Court Opinion

ID: 7117661
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 12:34:26.95307+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:49:16.549615
License: Public Domain

Evans, J.
The defendant was the owner of the private bank known as the Farmers Security Bank, doing business at Percy, Marion County, Iowa. The bank was in direct charge of a cashier. The defendant lived upon a farm in the near vicinity. The bank had been in operation about five years. The defendant was a large borrower therefrom. On the 24th day of September, 1914, he made an assignment for the benefit of his creditors. On the afternoon of the same day, the said bank, through its cashier, accepted a deposit of $750 from one Cowman. The indictment is based upon this particular transaction.
The one point urged upon appeal is that the evidence is insufficient to warrant a finding by the jury that the defendant knew of the insolvency of the bank at the time of such deposit. It appears that the financial status of the bank, as it appeared upon its books, was that there were assets of about $17,000 and liabilities of $18,000. The assets included a $5,000 note of the defendant himself; also about $2,000 of other worthless paper; also padded items of valuation of other property, particularly the bank building and fixtures. Particular stress is laid by appellant upon *907the claim that he was the owner of a farm of 420 acres, encumbered for $19,000. Witnesses testified in his behalf that the farm was worth from $95 to $125 per acre. Witnesses on behalf of the State testified that the farm was worth not more than from $55 to $65 per acre. Defendant’s claim of innocence rests wholly upon the alleged margin of value, or equity, in this farm. Strictly speaking, the defendant had no farm. He did have an option to .purchase this farm for the price of $19,000. It does.not appear that he ever exercised the option, or that he ever realized on it in any way. It was largely rough, untillable land, in Monroe County. Its value was largely speculative, in that borings therein indicated a vein of coal, of more or less value. Indisputably, the defendant and his bank were not able to pay, in the ordinary course of business. Even if it had been possible to realize out of this-' land, in time, sufficient to pay all of the debts, it would not have relieved the defendant from the charge of present insolveficy. It would be a circumstance in his favor, as bearing upon the question of his belief or knowledge of his insolvency, and nothing more." State v. Cadwell, 79 Iowa 432; Tooxey v. Ayrhart, 136 Iowa 694.
We do not find in this case even the mitigation that there was subsequently realized out of the property sufficient to pay the debts, or a substantial part thereof. On the contrary, practically nothing had been realized at the time of the trial. 'Proof of the defendant’s consciousness or actual knowledge of his insolvency is almost necessarily circumstantial. We think the circumstances appearing in this record are quite abundant, and very persuasive, to sustain the finding of the jury. We think, therefore, that the motion for a new trial on that ground was properly overruled. The judgment below must be — Affirmed.
Gaynor, C. J., Ladd and Salinger, JJ., concur.