Case ID: wright_1/html/0071-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "BY THE COURT.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

*KILBORN v. COOKE & EDDEY.
    Indemnity bond — constable—liability—judgment against officer before suit against tbe security.
    A bond of indemnity to one who has gone security for a constable covers tbe liability of tbe constable for a default to tbe obligee of tbe indemnity bond.
    Such bond of indemnity is two-fold. 1. To save tbe obligee harmless from all liability arising from tbe constable’s neglect. 2. To protect bim against liability to others.
    A judgment against the constable, liquidating tbe amount of tbe constable’s liability, is not necessary to a recovery on tbe indemnity bond.
    Covenant. The declaration is upon a bond of indemnity given to the plaintiff, to indemnify him against loss upon a bond given by him as the security of Cooke as a constable. The condition annexed to the bond is, that it shall become void if Cooke faithfully discharge the duties of his office, and faithfully pass over all moneys collected by him in virtue of his office. Breach, that several executions came into the hands of Cooke, as constable, in favor of Kilborn, the plaintiff, which he neglected to return, or to pay over the money to the plaintiff. There is an averment that a suit has been commenced against the constable for tbe neglect, and a recovery of judgment had for $64.26, on which an execution has issued and been returned nulla bona. To this the defendant demurs generally, which is joined.
    
      Boalt, for the demurrant, made the following points:
    1. That the bond is void, not being authorized or recognized by law.
    2. That the recital in the bond does not show whether Cooke was elected constable, or appointed by the trustees.
    3. It does not appear that the bond was given while Cooke remained in office as constable, because immediately after, when it is averred the bond was given, is uncertain, and may mean two years or more.
    4. That is does not appear that the judgment against Cooke was for money collected by him as constable, or for any liability as such.
    5. That the judgments in favor of the plaintiff are not wholly within the indemnity.
    6. That the declaration, if one at all, is a very bad one, and all uncertain.
    
      F. D. Parish, contra.
   BY THE COURT.

The real question in this case is this, does the bond cover the liability of the defendant, Cooke, for his neglect as constable, on the executions in favor of the plaintiff ? We think the condition cf the bond two-fold.

1st. To save Kilborn harmless for all the liabilities growing out *of his having gone security for the constable. 2d. To in- [7Ü demnify him against liability to others. If it were not so, the bond would not operate as a complete indemnity ; and if Kilborn had business for a constable, he would be without the security which the law contemplates for all. Ought this to result from his having gone security in the constable’s bond? We think not; and this is embraced in the first clause of the condition of the indemnity bond, faithfully to discharge the duties of the office of constable. By his neglect of these duties, the plaintiff has been subjected to direct loss. This supersedes the necessity which would exist in an ordinary case of indemnity bonds, of establishing the liability by some judicial proceedings in favor of the party injured. The defendants are placed in this declaration within the letter of their bond. We can see nothing unlawful in so placing them. They show no merits calling for any nice construction to exonerate them. On the contrary, the equity which appears in the casé is all on the other side.

The demurrer is overruled.