Higgs v. Sperry, 139 N.C. 299 (1905)

Oct. 17, 1905 · Supreme Court of North Carolina

139 N.C. 299

HIGGS v. SPERRY.

(Filed October 17, 1905).

Motion to Dismiss — Duty of Gourt — Foreign Corporations, Service of Process Upon — Traveling Auditor — Local Agent.

1. Upon a motion to dismiss an action for want of service, the complaint is not properly before the court.

2. Upon a motion to dismiss an action for want of service, the judge should find the facts and not simply find that all of the facts set out in the several affidavits are true.

3. Under section 217 of The Code, a traveling auditor of a foreign corporation, which had ceased to do business in the State, is not an officer upon whom process can be served.

4. A traveling auditor of a foreign corporation, who presented an account to the plaintiff and requested payment to himself, but received no money and presented the account without authority, is not a “local agent” (under section 217 of The Code) for the purpose of service of summons.

ActioN by Sherwood Higgs & Co. against Sperry & Hutchinson Co., heard by Judge Fred Moore, at the April Term, 1905, of the Superior Court of Waice County.

In this action summons was issued March 21, 1905, and returned with the following endorsement thereon: “Eeceived March 22, 1905. Served March 22, 1905, by leaving a copy with E. E. Anthony, Auditor of Sperry & Hutchinson Co.,” signed by the sheriff of Guilford County. At the April Term, 1905, of the court, the plaintiffs filed their complaint. At the same term, counsel for defendant entered a special appearance and moved, (1) To set aside the service of summons on E. E. Anthony. (2) To dismiss the action for want of service. The motion was made and heard upon the summons and return thereon and affidavits. Thomas E. Sperry made an affidavit in which he stated that he was president of the defendant corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New Jersy, having its principal office in New York City. That prior to the 20th day of February, 1905, the company had sold and closed out all of its business in North Carolina, and had not, since that day, carried on any business therein. That prior to said day said company discharged all of its employees in said State and closed up its business with the exception of the sum of $115, due to said company from plaintiff. That on the 22nd day of March, 1905, said Anthony was transiently in the State of Forth Carolina. That prior to said day said Anthony had • been engaged in inspecting, adjusting and closing the accounts and books of said company in said State, and prior to said date he had completed said work and reported the conclusion thereof to said company and been ordered to proceed to Baltimore to make an inspection of the books of said company at that point. That said Anthony is one of the traveling auditors of said company and his only duties are to inspect and rexDort to the home office the condition of the books, etc., in the various towns in which said company does business. That it is no part of said Anthony’s general duty to collect moneys or to enter into contracts on behalf of said company. E. E. Anthony filed an affidavit substantially of the same import as that of Sperry. He admitted sending a bill to the plaintiffs containing a statement of their account, asking a remittance of the amount due thereon to him at Greensboro, but denied that he had any authority to collect the same. Plaintiff, Sherwood Higgs, filed an affidavit setting forth the. receipt of the bill of defendant company on March 19, 1905, with the request that the amount thereof be remitted to said Anthony at Greensboro. That some communication was had with said Anthony over the ’phone, etc. The complaint was also offered as an affidavit. His Honor, upon the hearing, found that the facts set forth in the affidavits of Sperry, Anthony and Higgs were true. lie did not consider tbe com-jjlaint. Tbe motion was granted and plaintiffs duly excepted and appealed.

Robert G. Strong and G. B. Denson for tbe plaintiffs.

Shepherd & Shepherd and W. II. Pace for tbe defendant.

CoNHOR, J.,

after stating tbe facts: Ijl this court plaintiffs’ counsel insisted tbat Ilis Honor should bave considered' tbe complaint upon tbe motion. While we do not think that tbe complaint upon motion to dismiss for want of service, is properly before tbe court, we bave examined it and find nothing affecting tbe merit of tbe motion to dismiss. It is also insisted tbat tbe affidavits of Sperry and Anthony are conflicting. It will be noted tbat His Honor does not find tbe facts upon which bis judgment dismissing tbe action is based — he simply finds tbat all of tbe facts set out in the several affidavits are true. We are of tbe opinion tbat be should bave found tbe facts, which would bave been conclusive. If we discovered any substantial contradiction between the several affidavits, it would be our duty to remand tbe case to tbe Superior Court- for tbe purpose of finding tbe facts so that upon appeal we would simply pass upon tbe question of .law presented. While tbe criticism of plaintiffs’ counsel is ingenious we do not think tbat in so far as tbe two vital questions— whether the defendant was on the ,22nd of March, 1905, doing business in this State or whether Anthony was such an officer or agent of tbe corporation as contemplated by the statute for tbe service of summons — are concerned, there is any substantial variance. The criticism tbat they are not worthy of credit or disingenious, is not open to us. Tbe statute, Code, 217, provides tbat service of summons may be made upon a corporation by delivering a copy thereof to the president or other bead of the corporation, secretary, cashier, treasurer or director, managing or local agent thereof: Pro vided, That any person receiving or collecting moneys within this State for or on behalf of any corporation of this or any other State or government shall be deemed a local agent for the purpose of service of summons. In respect to a foreign corpqration, service can be made only when it has property within this State or the cause of action arose therein, or when the plaintiff resides in this State or when such service can be made within the State personally upon the president, treasurer or secretary thereof. As the defendant company, a foreign corporation, had ceased to do any business in this State on the 22nd of March, 1905, it would seem clear that service could be made only upon the officers named in the statute. We do not think a traveling auditor, such as Anthony was found to be, is such an officer. If he was to be considered as a local agent he expressly denies that he received, or was authorized to collect or receive money for the corporation and His Plonor has found this to be true. It is said that if the service be upon any person connected with the corporation who would probably apprise the managing officers of such service, it is sufficient. This suggestion would appeal to the Legislature in providing for service on corporations, but cannot justify us in straining the language of the statute beyond its natural and proper meaning. It is sometimes difficult to define the terms “managing or local agent” as applied to corporations, but in this case it is not claimed that Anthony was a managing agent, and the finding of the judge excludes the idea that he received or collected money. It is true that he presented an account to the plaintiffs and requested payment to himself, but he received no money and says that he presented the account without authority, and His Honor so finds. Clinard v. White, 129 N. C., 250, is clearly distinguishable from this case. The person upon whom the service was made was clearly a “managing agent.” In Moore v. Bank, 92 N. C., 590, the court simply held that an attorney of a foreign corporation was not an agent upon whom process could be served. Jester v. Packet Co., 131 N. C., 54, beld that when the president of such corporation was in the State, service could be made upon him. See Womack’s Pr. Corp., 656. The conclusion which we have reached is in harmony with the decisions in New York, where the statute is substantially as ours, as shown by the cases cited in the brief.

The judgment must be

Affirmed.