frsbog_mim_v34_0245.pdf
TRANSCRIPT
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C 0 > t
FEDERAL RESERVE BASK
0 ?
RICHMOND
X-6813.
February 4 , 1931 ,
Federal Seserve Board,
Washington,
D. G»
At ten t ion
Mr .
Walt er Hy at t, General Counsel.
Dear
M r.
Wyattj
I
enclose herewith
tw o
copies
of a
complaint
in a n
ac t ion
o f
W. I*
Skinner
a n d
Company
v .
Federal Reserve Bank
of
Richmond
and W. P.
Wright, Receiver
o f the
National Bank
of
Greenvi l le ,
N. C.
While
the
complaint does no t contain a complete description o f the check upon which
i t i s
"based,
i t
appears from
our
records that
on
December
8 , 1 930 , we r e -
ceived from
t h e
F i r s t
an d
Merchants National Bank
a
check
f o r
$4,748.53
drawn on the National Bank of Gr ee nv il le . This check was sent to the
drawee frank i n o u r cash le t ter o f t h e date mentioned, which contained checks
aggregating $27,289.01. The checks i n th is cash le t ter wi th th e exception
of those returned were cancelled and charged to the drawers on December 9 th
a nd the National Bank o f Greenville sent u s t h e usual s l ip o r receip t d i -
r e c t i n g u s t o charge i t s reserve accnmit with th e sum of $27,234.28, which
wa s the amount o f t h e checks contained in ou r cash le t ter less a few checks
returned unpaid. The check mentioned i n t h e complaint was not returned
unpaid.
The above mentioned authority t o charge was received by u s on
December 1 0 t h , probably a t o r about th e opening o f bus iness . At the open-
i ng o f business on December 1 0 t h t h e National Bank of Greenvil le had an
apparent ly avai lable balance i n i t s reserve account o f $17,903.96. No
ac t ion was taken on the au tho r i ty t o charge i t s reserve account with the
l e t t e r of December 8 t h because t h e account was not s u f f i c i e n t t o cover the
charge. During the day of December 10th we received cer ta in t ra nsf er s and
c r e d i t s f o r t h e account of the National Bank of Greenville which totaled
$8,820.43. $8,000.00 of t h i s sum appears to have been a credit made t o
t h e account o f t h e National Bank of Greenvil le b y a wire t ra ns fe r; $818.93
appears t o have been th e proceeds of a cash let ter deposi ted b y t h e National
Bank of Greenville which became available on tha t da y ; a nd $1 .50 appears
t o
have been
a
c r e d i t
f o r a n
exchange charge.
At 1:00 P. M. on
December
10th we
received
a
telegram sent from
Greenvil le
a t 12 :58 P . M .
advising
u s
t h a t
th e
National Bank
of
Greenville
was closedE. When t h i s te legram was received we had not charged i t s account
with th e amount o f th e cash l e t t e r of December 8 t h a n d the re fo re d i d n o t
do so bu t charged t h e amount of these checks back t o o u r endorsing banks i n
t h e u sua l n a y .
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X-6813
Subsequent
t o t h e
f a i l u r e
of the
National Bank
of
Greenvil le
a few returned, items were charged t o t h e reserve account, bat th e amount
of
such return items
was not
l a rge
and we at
present hold
a
reserve "balance
of
$26,625.00.
The National Bank of Greenvil le had rediscounted notes with,us
greatly exceeding
t h e
amount
of the
reserve "balance
and we - ha d
taken
no
margina l col la te ra l a s i t s borrowings had no t exceeded i t s "basic line*
The complaint i n th is ac t ion i s a s you w i l l s e e rather informal
and
does
not
ind ica te c lea r ly
th e
exact theory
of
l iabil i ty upon which
t h e p l a i n t i f f i n te nd s t o r e l y . The a t torneys who are br inging ac t ion, how-
ever, have a very good reputation, and I am inc l ined t o think that they
a r e
bas ing t he i r claim both upon
th e
so-called Malloy case
and t he
decis ion
i n t h e
Early case.
