GLENN V. M'ALLISTER'S EX'Ra.
883
the purpose of moving to quash the service and contesting complainant's right to sue it in this district. The question raised il:l not a new one in this circuit. Justice BREWER decided it in Booth v. Engine, etc., C,o., 40 Fed. Rep. 1. He held, in effect, that a corporation cannot be a resident, within the meaning of the judiciary act of 1887, of a state other than that in which it was incorporated. The same conclusion harl prior thereto been reached after careful consideration by Judge SHIRAS in Fales v. Railway Co., 32 Fed. Rep. 673. I understand the doctrine to be settled, for the present, at least, in this circuit, that a corporation can only be a resident and inhabitant of the state which creates it, and that it cannot change its residence or inhabitance by doing business or maintaining an office and agency in a foreign state, although it may be found there for the purpose of the service of process. And the same doctrine is adhered to in other circuits. National Typographic Co. v. New York Typographic Co., 44 Fed. Rep. 711, and citations. See, also, v. Murray, 43 Fed. Rep. 695; Bensinger S. A. Cash Register Co. v. National Cash Register Co., 42 Fed. Rep. 81, and Baughman v. Water- WOl'ks Co., 46 Fed. Rep. 4. I am aware tnat the question has been decided differently in other circuits, (Riddle v. Railroad Co., 39 Fed. Rep. 290; Zambl'ino v. Railmad Co., 38 Fed. Rep. 449; Miller v. J}Iining Co., 45 FecI. Rep. 345;) but I must adhere to the rule that has thus far been followed in this circuit. Undoubtedly, the present case is one in which the defendant might, by a general appearance, have waived its right to be sued in Connecticut, but it has not done so. Let the motion be sustained.
GLENN
v.
McAuISTER'S EX'R8
et at.
(Circuit Court, W. D. Virginia.
February 17, 1891.)
884
FEDERAL REPORTER,
vol. 46.
In Equity. John Howard and T. C. Elder, for plaintiff. W. W. Gordon and W. C. McAllister, for defendants. PAUL, J. This is a suit brought by John Glenn, trustee, of the National Express & Transportation Company, against thy executors and distributees of the estate of Thompson McAllister, deceased. The bill alleges that Thompf1on McAllister, about the 1st day of November, 1865. subscribed for 40 shares of the capital stock of the National Express & Transportation Company, of the par value of $100 for each of said shares; that at the time he subscribed for the stock aforesaid he paid to said company 1 per cent. on the amount of his said subscription; that on or about the 8th day of December, 1865, he paid to said company another call or requisition of 4 per cent. on the aforesaid subscription to the capital stock of said company; that on the 20th day of September, 1866, the said National Express & Transportation Company executed a deed of trust tor the benefit of its creditors; that by a dec-ree of the chancery court of the city of Richmond, in a suit therlJin pending in the name of Glenn's administrator, etc., against the National Express & Transportation Company and others, an assessment of 30 pel' cent. on the par value of each share was decreed against the holders of the unpaid capital stock of said com pany, and the said John Glenn, trustee, was directed to collect the same, and apply the proceeds to the payment of the debts of said company; and in an amended and supplemental bill it is alleged that, by a further decree in said cause of Glenn's administrator, etc., against the National Express & Transportation Company, rendered on the 26th day of March, 1886, by the circuit court of Henrico county, Va., to which the said cause had been removed, a further assessment of 50 per cent. on the par value of each share was decreed against the holders of the unpaid stock of said company; that no part of said assessments upon the unpaid stock of said Thompson McAllister hns ever been paid; and the bill prays for a decree against his estate for the alIJount thereof. The defendants file their answers to the original and amended and supplel,uental bills, in which they set up the following defenses: FYrst, that the demands are barred by the statute of limitations; second, the plea of nul tiel record, alleging that the whole of the proceedings in said cause in which the said decrees were rendered should have been produced and made part of plaintiff's original and amended and supplemental bills; third, that, even if Thompson McAllister was a stockholder in said company, he was released from all obligations as such stockholder, by reason of a compromise or compromises made by said company with other of its stockholders prior to the rendition of any of said decrees; and, fourth, the defencbnts deny that Thompson McAllister ever was a subscriber to the capital stock of said company. As to the first ground of defense, namely, the statute of limitations, which in Virginia, for money demands of this character, is five years, the record shows that the first assessment, of 30 per cent., was made by the decree rendered December 14,1880; a'J.d that the second assessment,
GLENN V. M'ALLISTER'S EX'RS.
