The State v. Kusnick. THE STATE v. KUSNICK. Criminal Law-Embezzlement by cashier and owner of stock in unincorporated banking association. An agent and cashier of an unincorporated banking association, whose capital is divided into shares evidenced by certificates thereof, having, by virtue of his employment by a board of directors pursuant to articles of association, the exclusive custody of its assets, who fraudulently converts its property to his own use, is guilty of embezzlement; although he is one of its shareholders. (Decided February 21, 1888.) EXCEPTIONS of the prosecuting attorney of Darke county, to the ruling of the court of common pleas, on the trial of the defendant upon an indictment for embezzlement. James C. Elliott, prosecuting attorney, and Meeker, Bowman & Meeker, for the state. 1. Kusnick was an employe within the meaning of the statute. Subject to the supervision of the board of directors, he had entire control of the affairs of the bank, and was required to and did account to them, and not to the stockholders. Hence he was clearly within the terms and meaning of section 6842 of the Revised Statutes; Campbell v. State, 35 Ohio St. 75; 2 Whart. Crim. Law (8 ed.) sec. 1015, n. That Kusnick was the employe and agent of the board of directors is further apparent from the rule that the board would be responsible to the bank for the fraudulent and willful mismanagement of its affairs by him. Allen v. Curtis, 26 Conn. 455; Delano v. Gardner, 18 Week. L. Bull. 35. It was confidence reposed in Kusnick by the board of directors that secured to him his position. His employment gave him the right to the possession of the property embezzled. His embezzlement was a betrayal and violation of the trust reposed. 2. The property embezzled by the defendant and converted to his own use, came into his possession and control by virtue The State v. Kusnick. of his employment, and not by any right, power, or privilege, that arose by reason of the fact that he was de facto or nominally a partner, a member of, or interested in the bank. The fact that he held a certificate of stock gave him no authority to act in the affairs of the bank or to the possession of its property or assets. 3. Kusnick was the employe and agent of a person within the meaning of sction 6842, as the word " person," when used to designate the owner of property the subject of any offense, includes not only natural persons, but every other owner of property. Section 6794, Revised Statutes. 4. But it is claimed that inasmuch as Kusnick had a certificate of stock, he was a partner, and that in embezzling and converting the property to his own use, he simply took and enjoyed that which was his own. al. The rule contended for does not apply to those business; organizations wherein no member thereof has any right to ex ercise control and authority except by virtue of an employ ment; but only that class of partnerships wherein each mem ber of the firm exercises a control and management of the affairs of the partnership by virtue of his being a partner and independent of any employment to act in the affairs of the business. 2 Whar. Crim. Law, sec. 1015. V 1 the b. The claim that inasmuch as Kusnick, in addition to his salary, was entitled to a dividend out of the profits on his share of stock, that therefore he was a joint owner of the property he embezzled, and not an employe or agent, finds no authority in law. Campbell v. State, 35 Ohio St. 70, 75. C. Before Kusnick could be absolved from criminal liability, it must appear that he was in possession of the property embezzled as a partner, and not by virtue of any employment. Alfele v. Wright, 17 Ohio St. 238, 242. d. The Versailles Exchange Bank was neither a partnership, nor a corporation. It was a joint stock company, and though not so designated, the facts were all set forth in the indictment. Lindley Part. 542, 1085; Parsons Part. 561, 564. In Ohio any officer, agent, clerk or servant of any joint stock company may be convicted of embezzlemeut. 66 Ohio The State v. Kusnick. L. 29. The revision of that statute must receive the same conAllen v. Russell, 39 Ohio St. 336, 337. struction. John C. Clark, contra. To constitute embezzlement the property embezzled must be the property of another. 1 Whar. Crim. Law, secs. 862, 922, 1009, 1015, 1028, 1033; Campbell v. State, 35 Ohio St. 74, 75; 2 Bish. Crim. Law, secs. 180, 187; State v. Kent, 22 Minn. 41; Kribs v. People, 82 Ill. 425, 426; Commonwealth v. Foster, 107 Mass. 221, 222; Commonwealth v. Stearns, 2 Met. 343, 344; Commonwealth v. Bennett, 118 Mass. 453. Kusnick was a partner in the bank. A partner cannot be punished for converting the funds of the firm to which he belongs. OWEN, C. J. The indictment charged, among other things, that a co-partnership was formed at the town of Versailles, in Darke county, Ohio, styled "The Versailles Exchange Bank,” the object of which was to carry on a general banking, deposit, loan and discount business, which it prosecuted for over two years. That it employed Francis Kusnick as its agent and cashier. That it had a paid up capital of $23,000. That by virtue of his employment as such agent and cashier, there came into the possession of the defendant, Francis Kusnick, $28,000 in money, notes, checks, drafts and bills of exchange, the