Case ID: ga_15/html/0074-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Starnes J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

No. 4
    George W. McGehee and Thos. Scott, plaintiffs in error, vs. Jeremiah Scott, Guardian, defendant in error.
    
       Where a principal, in a guardian’s bond, agreed with his securities, that if they would go upon his bond for a time, he would .afterwards give a new bond, with different securities, and accordingly, such bond was subsequently px-esented and i-efused by the Ordinary, and it did not appear that the security was good and sufficient for the protection of the minors: Held, that such agreement did not give to the securities a right to have, their discharge, upon the principal giving a new bond, with secux-ities whom the Ordinary did not approve.
    
      
      Smile: Where such an agreemexxt had been made, that if the bond and security were such as should have been deemed sufficient, and the Ordinary had arbitrarily refused to receive the same, upon this being shown, he might be compelled to do so.
    Rule nisi, to discharge securities, on guardian’s bond..—■ Heard and decided by Judge Hill, May Term, 1853.
    At the July Term, 1852, of the Court of Ordinary of Troup county, plaintiff’s in error filed the following rule nisi :
    
    
      “ It appearing to the Court, that heretofore, to wit: at the May Term of this Court, 1846, Jeremiah Scott was appointed guardian of Leroy C. and Sarah J. Scott, Ms own minors, and gave bond, in the sum of two thousand dollars, with George W. McGehee and Thomas Scott, as his securities; and it further appearing, that said McGehee and Scott became security on said bond, under a promise, by agreement with said Jeremiah Scott, that he would give another bond, with new security, and relieve the said McGehee and Scott. And it further appearing, that at November Term, 1851, of said Court, Jeremiah Scott did give another bond, with other securities, as guardian for said minors; and no order having been passed, releasing the said George W. and. Thomas, it is ordered by the Court, that said Jeremiah Scott and his securities, show cause, at the next Term of this Court,, why an order discharging the said George W. McGehee and Thomas Scott, should not be passed, nunc pro tunc”.
    
    At the hearing, the Court of Ordinary refused to make the rule absolute; from which decision, an appeal was taken to the Superior Court, and the judgment of the Ordinary affirmed.—. To which decision, counsel for plaintiffs excepted.
   By the Court.

Starnes J.

delivering the opinion.

No such agreement as that which is set up in this case, could give to the securities the right to a discharge, upon the principal giving bond, with any sort of security. Such an agreement might, perhaps, avail the parties, if the Ordinary approve the new security which is given, when it is presented.

But it is out of the power of a principal and his securities, to make any such agreement, as would give them the right, upon the principal presenting*a.new bond, with any new securities, to the Ordinary, whether he approved.the same or not, to have their discharge.

We will not say, if such agreement had been made, and in pursuance of it, a bond, with new-and sufficient security, had been tendered to the Ordinary, which would have been sufficient and ample for the protection of the minors, and he had arbitrarily refused to receive the same, but that upon a case made, he might be compelled to do so.

But this does not appear from the record here, nor that the bond and security tendered, is such as should be approved and .received by the Ordinary, as the officer in whose discretion the .law confided, for exercise of prudent watchfulness and care, in .taking and receiving such bonds. And in the absence of this, we decline to control the discretion of that officer.

Judgment affirmed.