885
of 50 per cent., was made by a decree rendered March 26, 1886; and that this suit was commenced on the 8th day of December, 1885. It is well settled that the statute of limitations does not commence to run, as against sUbscriptions to capital stock, payable as called for, until a call or its equivaltmt has been had. Hawkins v. Glenn, 131 U. S. 319, 9 Sup. Ct. Rep. 739; Lewis' Adm'r v. Glenn, 84 Va. 947, 6 S. E. Rep. 866; Lehman v. Glenn. (Sup. Ct. Ala.) 6 South Rep. 44. The first assessment made in this cause being on the 14th of December, 1880, and this suit being commenced within five years of that date, the plea of the statute of limitations cannot be sustained. As to the second ground of defense, namely, the plea of nul tiel record, alleging that the whole of the proceedings in said cause in which said decrees of assessment were rendered should have been produced and made part of plaintiff's original and amended and supplemental bills, the court is very clearly of opinion that it is not necessary that the whole of the record of the chancery cause of Glenn's administrator against the National Express & Transportation Company, in which the decrees were rendered on which this suit is based, should have been made part of the original and amended and supplemental bills in this suit. The decrees, which are made part of the original and amended and supplemental bills, are binding upon the stockholders, and are not open to collateral attack. They fix the liability of the stockholders for unpaid stock due to the corporation, and decree assessments for the payment of the same. These decrees themselves r.re conclusive on the stockholders as to all matters involved in the suit in which they were rendered, and no further part of the record is necessary, as e\"idence in this cause, to establish the liability of the defenriants. Hawkins v. Glenn, 131 U. S. 319, 9 Sup. Ct. Rep. 739. The following decisions clearly sustain this position: "A decree of partition being a necessary link in a chain of title. if the decree and the report of the commissioners appointed to divide the land on which the decree is based sufficiently designate the land referred to in the decree. they are competent evidence. without the production of the whole record." Wynn v. Hannan's Devisees, 5 Grat. 157. "On the trial of an action of debt OIl an injunction bond. extracts from the record of the injunction case. of the decrees in the cause. are competent and sufficient evidence without producing the whole record." White v. Clay's Ex'rs. 7 Leigh, 68. "It is not necessary that the administratrix of the high sheriff shall produce the whole record of the cause in which he was subjected to liability for the default of the deputy. It is sufficient to produce as much thereof as shows the fact. and in this case the judgment was sufficient; that and its recitals being prima facie eviuence against the deputy and his sureties." Cox v. 1'homas. 9 312. "The plea of nul tiel record brings before the court the validity of a judgment on Which an action is brought. and the description of it as set forth in the declaration." 24 Myer's Fed. Dec. 629, quoting Bergen v. Williams. 4 McLean, 125. "Nul tiel record can only put in issue the fact of the jUdgment." As to the question of the release of defendants on the ground that, before the rendition of any of the decrees,· compromises had been entered
886
into with a number of the stockholders of the National Express & Transportation Company. This de tense can have reference only to the decree rendered July 21, 1883, which decree provided that, by consent of parties to the cause in which it was rendered"John Glenn, trustee, on the payment to him within six months of thedate of this decree by any of the subscribers to the stock ofthe defendant company, or by any other person claimed to be lIable on account of said stock, of twenty-five per cent. of the original amount of said subscription, with interest thereon at the rate of six per cent. per annum from thirty days from the date of this decree, with any cost incurred heretofore, or by said trustee in any suit brought by him heretofore, or which may