CRIMINAL LAW — Mere Obtention By False Pretenses Of Credits To Bank Account, Standing Alone, Held Insufficient To Support Conviction Of Obtaining Chattel, Money Or Valuable Security With Intent To Defraud. The mere showing that the defendant in this criminal case, as a result of certain false pretenses, obtained credits to his bank account, standing alone, was held insufficient to support a conviction of obtaining "any chattel, money or valuable security, with intent to defraud * * *", in violation of Code (1961 Supp.), Art. 27, § 140. In this case there was no showing that the defendant ever drew upon the "deposits" to his account, or that the bank ever actually parted with title or possession of anything of value or suffered any loss, a showing that a transfer was induced, and that some "chattel, money or valuable security" obtained by the false representations, being necessary to sustain a conviction. A bank owns the money deposited with it, subject to the right of the depositors to draw upon it. p. 567
J.E.B.
Decided May 10, 1962.
PER CURIAM.
The sole question herein involved is a narrow one: Did the evidence offered at the trial below establish that the appellant obtained from the National Bank of Rising Sun (Bank) "any chattel, money or valuable security" within the meaning of Code (1961 Cum. Supp.), Article 27, Section 140?
There is no dispute concerning the facts. Appellant was convicted under four counts of an indictment, which charged four different offenses. As a result of certain false pretenses of past or existing facts made by appellant, the Bank credited his account in said Bank with four "deposits." However, the State failed to show that the appellant ever drew upon any of said deposits, that the Bank ever actually parted with the title or possession of anything of value, or that it suffered any loss.
A bank owns the money deposited with it, subject to the right of the depositors to draw upon it. Keller v. Frederickstown Sav. Inst., 193 Md. 292, 66 A.2d 924; Horwitz v. Ellinger, 31 Md. 492. In order to obtain a conviction in this case, it was necessary that it be shown that the false representations induced a transfer and the obtaining of the "chattel, money or valuable security" by the appellant. Willis v. State, 205 Md. 118, 106 A.2d 85: Simmons v. State, 165 Md. 155, 167 A. 60; 35 C.J.S. False Pretenses, § 24. We hold that the mere showing of the obtaining of the credits to appellant's bank account, standing alone, is insufficient to support a conviction of obtaining "any chattel, money or valuable security," with intent to defraud, Maxey v. State, 85 Ark. 499. Cf. Willis v. State, Simmons v. State, and 35 C.J.S., False Pretenses, § 24, all supra.
The Assistant Attorney General, with commendable candor, stated that, in his opinion, the evidence was insufficient to support the conviction, but felt that the question should be submitted for our decision.
Judgment reversed and case remanded for a new trial; the costs to be paid by the county commissioners of Cecil County.