Case ID: nc_14/html/0086-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Rupein, Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

John Branch, for the use of The Bank of Cape Fear v. Alexander Elliot et al.
    
    Bonds given by officers for the faithful discharge of their'duty, which do not conform to the act requiring them, can only be enforced according to the rules of the common law ; and a bond given by a sheriff, in a penalty greatey than that required by tire act of 1577' (Rev. e, 118) is not within the provision of that’ act, authorizing successive suits on sheriff’s bonds, and is extinguished' by the fii'st judgment thereon. , , • .
    The cases of. The Governor v. Wiiherspoon (3 Hawks 42) Governor v. Matloeh ('2 ffaxi>ksS66)a.nilMcI}aer.Rvatis(ante2 vol. 383)approved by Rura-iir, Judge.
    Debt, upon a penal bond, executed by tbs defendants,' as sureties for one John McRae, sheriff of Cumberland, tried before bis Honor Judge Norwood, in that county? on the spring circuit of 1830,
    The only, plea relied on by the defendants - was that of a former recovery — and a verdict was taken for the plaintiff, subject to the opinion of the court on the following case: 1 ' •
    The bond was for ¿£5,000, payable to u Iris Excellency John Branch, Esquire, Governor, &c.” but not-being taken according to tbe directions of tbe act of 1777,. (Rev. c. 118) the writ was “ to answer John Branch, Esquire,”'and not in the name of his successor. A suit had been brought on the same bond in Cumberland County Court, a copy of the record of which was attached to the case. The writ was ^to answer John Branch> Esquire, Governor &c. to tile use of Edward McKay”, and a verdict was returned for the plaintiff, but no formal judgment had been rendered. A suit had also been instituted on the same bond in Cumberland Superior Court, in the name of “ John Branch, Governor, &c. to the use of Cameron and Baker in, which, the case stated, that judgment had been rendered for the plaintiff , — the jury, did not expressly find the amount of the penalty, hut only assessed the damages sustained by tbe /relators.
    
      Upon these facts, his Honor set the verdict aside, and directed a nonsuit to be entered, and the relators . , ■ appealed.
    
      ■Hogg, for the relators,
    contended, that distinct actions might be brought upon official bonds, for every default which should occur, and this without the aid of the' provision contained in the act of 1777; and urged that a contrary rule would lead to great absurdity and inconvenience. He cited State Bank v. Twitty (2 Hawks 1) Governor v. Matlock (do. 866) Governor v. Witherspoon, (8 do.'42).
    
      Badger, for the defendants,
    argued that the rule that a bond is extinguished by a judgment upon it, was well settled, and was not a rule of practice which could be altered in the discretion of the court. ' '
   Rupein, Judge.

Repeated decisions of this court have established that such bonds, as that sued on here, not being taken in conformity to the act of 1777 (Rev, c. 118) cannot he proceeded on in the manner prescribed by that statute. The State Bank v. Twitty, (2 Hawks 1) is a leading case; and that has been followed by others. Those decisions relate emphatically to the remedies on such bonds. It shall not be summary : it shall not he by the successor: nor by an assignee. By consequence, successive actions (given by the act of 1777, on bonds taken according to it) cannot be sustained. Vero it res integra, the court would at this day be much die-posed, and probably would hold, that since the bond imposes no duty on the officer which the law itself did not, and was voluntary entered into, it might be enforced by the remedies of the statute, tho made for a larger sum than required by law. But the question is eonsidci'ed as closed ; and this the more especially, because it does not affect rights, but only the method of proceeding.

The remedy being . at common law, or rather under the general law, and not under the particular statute of 1777, it is perfectly certain that the present action is barred, if judgment has been rendered on the bond in k former suit. For Mr. Branch alone can be taken notice of, as the plaintiff, without reference to those for whose use he sues.

ill debt on a bond, the ,verdict need not state its amount

The rule adopt, ed in this court respecting offi-ciaibonds,which do not conform to the act requiring them disapproved, but followed byBto-rxs, Judge.

But although a judgment upon such bonds is a bar to a second suit, if the bond is within the stat. 8 & 9 Wm.lll, the relator way llave a sci. fa. suggesting other breadles — or if not within that statute, execution may issue at his risk, leaving the defendant to seek relief in equity.

It seems, this bond has, in point of fact, been sued on twice before : once in the County Court; anti a, transcript of the record of that suit forms-a partof this case ; and again, in the Superior Court.

Various objections are taken to the' record from the County Court to show that there was no judgment;in that proceeding. It is unnecessary to- consider them, because the case states, that “ a judgment was rendered in the Superior Court on the sanie bond, at the suit of John Branch, to the use, &c. against these defend .mts.”

- The eScctofthatjudginentthere wasan sttemptto repel, upon the ground that the penalty of the bond was not expressly found by the jury ; .and so, there was no judgment therefor. The objection is untenable. If non est factum be not pleaded, the execution of the bond, as described irt the declaration? is admitted ; and so the amount appears on. the record. If it be pleaded, the verdict, that the bond declared on is the deed of the defendant, finds the amount. The penalty need not be otherwise found; for it enters into, and can enter into no other issue.

The bar to the present action then is complete; and the judgment below must be affirmed..

Inconvcniencies may arise out of the doctrine hcreto-tofore established, which may require the interposition such as the refusal of the obligee to put, or suffer the bond to be put in suit; or a colin-of the legislature sive verdict for the obligors. Those inconveniences this court cannot correct. It is for the wisdom and power of the General Assembly to do it, by extending the statute remedies to such bonds, if thought right. Happily for the purposes of justice, the bar to this action is not destructive of the relator’s rights, and docs not extend beyond the costs of this suit. For while the cases, before alluded to, determine that the remedies cannot he under the statute, they have also determined the bond itself,to he good at common law. It is available, jnot only for damages sustained by the obligee himself, by a breach of duty within the condition, hut also for similar damages sustained by any other person : in fine, the obli-gee is a trustee for persons injured. There can, then, be no difficulty touching the remedy in this case. If the bond be without the statute 8 and 9 Wm. III, c. 11, execution may he taken out at the risk of the party oh the old judgment, ami the defendants forced to seek relief, as before that statute, in equity. If the statute extends to such bonds, then a scire facias, suggesting other breaches, may be sued out, and prosecuted, as in other cases. For this general doctrine, 1 refer to the cases of the Governor v. Matlock (2 Hawks 3 6) Governor v. Witherspoon (3 Hawks 42) _ and particularly to the Governor v. Evans (ante 2 vol. 383),

Per Curiam. — .Tvogmekt atosmsb.