Case Name: WILLIAM C. BIRD v. NATHAN CHAFFIN
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1835-06
Citations: 1 Dev. & Bat. Eq. 55
Docket Number: 
Parties: WILLIAM C. BIRD v. NATHAN CHAFFIN.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 21
Pages: 55–56

Head Matter:
WILLIAM C. BIRD v. NATHAN CHAFFIN.
June, 1835.
A creditor, who by a misrepresentation, induces another person to execute a bond as surety for his debt, will not be permitted, in equity, to subject the latter to its payment.
The facts were, that one John A. Chaffin, being indebted to the defendant in the sum of two hundred and twenty-five dollars, the latter called upon him to execute a bond, with surety, for the amount. John A. Chaffin, executed the bond, and asked the defendant if the plaintiff would be a satisfactory surety, to which the latter replied in the affirmative, and supposing himself authorised by this conversation to apply to the plaintiff to execute the bond, he did so, telling the plaintiff that it was in consequence of the directions of John A. Ghaffin. The plaintiff executed the bond, and upon mentioning the fact to John A. Chaffin, the latter disavowed the authority to the defendant.
The defendant having obtained a judgment at law, the plaintiff filed this bill praying for an injunction.
His Honor Judge Seawell, on the last Circuit at Rowan, perpetuated the injunction, and the defendant appealed.
Badger, for the defendant.
Nash, for the plaintiff.

Opinion:
Gaston, Judge.
This case comes before us, on appeal from a decree rendered in the Court of Equity, in the County of Rowan, upon bill and answer, by which decree the defendant is perpetually enjoined from collecting a judgment, which he had recovered against the plaintiff, as the surety of one John A. Chaffin, on a bond executed by the said John and the plaintiff to the defendant. The gravamen of the bill is, that the plaintiff had been induced to execute the bond, by a misrepresentation of the defendant, that John A. Chaffin had authorised him to request the plaintiff to become the said John's surety. The answer admits that such a representation was made by the defendant to the plaintiff. It denies indeed, that this was done with a fraudulent intent, and sets forth all that passed between the said John and the defendant, from which the defendant inferred that an authority to make such request had been given. This inference was not communicated to the plaintiff as an inference, but stated as a fact. It appears to us, that this inference was unfounded ; that such an authority was not given, and that the representation therefore was not true. If the plaintiff should be compelled to pay this bond, he could have no redress against the principal, because he did not execute the bond at the instance or request of the principal. It is against conscience, that the defendant should enforce a recovery upon an engagement, which the plaintiff would not have contracted, but upon the belief that he was entitled to an indemnity from his principal; which belief was a clear mistake, and which mistake was occasioned by an incorrect representation of the defendant himself.
The decree below is to be affirmed with costs.
Per Curiam. Decree affirmed.