Article Text
FIRST NATIONAL'S ANSWER DENIES ILLEGAL SWITCHING OF MORTGAGE POOL NOTES
ASSERTS RIGHT TO SHIFT
Fall in Property Values Caused by Depression Basis of Plea.
MISMANAGEMENT COUNT TERMED FALSE CHARGE
Reply to Petition of Shinbaum Brands Hints at Collusion in Naming Receivers 'Gratuitous Statement With No Basis in Fact.'
Denial that illegal substitutions were made in securities backing up its $10,000,000 participation certificate mortgage pool, was made by the First National bank in a pleading filed in chancery court yesterday through the law firm of Williams & Frierson.
While admitting that the bank substituted securities in the pool, it insisted that it had that legal right and that no securities put in the pool were of less value than those taken down.
The petition was filed in answer to one filed several days ago by A. I. Shinbaum, holder of a $5,000 certificate, through Attorney Charles C. Moore, charging that the bank took down valuable securities, sold them, or pledged them to borrow from the Reconstruction Finance corporation and substituted undesirable securities in their place.
A detailed history of the mortgage pool from its inception up until it was placed into the hands of the receivers was included in the bank's pleading. Also in answer to Shinbaum's petition, answers were filed by E. H. Lawman, co-receiver of the mortgage pool, and by Attorney Charles C. Coffey, trustee for several certificate holders. Mr. Coffey prepared and filed his own answer. Mr. Lawmen's answer was filed by Attorney J. B. Sizer.
Shinbaum is seeking to remove the First National bank as receiver of the mortgage pool and charges mismanagement and unlawful substitution to the directors of the First National bank in the manner in which it has managed the assets of the pool. Such mismanagement, he alleges, makes the officers and stockholders liable for any losses suffered by certificate holders.
The necessity for reorganization of the First National bank into the Chattanooga National bank last Dec. 31 was due to the efforts of the First National bank to meet the constant drain of its resources caused by certificate holders cashing in their certificates, and in many instances before maturity, the bank's answer stated. It is also maintained that the borrowers' inability to pay on their loans injured the general condition of the bank.