Case ID: serg-rawl_11/html/0107-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Per Curiam.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

[Lancaster,
    May 15, 1824.]
    GRUBB against WILLIS.
    IN ERROR.
    Every bond imports in itself a sufficient consideration, though none be men. tioned. . ■ ■
    . Where judgment is confessed for the penalty of a bond, execution may issue for the condition, with interest, without a writ of inquiry."
    The plaintiff below, Alexander Willis,"declared in the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin county, against the defendant, Peter Grubb, “ for that whereas the said Peter Grubb, on the ninth day of, September, A. D. 1820, at the. county aforesaid, bound himself unto-the said Alexander 'Willis, his attorney, executors, administrators, or assigns, by bond s.igned and sealed by the said Peter Grubb, in the sum of eight hundred and twenty-four dollars, conditioned for the payment of four hundred, and twelve dollars, together with the interest and casts, which shall or may accrue thereoh by John Grubb, on or before the-first day of April, A. D. 1821. And whereas the said John Grubb has not paid the said last-mentioned sum to the said Alexander Willis, he the said Peter Grubb, became liable to pay the said Alexander Willis, the above first-mentioned sum to the said Alexander, but the same to him to pay hath refused and still doth refuse,” &c.
    
      On this declaration judgment was confessed by warrant of attorney for the penalty of the bond, with a release of errors and a stay of execution until the 1st of April 1821. A fi. fa. afterwards issued, which was levied on a part of a lot of ground, and a small house erected thereon. '
    The record being returned to this court, on a writ of error, the following reasons were assigned for reversing .the judgment and execution.
    1. That the bond on-which the judgment was rendered, was not founded on a lawful consideration.
    2. That there was error in issuing the execution without a scire facias or a writ of inquiry, to ascertain what was due, (if any thing,) on the judgment.
    
      Elder for the plaintiff in error.
    
      Douglass for the defendant in error.
   Per Curiam.

Twb errors aré assigned in this case. 1. That it does not appear there was any consideration for the defendant’s bond, on which judgment was entered by warrant of attorney. 2. That the execution issued irregularly, because the damages had not been assessed on a writ of inquiry.

1. There is nothing in the first exception. Every bond .imports in itself a sufficient consideration, though none is mentioned. But if it was really given on an illegal consideration, the obligor may plead the special matter, and thus avoid the bond. All that appears on this record, is, that the bond was given by the defendant. No consideration is mentioned, nor is there any thing to show that there was an illegal consideration; therefore it is good.

2. This is not a case in which a writ of inquiry was necessary. The judgment was entered by warrant of attorney, for the penalty of the bond. All that we know of the condition, is, from the declaration, which sets forth that Peter Grubb, the defendant, bound himself to the plaintiff in the sum of eight hundred and twenty-four dollars, conditioned for the payment of four hundred and twelve dollars, bj? John Grubb, together with the interest and costs which should accrue thereon, on or before the 1st day of April 1821. And it is then averred, that John Grubb did not pay the said sum of money on or before the day appointed as aforesaid, so that the defendant became liable to pay to the plaintiff the aforesaid penalty of eight hundred and twenty-four dollars, &c. Here was nothing to be inquired of by a jury — the plaintiff claimed nothing but the sum of four hundred and twelve dollars mentioned in the condition, with interest; and execution was taken out for no more than the principal and interest, with the costs of suit. If is the opinion of the court, that there is no error in the record, and therefore the judgment should he affirmed.

Judgment affirmed.'