Case ID: ohio-st_50/html/0394-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Williams, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Neininger v. State.
    
      Reformation of written instalments— When may be had against a surety—Recognizance in bastardy proceedings—When may be forfeited—Practice in civil cases.
    
    1. A written instrument executed by a surety, which., by mistake, fails to express the actual agreement and intention of the parties, may be reformed, upon parol proof, like other written instruments, and then enforced against the surety.
    2. A recognizance, conditioned that the accused in a proceeding in bastardy shall appear at the next term of the court of common pleas and answer the accusation, and abide the order of the court thereon, may be forfeited after trial and verdict of guilty, if he then fail to appear and perform the order and judgment of the court.
    3. There being no rule day prescribed by statute for answer to an amended petition, the time which may be allowed for filing the answer is within the discretion of the court; and when no other time is fixed by the court, setting the case for trial on a specified day, is, in effect, an order that the issues be made up by that time.
    (Decided June 13, 1893.)
    
      Error to the Circuit Court of Belmont county.
    Margie Coss, an unmarried woman, made complaint in writing, under oath, before F. C. Robiqson, a justice of the peace of Pease township, Belmont county, charging Ado Kyne with the paternity of her illegitimate child. The accused was arrested upon a warrant issued on the complaint, and taken before the justice, who, after the examination required by the statute, directed the accused to enter into a recognizance payable to the state of Ohio, in the sum of three hundred dollars, with sufficient surety, for his appearance at the next term of the court of common pleas of that county, to answer the accusation, and abide the order of the court thereon. Frederick Neininger and John F. Kyne offered themselves as sureties, and, as such, entered into a recognizance with the accused, in accordance with the provisions of the statute, and the order of the justice. In entering the recognizance on his docket, whére it was signed' by the parties, the justice, by mistake, inserted the name of the complainant as Margie Kyne, instead of Margie Coss.
    The following is a copy of it, as it was signed:
    
      “'The State of Ohio, Belmont County, ss.:
    
    “Be it remembered, that on this 27th day of December, A. D. 1887, Frederick Neininger and John F. Kyne personally appeared before me, F. C. Robinson, a justice of the peace of Pease township in said county, and jointly and severally acknowledged themselves to owe and be indebted unto the state of Ohio, for the use and benefit of Pease township in said county, the sum of three hundred dollars, to be levied of their goods and chattels, lands and tenements, upon this condition:
    “That the said Ado Kyne shall personally appear before the court of common pleas, to be holden in and for the county aforesaid, on the first day of the next term thereof, and continue from day to day, and then and there answer unto a complaint of bastardy, made by Margie Kyne against him, and abide the order of the court thereon, then this recognizance to be void, otherwise to be and remain in full force.
    “Ado Kyne, [sear.]
    “ Feed Neininger, [sear.]
    “John. F. Kyne [sear.]
    “Taken and acknowledged before me, the day and year aforesaid.
    “F. C. Robinson,
    , “Justice of the Peace.”
    
    The accused did not appear at the next term of the court of common pleas, and the cause was tried in his absence, resulting in a verdict of guilty, upon which judgment was rendered, charging him as the reputed father of the child with its maintenance, in the sum of five hundred dollars, to be paid to complainant in installments as therein provided, and requiring him to give security to perform the order and judgment of the court, which he failed to doJ whereupon the recognizance was forfeited.
    Afterward, the action below was commenced in the court of common pleas of Belmont county, against the sureties, to recover the amount of the recognizance. In an amended petition subsequently filed, the facts hereinbefore stated are alleged. It is also averred, that the defendants intended to, and in fact did enter into the recognizance for the appearance of the accused to answer the complaint of Margie Coss; that there was no complaint of Margie Kyne, nor such a person, when the recognizance was executed; and, that the defendants well knowing the facts, and to obtain the release of Ado Kyne from the custody under which he was then held on the complaint of Margie Coss, agreed to, and did become sureties for him, on the recognizance, thereby binding themselves that he would appear in the court of common pleas, and there answer to the accusation made by Margie Coss, and perform the judgment of the bourt thereon, and by so becoming his sureties obtained his release from the custody under which he was then held on her complaint. The amended petition prays for the reformation of the instrument by correcting the mistake in the name of the complainant, and then, for judgment upon it.
    The defendants filed a general demurrer to the petition, which was overruled. They then answered, denying its allegations. Upon the trial, the court found for the plaintiff, decreed the reformation,' and rendered judgment accordingly. That judgment was affirmed by the circuit court, and to reverse both judgments this proceeding in error is prosecuted.
    
