formed by us, after hearing all of the testimony and seeing the witnesses on the stand, we do not believe the evidence sufficient to support a finding that the sale from the taxpayer to Bockus was not tona fide, or that the taxpayer was guilty of fraud.
The Commissioner relied upon the testimony of two revenue agents for the purpose of impeaching the testimony of Bockus. We are agreed that it is too evasive and too contradictory to be worthy of belief. As we observed their conduct on the witness stand, we were impressed with the belief that they were overanxious to convict the taxpayer and too willing to make damaging deductions from small incidents. But apparently some weight has been given their testimony in the prevailing opinion, which refers to the testimony of “ other witnesses ” than McCandless and Bockus.
Regarding the sale, the evidence shows beyond a doubt that the stock was assigned and the note was given in December, 1921, that the price was fair, that Bockus took the stock into his possession, had it transferred to his own name, and held the certificate therefor in his own possession and control until he was required to surrender it to the trustee of his estate in bankruptcy. There is no evidence that Bockus held the stock in the capacity of trustee or agent for the taxpayer. On the contrary, we have absolute denials of such relationship from both the parties. There is no evidence to show that the taxpayer exercised or attempted to assert any control over or right to possession of the stock after its delivery by him to Bockus. The fact that Bockus had frequently acted as broker in the purchase or sale of securities for the taxpayer raises no presumption that in this case he was not operating on his own account. Nor do the incidents of Bockus going into involuntary bankruptcy, without *8setting forth the stock in question in the schedule filed by him, or of the taxpayer failing to file a claim in bankruptcy on the note held by him, raise any presumption of the relationship of trustee and trustor between them. The individual actions of Bockus should not be permitted to reflect on the actions and attitude of the taxpayer, unless collusion was proven, which it was not.
Bockus was declared an involuntary bankrupt on the petition of creditors in Honolulu, while he resided in San Francisco. The schedule was prepared in Honolulu and sent to Bockus, and he signed it as thus prepared. Other assets and liabilities were omitted from the schedule, including Bockus’ home in Honolulu and debts due from him secured by mortgage thereon. Many creditors fail to file claims in bankruptcy where the futility of collection is apparent, and there is no reason to distinguish the taxpayer from other creditors. It must be borne in mind that the taxpayer was traveling about the United States on matters wholly unrelated to his business in Honolulu during all of the period over which the so-called suspicious circumstances were spread, and he was paying little or no attention to his affairs at home. This circumstance might more readily account for his failure to demand payment of the note from Bockus than as assumed evidence of Bockus being agent for the taxpayer.
The payment by the taxpayer of the assessment on all of the stock owned by Bockus was not, in our opinion, evidence of other than a generous and over-indulgent attitude on the part of the taxpayer toward the man he considered as a friend. Apparently, these loans were made as a matter of course, without any thought of the status of the stock ownership. The taxpayer loaned money to others, who never had purchased any stock from him, with which to pay these same assessments. It may be that Bockus was unworthy of this friendship, but his conduct, unless in collusion with the taxpayer, should not influence the decision of this appeal.
Stress is laid upon the financial condition of Bockus. All of the evidence in the appeal is to the effect that, in December, 1921, when the transaction took place, Bockus was solvent, although pressed for cash to use in his business. It was not until a year later that bankruptcy proceedings were instituted, and this came about by reason of the failure of a company in which Bockus was financially interested.
We believe that from the evidence the transaction between the parties was a sale and that the taxpayer is entitled to the deduction claimed. We further believe that there is no evidence to warrant any finding of fraud.