hereafter be brought, before tender of said twenty-five per cent. under this decree, to recover of such stocklJOlders or other party the amount for which he may be responsible on said stock under the decree in this cause, shall execute a receipt therefor to operate as a full acquittance and discharge of all persons on account of such subscriptions, both of the original subscri bel'S thereto and of any assignee thereof." This same question was presented before the supreme court of appeals of Maryland in the case of Hambleton v. Glenn, and decided adversely to the claim now made by the defendants in this cause, the court saying: "But the defendauts not only failed or refused, within the time prescribed, to avail themselves of the liberal offer of compromise and settlement authorized by the court, but they have not even made proffer by their plea to accept and comply with the terms of the decree. 'fhey allege that because some of the stockholders did elect to accept the terms of the settlement offered, and paid the amount specified, thereby other stockholders and' persons liable on the stock were released from all further liability. But is that the legal effect making offer of terms of settlement to everyone from this compromise alike who were liable on the stock of the We think not. The assessment made by the decree of December 14, 1880, was of a certain per cent. upon each and every share of stock; and each person liable therefor became severally liable, and not jointly liable with others. The failure to collect from some could not discharge others. All that each in(lividual stockholder could insist upon was that the assessment should be equal and uniform uponalJ the stock alike, and that it should not exceed what was required for the payment of the debts of the company. But these were questions for the chancery , court of Virginia, and they have bei'n finally detel'luined and adjudicated upon by the decree of Decemoer 14, 18i::lO, and there is no power in this court to review that decree. The compromise decree was entered nearly three yeal's after the assessment of the thirty per cent. per share was levied, and the liability of the defendants fixed, and there is noalJegation or pretense that the liability of defendants for the thirty per cent. call has been enlarged by the compromise effected with some of the stockholders. Moreover, the comproof the mise decree. of July 21, U:l83, did not suspend or stay the original decree of December 14,1880; but, in express terms, it declared that sllch original decree should not be slIspended in its operation. Each person liable upon the stock of the company had his right of election gi ven whether he would accept the terms of the compromise or not; but, until he did ac. cept and comply with the terms of tM decree, he remained bound for the as, sessment imposed by the original decree of December 14,1880." 20 At!. Rep . . 115. The court is of opinion that in this decision the supreme court of appeals of Maryland has correctly stated the law as applicable to this question.
GLENN V. lVI'ALLISTER'S EX'RS.
887
The on the holder is now
fourth and last g;round of defense to be considered is the denial part of the defendants that T4ompson McAllister was ever a stockin the National Express & Transportation Company. The law well established that-
"A person is presumed to be the owner of stock when his name appears on tha books of a company as a stockholder; and when he is slled as the burd..n of disprOVing that presumption is cast upon him." l'nrnbull v. Payson, 95 D. S. Glenn v. Sprin.gs. 26 :Fed. Rep. 494; Van!lerwe1'ken v. Glenn, 85 Va. 9, 6 S. E. Hep. 806; Glenn v. 01'1', (:::lUp. Ct. N. C.) 2:::l. E. Hep.
The court in the case last cited says: "The rule of evidence underlying this and similar decisions seems to be foull.1ed in convenience, and to rest upon the further ground that coqlorations in this country are the cI"eatures of statute. with prescribed rights and powers. snlJject, to an important extent, to pUblic control and supervision, and are ther\'fore to exercise their powers as allowed and requit"ed by law, and to keep their records accordingly and truly."