      Jas. M. Rees, and N. K. Kennon, for plaintiffs in error.
    I. The defendants had their rule day within which to plead to the second amended petition; to so deprive them of their rule day was unauthorized.
    No order was made as to the time the defendants were to plead to this second amended petition. Time had not been given defendants to make up the issues; the defendants were not in default. Even in the presence of an order fixing the time within which the defendants should plead to the second amended petition, but especially in the absence of such an order, we submit that they should have as long to answer the second amended petition as they had to. answer an original petition. Sections 5111 and 5112 of the code, by analogy seem to give the defendant to and including the third Saturday to plead. It seems there is no direct provision of the code as to when an answer to an amended petition must be filed; but certainly the practice is to give the defendant as long a time to answer the amended petition as he has to answer the original petition. Cunningham v. Mathivet, 1 Cleve. Rep., 341; Kimmel v. Pratt, 34 Ohio St., 344.
    II. A forfeiture of the recognizance was not properly had in this cause. We submit that this forfeiture of the bond, after the trial, is void. Revised Statutes, Secs. 5623-4-5. The proceedings are purely statutory. Jurisdiction is obtained and exercised only in the manner of the statute, and the forfeiture was unauthorized and void. Grieve v. Fretag, 31 Ohio St., 147.
    
      III. No principle is better settled, both in this state and elsewhere, than that a surety is not bound beyond the letter of his bond. His liability is strictissimi juris; no intendments are to be made against him. His liability can not be enlarged by presumption or by construction. The bond speaks for itself, and the law is that it shall so speak. Sureties stand upon the words of the bond, and their liability is limited to the exact letter. thereof. There is no construction, no equity, against sureties. The cases speak a uniform language on the subject. McGovney v. The State, 20 Ohio, 93; The State v. Medary, 17 Ohio, 554, 565; Grant v. Naylor, 4 Cranch, 224; Meyers et al. v. Parker, 6 Ohio St., 501; The State v. Johnson, 13 Ohio, 176; Pickersgill v. Lakens, 15 Wall., 140; Palmer v. Yarrington, 1 Ohio St., 253, 260, and cases cited; The State v. Crippen, 1 Ohio St., 399; The State v. Cutting, 2 Ohio St., 1, 6; Dobbin, et al., v. Bradley, 17 Wendell, 422, 180; Wright v. Johnson, 8 Wendell, 512; Miller v. Stewart, 9 Wheat., 680, 702, et seq; U. S. v. Boyd, 14 Pet., 206; Bank v. Carroll’s Adm'r, 5 Ohio., 131.
    
      R. J. Alexander, and J. C. Heinlein, for defendant in error.
    I. Continuance is a matter of judicial discretion, and not reviewable on error. 1 Ohio St., 286; 32 Ohio St., 173.
    II. Recognizance was properly forfeited. Sec. 5623-4N5, Revised Statutes. Fight v. The State, 7 Ohio, Pt. 1, 181; Clark & Clark v. Petty, 29 Ohio St., 452; Porter v. The State, 23 Ohio St., 320.
    III. A mistake in the recognizance may be corrected. 2 Ohio, 32; 19 Ohio,406; 3 Ohio St., 508; 39 Ohio St., 226; 38 Ohio St., 606.
    Intentions of parties will be carried out. 1 Ohio, 490.
    Chancery will both reform and execute. 16 Ohio, 490; 11 Ohio, 480; 21 Ohio St., 119; Railroad Co. v. Steinfield, 42 Ohio St., 449, 457; 46 Ohio St., 269. The record of forfeiture is conclusive. Morgan v. Kinney, 38 Ohio St., 610.
    
      Recognizance not void in certain cases. 29 Ohio St., 452; Proseck v. Ohio, 38 Ohio St., 606.
    If certain words are omitted or if name is omitted. Partridge v. Jones, 38 Ohio St., 375; Clutes v. Knies, 102 N. Y., 377; 32 Vt., 833; Wiser v. Blackly, 1 Johns. Ch., 607; Gerould v. Wilson, 81 N. Y., 573; Alber v. Froehlich, 39 Ohio St., 245; Henkle v. Royal, 1 Vesey, Sr., 317. Equity will grant relief against a surety. Bryant on Suretyship sec. 118; 3 Abbott R. N. J.
    Corrections will be made against sureties in bonds. Olmstead, Guard, and another v. Olmstead, Ex’r, 38 Conn., 309; Butler v. Durham, 3 Ired. Eq. (N. C.), 589; Hudson v. Pitman, 2 Hayw. (N. C.), 331; Sikes v. Pruitt, 4 Jones (N. C.), Eq., 361, 2; Armistead v. Bozman, 1 Ired. Eq. (N. C.), 117; Prior v. Williams, 3 Abbott (N. Y.), Ap. Dec., 624; 35 Barbour, 565, Sterns v. Marks, Adm’r, etc.; U. S. v. Cushman, 2 Sumner, 434; 2 Rowles, 428; Moser v. Liebenguth et al., Adm’r; 1 Brandt on Suretyship, sec. 141 and cases cited; 1 Story’s Eq., sec. 164 and cases cited; State of Missouri v. Adm’r of John A. Frank, 51 Mo., 98.
   Williams, J.