I
expect
t o
wr i t e
t o
them
and
ca l l the i r a t t en t ion
t o
t h e fac t tha t t h e Regulat ions of the Federal Reserve Board and our c i rcu-
lars have been radical ly al tered s ince those decis ions; but my pas t experi-
ence with lawyers i n North Carolina gives me l i t t l e r ea so n t o hope that
they will withdraw this suit before
a
t r i a l . They
d i d n o t
wri te
t o u s b e -
fo r e i n s t i t u t i n g t h e s u i t and so I d id no t have a n opportunity t o ca l l
the i r a t t en t ion t o o u r defenses .
I t seems very probable that this case will eventually depend
upon th e determination of the v a l i d i t y of Regulat ion J , Ser ies of 1930,
and may the re fo re be a case of far-reaching importance t o a l l Federa l r e -
serve ban ks. There
a r e , o f
course, many circumstances which make
i t u n -
fortunate that this sui t should be brought i n t h i s d i s t r i c t . I en te r t a in
no doubt of the v a l i d i t y of the present form of Regulation
J ,
b u t having
cvr ''past? t o live down, my arguments may be somewhat discounted by the
c o u r t .
I f
this case
i s
removed
t o a
federa l cour t ,
t h e
Circuit Court
of
Appeals of th i s c i rcu i t wi l l na tu ra l ly be on the a l e r t f o r a n y reasons
which may enable i t t o follow i t s own dec is ion. I f we leave th e case i n
th e
s ta te cour t ,
t h e
s tate court
of
North Carolina
may be
l ikewise incl ined
t o
fol low
t h e
Circuit Court
of
Appeals
and t he
Supreme Court
o f t he
United
Sta te s t o t he same result a s that reached i n t h e Early case without regard
t o t h e change in«the regulations.
We, of
course, could
n o t
determine whether
o r no t
th is sui t
should b e removed t o a federa l cour t a s i t could .only be removed on motion
of the r e c e i v e r . Of course, i n this case t h e rece ive r of the failed bank
and t he Federal Reserve Bank would have a common interest and I should be
disposed
t o
u n i t e
i n any
move made
by the
rece ive r ;
b u t
because
t h e
case
seems important a n d h a s some interesting angles besides th e bare questions
of law involved, I am immediately transmitting to you a copy of th e com-
p l a i n t i n order that you might study i t c a r e f u l l y . I t i s , of course,
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X S 8 1 3
unnecessary fo r me to sa y tha t a n y suggestions from y ou would be highly
apprec ia ted , a nd i f you consider i t wise t o send copies of the complaint
t o
Counsel
f o r
other Federal reserve hanks
a nd a sk
their opinion
as to
whether or ,not th is l i t igat ion should he handled a s a System matter, i t
would h e en t i re ly agreeable to me to have you do so*
With ki nd es t reg ards ,
I am
Very truly yours
t
( s ) M. G. WALLACE
Counsel.
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(
COPY
)
r s
X-6813-a
W THE SUPERIOR COURT
C O M P L A I N T
NORTH CAROLINA
MARTIN COUNTY
W. I. SKINNER & COMPANY, INCORPORATED
v s
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF
RICHMOND,
VIR-
GINIA, NATIONAL BANK
OF
GREENVILLE,
AND
W. P. WRIGHT, RECEIVER OF NATIONAL BANK
OF GREEUVlLLfi
P la in t i f f , compla in ing
of
defendants, al leges
n says
1 ; P l a i n t i f f i s a corporation* duly organized
under t h e laws o f t h e S ta te of Delaware, doing bu si ne ss i n t h e State
of North Carolina, with an o f f i c e a t Williamston in said State.
2 :
Defendan t Federa l Reserve Bank
o f
Richmond,
Virg in ia , i s a corporation, organized under t h e laws o f t h e United
Sta tes o f America, doing business i n North Carolina, with an o f f i c e
a t Charlotte.
