Case Name: National Security Bank vs. Francis Hunnewell & another
Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1878-03-25
Citations: 124 Mass. 260
Docket Number: 
Parties: National Security Bank vs. Francis Hunnewell & another.
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Reports
Volume: 124
Pages: 260–261

Head Matter:
National Security Bank vs. Francis Hunnewell & another.
Suffolk.
March 6.—25, 1878.
Colt & Soule, JJ., absent.
In an action on a recognizance, entered into under the Gen. Sts. c. 124, § 10, evidence that the judgment in favor of the plaintiff has been paid in full by another judgment debtor, after the recognizance was given and before the alleged breach of it, is admissible in bar of the action.
Contract, against Francis Hunnewell and John L. Hunnewell, on a recognizance entered into under the Gen. Sts. e. 124, § 10, by the first named defendant as principal, and the other as surety, and conditioned that Francis Hunnewell, who had been arrested on an execution in favor of the plaintiff, should, within thirty days from the time of his arrest, deliver himself up for examination before some magistrate authorized to act, giving notice of the time and place thereof in the manner provided by law, and appear at the time fixed for his examination, and from time to time until the same was concluded, and not depart without leave of the magistrate, making no default at any time fixed for his examination, and abide the final order of the magistrate thereon. Answer: 1. A general denial. 2. Payment of the judgment.
At the trial in the Superior Court, before Putnam, J., there was evidence tending to show that the plaintiff brought an action in that court against Francis Hunnewell as first indorser of a promissory note, against John Gorham as maker, and against Edwin Strain and others as second indorsers, and on March 2, 1876, recovered judgment therein against all the defendants, for $3,043 damages and $30.17 costs; that, on March 3, execution on this judgment was duly issued; that, on March 31, Francis Hunnewell was arrested and taken before a master in chancery for the county of Suffolk, and gave the recognizance in suit. It further appeared in evidence that the master in chancery appointed April 28 for the hearing upon the application of Francis to take the oath for the relief of poor debtors ; that an examination was begun on that day, and adjourned to June 1, on which day it was adjourned to June'26, and then further adjourned tó August 21, at two o’clock in the afternoon; that the creditor was present and waited until after three o’clock, but Francis did not appear during the hour nor at all upon that day, and subsequently stated that he had forgotten to do so.
The defendants offered evidence that, prior to August 21, 1876, and after the recognizance was taken, the judgment was paid in full by Strain and others, the second indorsers of the note originally declared on; but the judge ruled that this was a matter which was to be heard by the court, in determining the question for what portion of the penal sum execution should be awarded, if the plaintiff recovered in this action, and rejected the evidence as being no defence to this action. The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff for the penal sum of the recognizance ; and the defendants alleged exceptions.
B. B. Perry S. W Creech, Jr., for the defendants.
Gr. S. Littlefield, for the plaintiff.

Opinion:
Morton, J.
We are of opinion that the learned justice who presided in the Superior Court erred in rejecting the evidence offered by the defendants, that the judgment in favor of the plaintiff had been paid in full before the alleged breach of the recognizance. Payment of the judgment by any of the joint judgment debtors would operate as a discharge of the judgment as to all. Holmes v. Day, 108 Mass. 563. After such payment, there was no occasion for the debtor to appear before the magistrate according to the terms of his recognizance. The magistrate could not proceed with the examination, and the officer could not arrest the debtor upon the execution, which, by the satisfaction of the judgment, has become functus officio. The payment of the judgment would excuse the debtor from strict compliance with the terms of the recognizance, and his failure to appear before the magistrate would not be a breach.
Exceptions sustained.