assets of such co-partnership, which he fraudulently and feloniously embezzled and converted to his own use. The evidence tended to sustain the charges of the indictment and to show that the alleged partnership was a private, unincorporated banking association, formed by a number of persons entering into articles of association, by which the capital stock of the association was fixed at $25,000, divided into 250 shares of $100 each. Each member was to have one vote for each share held by him. The certificates of shares of stock were to be issued and transferred like those of an incorporated stock company. The officers were to consist of seven directors, a president, vice-president and cashier. The cashier was to be chosen by the board of directors and to hold his office during The State v. Kusnick. its pleasure. The death of a shareholder did not work a dissolution of the association, but his interest passed to his legal representatives. The defendant, Kusnick, subscribed for, and became the holder of, ten shares of the stock. He paid $200 in cash upon them and gave his note for the balance, $800, which was never paid. To him was confided by the association the entire and exclusive control and custody of its assets and management of its business, subject to such direction as the board of directors by its joint action should from time to time give him. Upon his election as cashier his salary was fixed, and he was required to, and did give a bond with sureties conditioned that as such cashier he would faithfully discharge the duties imposed upon him by reason of the trust in him reposed by the board of directors, and more particularly keep an accurate and just account of monies, books and records of the bank, and turn the same, as well as all other property belonging to the bank over, when requested of him by the board, to his successor in office or any other person designated and authorized by the board, and to answer for all losses occasioned through his neglect, etc. * * * ✔The evidence also tended to show that it was by virtue solely of his employment as cashier, and not by reason of his right as a shareholder, that he came into possession of the assets which he was charged with embezzling. The indictment was framed under section 6842 of the Revised Statutes, which provides that : "An officer, agent, clerk, or employe of any person who embezzles or converts to his own use * * * anything of value which shall come into his possession by virtue of his employment" shall be punished as for the larceny of the thing embezzled. Section 6794 provides that the word "person," when used to designate the owner of any property the subject of any offense, includes not only natural persons, but every other owner of property. The court directed the jury to return the defendant not guilty. The theory upon which this action was taken is that the banking association was a partnership, and that the defendant, being a holder of shares of the capital of the association, was a partner, and being interested in, and a part owner of, The State v. Kusnick. the assets of the association, could not be convicted of their embezzlement, as to constitute that crime the property converted must be wholly the "property of another." The court said to the jury, among other things: "People may associate together and constitute a firm, they may name and designate the style of the business or firm, by what name they may see fit to call it, and they would have a right to use the name in bringing suits if they did business under such style. They might sue and be sued under such name; and in partnerships, under the law, the possession of one partner is considered the possession of all, and of each and every partner interested in such firm, association or partnership. Therefore, if half a dozen men or more associate themselves together in a partnership, if one of the partners has possession, it is considered in law that of each and all the others, although they have not actual possession, but that the possession of one is the possession of all of them. Following this fact of partnership, it will be seen at once that although this money may be appropriated, the partnership funds may be in the hands of A., in law it is also in the hands of B., C. and D. Possession of one is the possession of all. It follows that the property being in the possession, and right to the possession of one partner he has just as much right over the property of the partnership as the other, unless by agreement between the parties. And it follows that if such is the possession as heretofore stated, a party who has possession of property as partner, that he could not commit larceny as against that property. He could not and would not be liable under the laws regulating the crime or offense of larceny for taking any such goods or property, because to constitute that crime, the property taken must be the property of another, or the same as in this statute in regard to embezzlement of property or money taken or converted to his own use, must be the property of another person. That is he must have no interest in the property so taken.” To this action of the court the state excepted, and upon the bill of exceptions taken by the prosecuting attorney, the question of law involved is here for determination. |