The principal question presented is, whether a written instrument, which, by mistake, fails to express the agreement of the parties, may be reformed, and then enforced against a surety. The plaintiffs in error contend that it cannot; and, for that reason, they claim the court of common pleas erred in overruling their demurrer to the amended petition, and awarding the relief it demanded against them.

This court, in a number of decisions, has strictly adhered to the rule, that the lialility of a surety cannot be extended by implication, beyond the terms of his contract. In State v. Medary, 17 Ohio, 554, it was held, that t.he sureties on a bond conditioned for the faithful performance by the principal of his duties as a member of the board of public works, were not liable for his defalcation as an acting commissioner under the appointment of the board.

In McGorney v. State, 20 Ohio, 93, which was an action at law, on an executor’s bond conditioned for the faithful administration of the estate of James Findley, the court held that the sureties were not liable for the maladministration by the executor named, of the estate of Joseph Findley; and, that the bond could not, by parol evidence, be made applicable to the estate of Joseph Findley. It was decided in the case of Myers v. Parker, 6 Ohio St., 501, that an appeal bond, which recited that the appellant had taken an appeal from the judgment of the court of common pleas to the Supreme Court of the county, and the condition of which was that he would pay the amount of the condemnation money in the Supreme Court, in case a decree should be entered therein in favor of the appellee, did not bind the .sureties for the payment of a judgment of the district court, which, at the date of the bond, had superseded the Supreme Court. In neither of these cases, however, was the reformation of the written instrument sought, nor, were the allegations necessary to entitle the parties to that remedy, made by the pleadings. The same may be said of all the cases cited by counsel for the plaintiffs in error. We have been unable to find any reported decision, in which the question here presented has received the consideration of this court.

It is well settled, that written contracts, and other instruments of writing, may be reformed, when, through fraud or mistake, they fail to express the actual agreement and intention of the parties; and, that the fraud, or mistake, may be established by parol evidence. That doctrine has been fully maintained in numerous cases in this state. The remedy has been administered even where the mistake was in the legal effect of the terms of the instrument; and, but for the statute of frauds, there would appear to be no reason why the contracts of sureties should not be subject to the remedy, the same as other written instruments. The obligation of the surety rests upon a consideration as adequate as that of the principal; for, though he receive no pecuniary or other benefit for his undertaking, credit is extended to' the principal, and advantages are obtained by him, upon the faith of the surety’s engagement. But, as the statute requires a promise to answer for the debt or default of another to be in writing, and signed by the party to be charged therewith in order to be binding, it is contended that, to permit the writing to be reformed in any material part upon parol proof of a mistake, would in effect be to establish a verbal contract, and make it obligatory upon the surety, contrary to the provisions of the statute. If that is a valid, objection to the reformation of a contract executed by a surety, it must be equally so, to the reformation of any other contract embraced in the statute of frauds; for, it is-obvious, the objection applies with equal force to all contracts that are within its provisions. The statute is not less', explicit in its requirement that contracts for the conveyance of any interest in lands shall be in writing, and signed by the party, than it is, that those of a surety or guarantor shall be of that character. Indeed, it is expressed as to both classes of contracts, in the same language, and in the same section. And if those of either class cannot, be reformed, on account of the statute, it follows that those of the other cannot; but, if either may be, then so may the other. The statute presents no greater or different obstacle in the one case, than in the other. It has long been the settled law of this state, that contracts concerning lands, and even deeds and mortgages by which they have been conveyed, may be reformed, on the ground of mistake, and upon parol proof, by correcting misdescriptions, including lands omitted by mistake, enlarging or restricting the character of the estate, inserting or qualifying covenants and conditions, and in other respects. In Davenport v. Scovill, 6 Ohio St., 459, it was held, that a mortgage might be reformed so as to include land not described in it, and then enforced against the same. In the case of Clayton v. Freet, 10 Ohio St., 545, a deed which conveyed an estate in fee simple, was so reformed as to convey a life estate to the grantee, with remainder to her children. And a deed, defective for want of an acknowledgment, was reformed by enlarging a life estate into a fee simple, and a conveyance decreed accordingly, in the case of Ormsby v. Longworth, 11 Ohio St., 653. Other instances in which like relief has been awarded, may be found in Hunt v. Freeman, 1 Ohio, 490: Evarts v. Strode, 11 Ohio, 480; Webster v. Harris, 16 Ohio, 490.

