Court Opinion

ID: 9825630
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 13:49:23.900396+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:41:13.796599
License: Public Domain

McCulloch, C. J., (on rehearing). In the judgment of this court the cause was remanded for a new trial, instead of rendering judgment here on the undisputed evidence in favor of appellant. This course was pursued on the theory that appellee might be able to produce additional evidence tending to show that the draft was received by appellant from its customer merely for collection and not as the absolute owner. Appellant now moves for modification, so as to obtain judgment here for recovery of the amount of the draft. Appellee responds to the motion and states that he can, on a retrial of the issues, adduce testimony to the effect that a general custom existed in the city of Memphis among the banking institutions that drafts of this character were taken for collection. No other proof is offered. We do not think that is sufficient to help appellee’s defense, for the prevalence of such a custom could not affect this particular transaction, where the draft on its face became the property of the drawee, and the proof shows affirmatively that appellant received it as such. Southern Coal Co. v. Searcy Transfer Co., 152 Ark. 471. No useful purpose will be served by remanding the cause for a new trial, for, if it comes back here on appeal from judgment in appellee’s favor with no other testimony except that now in the record and the additional testimony offered, we would reverse the judgment as being unsupported by legally sufficient evidence, so the motion of appellant is sustained, and final judgment will be rendered here in appellant’s favor for recovery of the funds in dispute.