The complainant files this bill claiming a lien on corporate stock by virtue of section 9 of their charter, for debts due the corporation from Amasa Sprague, William Sprague, Fanny Sprague, and Mary Sprague, and the A. W. Sprague Manufacturing Company, the latter a corporation, the respondents being stockholders in the complainant company.
The claim is for an indebtedness growing out of a contract made between the latter corporation, in which the other respondents were also stockholders, and the complainant corporation, made December 18, 1873.
The A. W. Sprague Manufacturing Company being embarrassed, the Quidnick Company agreed to furnish the former "the necessary means, stock, and supplies for running their mills and print works, so long as this contract shall continue in force."
The secure the Quidnick Company, the goods were to be consigned in their name, and the proceeds of sales applied to pay expenses and all advances made by them, including a commission, and the balance to be paid to the A. W. Sprague Manufacturing Company.
The claim made in this bill is only for an indebtedness growing out of this contract, and not as in other pending suits for any old debt, or for any indebtedness growing out of the use of their funds by the A. W. Sprague Manufacturing Company, or by the trustee.
In an opinion already given in Quidnick Company v. Chafee,ante, p. 375, I have given some of my reasons for holding that under this contract an indebtedness might arise from the A. W. *Page 441 Sprague Manufacturing Company and from the trust estate to the Quidnick Company.
It is very plain, not only from the surrounding circumstances but from the words of the contract itself, that this was not a mere stocking contract. The Quidnick Company was not only to furnish the stock, but all "necessary means and supplies" for running the mills. This of course included the money for payment of help and all incidental expenses.
In the next place, the answer of Chafee, so far as it has any effect, admits that while the Quidnick Company took the risk of their commission, in case of a loss they had a claim against somebody; but he claims that it was against the A. W. Sprague Manufacturing Company, and not upon the trust estate. The answer was, no doubt, carefully drawn by counsel and signed by Chafee, and shows the construction put by them upon the contract. The bill alleges that the funds of the Quidnick Company were used to keep up and carry on the extensive business and operations of the A. W. Sprague Manufacturing Company, and while the answer denies the amount of indebtedness alleged, it admits an apparent indebtedness, and contends that the goods, if sold at a fair value, will pay this indebtedness, but that the true state of the accounts cannot be ascertained until the goods are sold, and a final account taken.
And the fact that the point upon which the majority of the court have decided was not raised at the hearing by the very able counsel engaged for the respondent, but that the case was argued upon both sides upon the construction I have put upon the contract, seems to me to be entitled to great weight.
The answer denies the lien under section 9 of the Quidnick Company's charter, and claims the same benefit from this defence as if taken by demurrer. Section 9 of the charter provides that the stock of every stockholder "shall at all times be pledged and liable to said corporation for all debts and demands due or owing from such stockholder to said corporation, whether the same are overdue or due and payable at a future day," c.
As to the proper mode of making a defence resting upon a point of law, whether by answer or demurrer, see the case ofAllen v. Woonsocket Company, 11 R.I. 288, 290. *Page 442
The point raised is that the charter liability of a stockholder of a corporation, which corporation is a stockholder in another corporation, is not such a liability as is covered by the provisions in the charter of the latter.
The respondent, Chafee, also by answer sets up a waiver of the charter lien, by the Quidnick Company having allowed certain transfers of the stock to be made upon their books, and the benefit of this is claimed as if pleaded.
The first question upon this would be, is the plea a good defence, if true? If this question was settled in favor of the respondents, the question would then arise, whether the stock of the respondents has ever been transferred by them or by any attorney or agent properly authorized, c., c.
As the case is decided upon another point, there is no need of expressing an opinion upon these matters.
Decree dismissing bill with costs, entered November 5,1881.