Case Name: LAFON vs. TESTAMENTARY EX'ORS OF LAFON
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1824-06
Citations: 2 Mart. (n.s.) 571
Docket Number: 
Parties: LAFON vs. TESTAMENTARY EX'ORS OF LAFON.
Judges: 
Reporter: Martin (Louisiana Term Reports)
Volume: 2
Pages: 571–573

Head Matter:
LAFON vs. TESTAMENTARY EX'ORS OF LAFON.
Executors cannot be received in their private capacity as sureties on an appeal taken from a judgment given against them in their representative character.
Possession of property to the amount of $400 does not authotrise the possessor to be surety for $600.

Opinion:
PORTER, J.
delivered the opinion of the court. In this case an application has been made for a mandamus to the judge of the court of probates, directing him to send up an appeal from a final judgment rendered against the defendants.
The return alleges, that the reason why the record has not been sent up is, that the appellants have tailed to give security, according to law.-They however insist that they have furnished that security, and, in support of the allegation, rely first
On a bond they subscribed as executors, and in their private capacity, binding them selves in the latter character, as sureties for the succesful prosecution of the appeal which they had taken as representatives of the estate, and this they insist was a sufficient furnishing of security under the act of the legislature. 1 Martin's Digest, 438.
East'n District.
June, 1824.
We are satisfied it was not. The judgment rendered, directed the defendants to pay into court, the balance in their hands, the period of executorship having expired. By the terms of this decree, the defendants became responsible in their private capacity if they failed to pay over the money they had received as executors. The signing of a bond therefore gives no more security, than that which the plaintiff already had by the judgment. We cannot distinguish this case from that where an agent, or factor was condemned to pay money to his principal, and he offered himself in his private capacity to become security for his acts as mandatory.
The second ground is that after the rejection of this bond, the defendants tendered one for the costs, signed by themselves, and one Jean Maurin as surety.
Whoever is bound by law or judgment, to give a surety, must offers person possessed of sufficient property, to secure the sum for which he is bound.
The amount of costs acknowledged by the defendants in the bond tendered by them, was six hundred dollars, the surety ⅛ only shewn to possess property to the amount of $ 400.
It has been urged that the bond was accepted in the court of probates, and that the proceedings Were irregular, by which it was set aside. The evidence taken renders it difficult for us to say what is the regular practice of that court in regard to takings appeal bonds, and what were the particular circumstances attending this transaction. Admitting that such irregularity is shewn, we do not think this is a case, which requires, or authorises our interference. An opportunity has been afforded the defendants to shew in this court, that they offered in that below, a good and sufficient surety, such as the law contemplates. This they have failed to do, and therefore are not entitled to the extraordinary interference of this court. Writs of this kind are used not to correct mere errors in form, but to ensure substantial justice. ⅜ -• -• ,
We feel inclined to this course from the consideration, that the road to this tribunal is still open to the defendants, by another appeal, if they are able to give security.
Let the rule be discharged at the costs of the appellants.