t154
FEDERAL REPORTER.
WILSON
f,I'
SELIGMAN.
(Circuit Court, E. D. CORPORATIONS - STOCKHOLDERS SERVICE WITHOUT STATE.
E. D.
September 17. 1RSS.' NOTICE PERSONAL
PERSONAL LIABILITY -
A notice of an application under Rev. St. Mo. § 786, for an execution against a stockholder on a judgment against a corporation confers no jurisdiction of the person,. if served personally without the state.
At Law. James S. BottErJord, for plaintiff. James O. Brpadheadand John O'Day, for defendant. BREWER, J. Tbe facts in this case are these: Plaintiff, in the circuit court of the city of St. Louis, on April 2, 1883, recovered a judgment against the Memphis, Carthage l&; Northwestern Railroad Company, a. corporation created .under the laws of the state of Missouri, for $72,799.38. Execution 'was issued on .such judgment, and returned unsatisfied. On the 9th day of July, 1$83,a motion in writing was filed in the said court for an order directing the issue of an execution against tbis defendant as an alleged stockholder in such corporation, under the provisions of section 736 of the Revised Statutes. The defendant being a non-resident, and not found within the state, notice of this motion was serv,ed upon him personally in the state of New York, the place of his residence. Notice was also published by posting in the clerk's office in St. ,Louis. On the 3d day of December, 1883, defendant not appearing, the motion was sustained, and execution ordered in favor of the plaintiff against the defendant. Thereafter, on the 9th day of May, 1887, a suit was commenced in the circuit court of St. Louis by this plaintiff against this defendant upon such judgment and Ol'der; defendant, being within the state, was served personally. Thereupon the case was transferred to this court, and the single question now presented is whether the state court had jurisdiction of the person of the defendant, a non-resident of an¢! not found within the state, and served by personal notice in the state of New York. The effect of this proceeding, if sustained, is to subject a non-resident having no property within this state to a personal judgment when he is not served within the state, and only served by process going out of the courts in this state into the territorial jurisdiction of another. But for the fact that the defendant is alleged to have been at the time a stockholder in the corporation against which judgment was rendered, there would be no room for question. The case of Pennoyer v. Neff, 95 U. 8.714, would be decisive. In that case the court says: "But where the entire object of the action is to determine the personal rights and obligations .of the defendants, that is, where the suit is merely .in perBOnam, constructive service in this form upon non-resident is ineffectual for any purpose. Process from the tribunals of one state cannot run into another state, and summon parties there domiciled to leave its territory and respond to proceedings against them. Publication of process or notice within
WILSON ?J. SELIGMAN.
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the state wherein the tribunal sits cannot create any greater obligation upon Process sent to him out of the state, and process a non-resident to pUblished within it, are equally ineffectual in to establish his personalliability. " But the argument is that a corporation derives all its franchises and powers from the state of Missouri, and that in creating such corporation the state has prescribed the liability of all its stockholders, and the methods of enforcing such liabilities; that whoever takes stock in such corporation takes it subject to such conditions, and assents to the enforcement of liability in the manner prescribed; that the circuit courts of the state of Missouri are courts of general original jurisdietion, and their findings upon the jurisdictional fact that the defendant was a stockholder cannot be collaterally questioned. Elaborate briefs have been filed pro and con. If I do not enter into any extended discussion it is not because the field is not ample, llnd authorities abundant, but because from the amount in controversy, and the past history of similar litigation, I know the case will go to the supreme court, and extended discuss.ion here would be superfluous. I am content to simply state my views. In the light of Pelllloye:r v. Neff, process issued from the courts in this state has no potency outside of its territorial limits. Before any adjudication can be made against a party that party must 1?e subject to the jurisdiction of the court. Before the court has any authority to inquire whether defendant is a stockholder, it must have him in court. No adjudication, even of the matter of jurisdiction, can affect a party who is not before the court. There is no presumption here from the silence of the record in favor of the judgment of a court of general jurisdiction, for the manner of service is disclosed. It may be as a matter of fact defendant was a stockholder, though that fact is denied; but the same argument which would sustain this judgment against defendant would sustain a similar judgment a,gainst any man, living wheresoever he might, upon whom plaintiff might see fit to serve notice, and against whom he might make some prima ja.cU showing. So far as all interests which llny stockholder may have in a Missouri .corporation lire concerned, they may be reached by processa,gainst the corporation, served in any manner or at any place that the state may authorize; but, so far as any personalliabiliiy is concerned, it cannot be adjudged against any individual until the fact that he is a stockholder is determined by some competent tribunal having previously thereto acquired jurisdiction of his person. With these views, judgment must be entered for the defendant.
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FEDERAL REPORTER. MCCONVILU.tI. GIUvIOUR et al., (two cases.) Oircuit Oourt, S. D. Ohio, W. D. August 2fi, 1888.)
NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS-AcTJONS-PLEADING-DENIAL OF PARTNERSHIP.
An answer to a petition on partnership promissory notes, which sets out that, "not having access to the notes," defendants deny "all allegations thereabouts. "does not put in issue the partnership. The denial must be, whether general or specific, so certain that a prosecution for perjury would lie upon it, if untrue.
At Law. This is a suit upon notes aggregating $36,160, by the agent of the insolvent Metropolitan National Bank of Cincinnati against H. C. Gilmour & Co., composed of H. C. Gilmour and Louisa Gilmour. The petition is as follows: UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT, SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO, WESTERN DIVISION. James McOonville, Receiver of the Metropolitan National Bank of Oincinnati, Ohio, Plaintiff, vs. Henry O. Gilmour and Louisa Gilmour, doing business under the jl1'm name of Henry O. Gilmour & 00., Defendants. PETITION. Now comes the plaintiff, James McConville, and says that he is the duly-appointed and qualified receiver of the Metropolitan National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio; which was a corporation organized under the banking laws of the United States, and that as such receiver he is now engaged in winding up the affairs of said bank, and for which purpose this suit is brought. And he further says that he is a citizen and resident of the Southern district of Ohio. Plaintiff says that the said defendants, Henry C. Gilmour and Louisa Gilmour, doing business under the firm name of Henry C. Gilmour &; Co., are citizens and rellidents of the Southern district of Ohio, and of the Western division t.hereof. Plaintiff further says that he is the holder and owner for value of a certain note of which the defendants, Henry C. Gilmour and Louisa Gilmour, doing business under the lirm name of Henry C. Gilmour & Co., are the makers and indorsers. [Here follows a description of the note.] . Second. And for second cause of action plaintiff says that he is the holder and owner for value of a certain note, of which the defendants, Henry C. Gilmour and Louisa Gilmour, doing Qusiness under the firm name of Henry C. Gilmour & Co., are the maktlrs and indorsers. [Here follow", a description of the note.] Wher6i!'ore plaintiff prays jUdgment against the. said defendants, Henry C. Gilmour and Louisa Gilmour, doing business under the firm name of Henry C. Gilmour & Co., in the sum of $;)6,160, with interest, etc., W. B. BURNET & J. E. BRUCE, Attys. for Piff. and for his costs. The answer is as follows: UNITED STA'l'ES CIRCUIT COURT, SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO, WESTERN DIVISION. James McOonville. of the Metropolitan Natiollal Bank of Oincinnati, Ohio, Plaintiff, vs. Henry C. Gilmour and Louisa Gilmour et al., Difendants. ANSWER. And now come the defendants, and for answer" to plaintiff's petition say: (1) They deny that said plaintiff is the duly-appointed and qualified receiver of the Metropolitan National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio; that as such receiver