Case Name: Bailey v. Thornhill
Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
Jurisdiction: Missouri
Decision Date: 1827-04
Citations: 1 Mo. 711
Docket Number: 
Parties: Bailey v. Thornhill.
Judges: 
Reporter: Missouri Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 510–510

Head Matter:
Bailey v. Thornhill.
Where A. makes a bond in which he promises to pay C. or B. a sum of money — held, that C. cannot maintain an action alone.
ON ERROR from St. Charles Circuit Courts

Opinion:
Wash, J.,
delivered the opinion of the Court.
This was an action of debt, brought by Bailey against Thornhill, in the Circuit Court, on a writing obligatory, in the words and figures following : " On or against the 25th of December next, I promise ,to pay James B. Bailey or John Logan one hundred and seventy dollars, for value received of him this 24th day of March, one • thousand eight hundred and seventeen. (Signed,)
Attest: Jonathan Gordon. 'REUBEN THORNHILL, [seal.]"
The defendant craved oyer of the obligation, and demurred; on which the Circuit Court gave judgment in his favor; to reverse which this writ of error is prosecuted. The only question for the determination of this Court is, whether .a several action may be maintained by Baily upon this obligation ? And we are clearly of opinion that it cannot be. A man cannot be bound to several persons severally: 5 Bac. p. 163. And on an obligation to two or more, to pay money to one of them, 'all must join in the suit, &c. This, at best, is such a case.
The judgment of the Circuit Court is, therefore, affirmed with, costs.