The evidence shows that the name of Thompson McAllister appears upon the books of said National Express & Transportation Company; that an assessment of 1 per cent. upon the par value of each share was paid at the time the 40 shares of stock standing in his name were sub.scribed for; and that an additional assessment of 4 per cent. upon the par value of each of said shares was paid, as called for, 011 the 5th of December, 1865; the latter, as the evidence shows, being paid by check .of John Echols, who, as the evidence shows, was a particular friend of cSaid Thompson McAllister, which check embraced the assessments of .said Echols and Samuel C. Luddington and said Thompson McAllister. To disprove the presumption that said Thompson McAllister was a stockholder in said com pany, the defendants introduced testimony proving that the name of said Thompson McAllister, on the original capital stock subscription list of said company, was not in the handwriting of .said Thompson McAllister. The evidence shows that it was in the handwriting of-Po T. Moore, then secretary of said company. The entries .upon the books of said company, which refer to the account of said 'Thompson McAllister as a stockholder in said company, are all proven to ,be in the handwriting of J. V. H. Allen, who succeeded the said P. T. Moore as secretary, and was also treasurer of said company. In some 'of said entries, subsequent to the first entry of December 15, 1865, the name is written "Thompson C. McAllister," the "C." being crossed out; but the name is manifestly that of the same person, the Christian name Thompson being an unusual one, and the insertion of the initial letter "C." being merely inadvertent. The only other evidence offered by the ,defendants is the deposition of William M. McAllister, one of the executors of the said Thompson McAllister and defendant in this cause. .His testimony is objected to by the plaintiff as inadmissible under the provisions of section 851, Rev. St. U. S.; but, if admitted, it is merely of a llegative character, and could not disprove the presumption that said Thompson McAllister was a. stockholder in said Natiollal Express ,& Transportation Company; it being proved that all the entries relating
888
FEDERAl, REPORTER,
to his being a stockholder in said company were regularly made, ih due course of business, by the proper officersof said company. The court is of opinion that the estate of said Thompson McAllister is liable for the unpaid assessments upon the 40 shares of the capital stock of the said National Express & Transportation Company subscribed for by him, and a decree will be entered accordingly.
KIMBALL
et al. v.
ATCHISON,
T. & S. F. R. Co. et at.
(Circuit Court, E. D. Jfissouri, E. D. June 6, 1891.)
1.
RAILROAD COMPANIES-AcQUISITION OF COMPETING ROAD.
Rev. St. Mo. § 2569, which prohibits any railroad company within the state from owning, operating, or managing any other parallel or competing railroad within the state, applies only where both the roads are situated within the state, and the competition between the two must be of some practical importance, such as is liable to have an appreciable effect 011 rates.
2.
SAME.
Two railroads which do not touch at IIny two common points, and between which for a distance of 40 miles another railroad is interposed, and whose traffic. except an unimportant amount, would in no event pass over the other, are not competing lines, within the meaning of the statute.
8.
Section 2569. Rev. St. Mo., was intended to give full effect to section 7, art. 12, Const. Mo., and inasmuch as it did not satisfactorily appear that the legislature had either misconstrued or failed to give full effect to the constitution, held, that the court would not grant a preliminary injunction based on a construction of the constitution different from that adopted by the legislature of the state.
In Equity. On motion for preliminary injunction. Rev. 81. Mo. §2569, provides as follows: "It shall be unlawful for any railroad company, corporation, or individual owning, operating, or managing any railroad in the state of Missouri, to enter into any contract, combination, or association, or by any manner of means Whatever consolidate the stock, property, or franchises of such company, corporation, or individual, or to lease or purchase the works or franchises of, or in any way whatever to any degree exercise control over, any railroad company, corporation, or individual owning or having under his or their corotrol or management a parallel or competing line in this state; but each and every such railroad. whether owned, operated, or managed by a company, corporation, or individual, shall be run, operated, and managed separately by its own officers or agents, and be dependent for its support on its own earnings from its local and through business, in connection with other roads, and the facilities and accommodations it shall afford the public for travel and transportation under fair and open competition.... Laws 1887, p. 102.
Const. Mo. art. 12, § 17, provides: "N 0 railroad or other corporation, or the lessees, purChasers, or managers of any railroad corporation, shall consolidate the stock, property, or franchises of snch corporation with, or lease or purchase the works or franchises of, or in any way control, any railroad corporation owning or haVing under its control a parallel or competing line; nor shall any officer of sU'Ch railroad corporation act as an officer of any other railroad corporation owning or having the