3fc Defendant Nati ona l Bank of Greenville is a
banking corporation, organized under
t h e
laws
o f t h e
United States,
and W. P.
Wright
h a s
been appointed
a s
Receiver
f o r i t .
4; On December 6 , 1930 , p l a in t i f f d epo si t ed f o r
collection with Branch Banking & Trust Company, a banking corporation
organized under t h e laws o f t h e S ta te of North Carolina, a t Williams-
t o n , North Carolina, a check drawn by Person-Garrett Company, a V i r -
gin ia corporat ion ,
on i t s
account
in
National Bank
o f
Greenville.
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5: As p l a i n t i f f i s advised and b e l i e v e s , t h e
Branch Banking & Tr us t Company promptly t ra ns mi tt ed sa id check to
F i r s t & Merchants Nat io na l BaAk of Richmond f o r c o l l e c t i o n a s
agent f o r p l a i n t i f f , an d i t , a s agent f o r p l a i n t i f f , sen t sa id check
t o t h e Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond to be by i t c o l l e c t e d a s
agent f o r p l a i n t i f f .
6: As p l a i n t i f f i s advised and b e l i e v e s , F e d -
eral Reserve Bank of Richmond on December 8 , 1930 , mailed said check
d i r e c t t o t h e national Bank of Greenvil le f o r co ll e c ti on *and p a y -
ment,
b u t
c a r e l e s s l y
and
neg l igen t ly f a i l ed
to
r e q u i r e
a s a
condition
precedent t o t h e surrender a n d cance l l a t ion of said check that t h e
National Bank o f Gr een vill e should re ce iv e and transmit only money
i n
payment
of
said check.
7: As p l a i n t i f f i s advised and b e l i e v e s , N a-
tional Bank o f Greenvil le was insolvent when Federal Reserve Bank
o f
Richmond mailed
t o i t t h e
check
o f P e r
so n- Ga rr et t Company, which
f a c t was or should have been known t o t h e Federal Reserve Bank o f
Richmond.
8: As p l a i n t i f f i s advised a nd bel ieves, Nat ional
Bank of Greenvil le upon receipt o f the check given b y Person-Garret t
- -
Company
to
p la in t i f f cancel led sa id check
and
charged
t h e
same
to the
account of Person-Garrett Company, bu t due to th e c a r e l e s s a n d n e g l i -
gen t f a i lu re of defendant Federal Reserve Bank o f Richmond t o requi re
only money
to be
t r ansmi t t ed
i n
payment
of
said check, mailed
to F e d-
eral Reserve Bank
o f
Richmond
on
December
9, 1 930 , a
check
o r
l e t t e r
authorizing Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond to charge t h e amount of
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P
X-6813-a
t h e
check given plaint iff
to the
account
o f the
National Bank
o f
Greenville with Federal Reserve Bank
of
Richmond.
9 ; i s p l a i n t i f f i s advised and "believes, d e -
fendant Federal Reserve Bank,
on
December
10 , 1930 ,
received
t h e
check
o r
order from
t h e
National Bank
of
Greenvi l le d i rec t ing
F e d -
eral Reserve Bank
t o
charge
t o t h e
account
of
National Bank
o f
Green-
v i l l e t h e amount o f th e check given plaint iff by Person-Garret t
Company, but defendant Federal Reserve Bank wrongfully refused to
honor
and pay
said check
o r
other order
o f the
National Bank
of
Greenville, although,
a s
p l a i n t i f f
i s
advised
and
be li eve s, Nation-
a l
Bank
of
Greenvil le
had on
deposit
a n d t o i t s
credit with
t h e F e d -
eral Reserve Bank
o f
Richmond
a t t h e
time said check
o r
order
was
drawn an d mailed a sum more than s uf fi ci en t to pa y said check o r
order.