With respect to the reformation of contracts within the statute of frauds, Mr Pomeroy, in section 866, of his work on Equity Jurisprudence, says: “ The doctrine in all its breadth and force is maintained by courts and jurists of the highest ability and authority, which hold that, whether the contract is executory or executed, the plaintiff may introduce parol evidence to show mistake or fraud whereby the written contract fails to express the actual agreement, and to prove the modifications necessary to be made, whether such variation consists in limiting the scope of the contract, or in enlarging and extending it so as to embrace land or other subject matter which had been omitted through fraud or mistake; and that he may then obtain a specific performance of the contract thus varied, and such relief may be granted although the agreement is one which by the statute of frauds is required to be in writing. This view, in my opinion, is not only supported by the overwhelming preponderance of judicial authority, but is in complete accordance with the fundamental principle of equity jurisprudence.” In Story’s Equity, section 164, the rule is broadly stated, that equity will administer the remedy of reformation, “on the ground of mistake,” as fully against a surety or guarantor, as against the principal party. And such is the current of authority. In Wiser v. Blackly, 1 Johnson Ch. 607, it was held that, “when the intention is manifest, this court will always relieve against mistakes in agreements, and that as well in the case of a surety, as in any other case.” There a guardian’s bond payable to the people, was corrected td run to the ward. In the case of Olmstead v. Olmstead, 38 Conn., 309, the court held that, “when the contract of a surety does not express the agreement or intention of the parties, to the injury of the obligee, and that is clearly made to appear, equity will reform the instrument, as well against the sureties as the principal.” It has been decided by the Supreme Court of Missouri, that “courts may reform bonds, both as against the principals and sureties. But to authorize such step the evidence must be unequivocal to show the existence of the mistake, and its precise character.” State v. Frank, 51 Mo. 98. And to the same effect are many cases. Among them Smith v. Allen, 1 N. J. Eq., 55; Armstead v. Bozman, 1 Ire. Eq., 117; Sipes v. Truitt, 4 Jones Eq., 361; Butler v. Durham, 3 Ire. Eq., 589; Huson v. Pitman, 2 Hayw., 504; Cute v. Knies, 102 N. Y., 377; Prior v. Williams, 3 Abb. Court of App. Dec., 624; Brandt on Suretyship, section 141.

After a careful and somewhat extended examination of the question, we have arrived at the conclusion that a written instrument executed by a surety, which, by mistake, fails-to express the actual agreement and intention of the parties, may be reformed, upon parol proof, like other written instruments, and then enforced against the surety. But the evidence must be of that clear and convincing character which leaves no reasonable doubt, either of the mistake, or the terms of the agreement.

The plaintiffs in error further claim that their demurrer to the amended petition should have been sustained, because, its averments show, that the recognizance was not legally forfeited; the forfeiture not having been made until after the verdict. The recognizance was conditioned, as the statute requires, that the accused should appear and answer the accusation made against him, and abide the order of the court. The provision of the statute is, that “if the accused fail to appear at the term of the court to which he is recognized his recognizance shall be forfeited.” The verdict was rendered and judgment entered at the term to which the accused was bound to appear, and we see no reason why the forfeiture could not be made any time during the term. The important condition of the recognizance is, that the accused shall abide the order of the court. When that is performed, its purpose is substantially accomplished; and his appearance is material only, to enable the court to enforce its judgment against him, by committing him, as the statute provides, upon his failure to furnish security for the sum he is adjudged to pay for the maintenance of the child. If he appear and defend at the trial, but fail to appear and perform the judgment of the court, there is a breach of the recognizance for which it may be forfeited; and that breach can only occur after trial and verdict. We think, therefore, that the objection urged by the plaintiff in error to the forfeiture of the recognizance, is not a valid one.

It is also contended that the court erred in requiring the plaintiffs in error to go to the trial too soon after the amended petition was filed. It was filed, as the record shows, on the first day of December, 1888, and against their objection the cause was set for trial on the 8th day of the same month. Their claim is, that they were entitled to the same time in which to answer the amended petition, that is allowed by law for answer to an original petition which, it is claimed, gave them until, and including, the third Saturday after the pleading was filed, for answer; and especially should they have been allowed that rule, it is said, because no other time for answer was fixed by the court. The court is authorized to permit amendments of pleadings, before or after judgment, in furtherance of justice, on such terms as may be proper, “by inserting other allegations material to the case,” and in many other respects. Revised Statutes section 5114. An amended petition, which contains all, or part, of the ¿negations of the original petition, with others that are material, is a form of amendment permitted by the statute, and a mode often adopted; and, as the statute has prescribed no rule day for answer to such a pleading, nor to an amendment in any form, the time within which an answer may be filed to a pleading of that kind, is within the discretion of the court. Where no other time is fixed by the court, setting the case for trial on a specified day is, in effect, an order that the issues be made up by that time; and it appears they were made up in this case, before the trial commenced.

Judgment affirmed.