10; As
p l a i n t i f f
i s
advised
and
b e l i e v e s ,
d e -
fendant Federal Reserve Bank
of
Richmond
h a d
made loans
o r
r e d i s -
counted notes
f o r
National Bank
o f
Greenville, none
of
which were
due
when National Bank
o f
Greenville mailed
i t s
check
o r
order
to the F e d-
eral Reserve Bank o f Richmond, n o r were any of said notes due when
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond received said check o r order,
a s
p l a i n t i f f
i s
advised
and
be l i eves ,
b u t
Federal Reserve Bank,
a s
p l a i n t i f f
i s
advised
and
be l i eves ,
on th e
same
day
t h a t
i t
received
t h e
check
o r
order
o f
National Bank
o f
Greenville, charged against
t h e
account
o r
deposit owing
to
National Bank
of
Greenvi l le
t h e
notes given i t b y National Bank o f Greenvil le o r papers which ha d
been re-discounted
f o r
National Bank
of
Greenville, thereby caus-
ing an
o v e r -d ra f t
i n t h e
account
of
National Bank
o f
Greenvil le
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with Federal Reserve Bank, o r reducing t h e same to a sum i n s u f f i c i e n t
t o p a y t h e check o r o rd# sen t by National Batik 6f Greenvi l le t o
Federal
He
se rve Bank.
H i A s
p l a i n t i f f
i s
advised
and
b e l i e v e s ,
d e -
fendant Federal Reserve Bank
h a s i n
hand collateralsand notes more
than su f f i c i en t to discharge and pay any sums "borrowed from i t b y
National Bank of Greenvil le o r re-discounted with i t b y National
Bank o f Greenvi l le , a n d , a s p l ' i n t i f f i s advised and b e l i e v e s , t h e
a c t o f defendant Federal Reserve Bank i n chrrging against said d e -
p o s i t
t h e
notes given
b y
Rational Bank
of
Greenvil le
o r
re-discounted
by i t was wrongful and un lawful , o r i f Federal Reserve Bank ha d th e
r i g h t to charge t h e amount owing t o i t agains t t h e deposi t o f Nation-
a l Bank of G r e e n v i l l e , p l a i n t i f f , a s i t i s advised and b e l i e v e s , i s
subrogated
t o t h e
r i g h t s
o f
Federal Reserve Bank
of
Richmond
to the
c o l l a t e r a l a n d other papers held b y i t .
12$ As p l a i n t i f f i s advised and b e l i e v e s , the
defendants National Bank o f Greenvil le and W. P. Wright, a s Receiver,
claim
and
assert some interest
in
sa id co l l a t e ra l s
o r
make some
c o n -
tent ion with respect
t o t h e
moneys
on
deposit with
t h e
Federal
R e-
serve Bank o f Richmond, which rights, i f a ny , a r e subordinate to the
r i g h t s o f t h e p l a i n t i f f .
WHEREFORE p l a i n t i f f p rays tha t i t recover o f de -
fendant Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond th e sum of $4,748.53, with
i n t e r e s t ,
a n d
t h a t
t h e
amount owing
t o i t b e
declared superior
t o
a n y
claims which defendant National Bank
of
Greenvil le
or W. P.
Wright,
a s Receiver o f said Bank, may have against t h e Federal Reserve Bank
of
Richmond;
f o r
cos ts
and
such other
and
f u r t h e r r e l i e f
a s to the
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X-6813-a
Court may seem proper,
( s g d ) MacLean & Rodman
Attorneys
NORTH CAROLINA
MAHTIN COTOTY
J . E . King, being duly sworn, says: That he i s
Pres ident
o f W, I .
Skinner
&
Company, In co rp or at ed ,
t h e
above named
p l a i n t i f f ; t h a t t h e foregoing complaint i s t rue of h i s own knowledge
except
a s t o
those matters therein stated upon information
a n d b e -
l i e f , and as to those, h e be l ieves i t t o be true.
( s g d ) J . S .
King
Subscribed a nd sworn to befo re me
th is January 28 , 193 1.
(sg d) C. D. Carstarphen
Notary Public
My Commission Expires