Case Name: MARCUS BOYD against MIDDLETON KING and others
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1858-08
Citations: 4 Jones Eq. 152
Docket Number: 
Parties: MARCUS BOYD against MIDDLETON KING and others.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 57
Pages: 152–153

Head Matter:
MARCUS BOYD against MIDDLETON KING and others.
Where an obligee in a bond procured a young man, inexperienced in business, to sign the instrument as co-obligor with another who had signed it, by asking him to sign it as a witness, and when he was about to sign it, by pointing to the place where his name was subscribed as the proper place for a witness to sign, it was Held that the bond should be surrendered to be cancelled.
Cause removed from the Court of Equity of Lincoln County.
The plaintiff was a young man, living about eight miles from Lincolnton, quite inexperienced in business, and ignor: ant of its forms.
On the day of this transaction, he came into the town upon business, and being in the store house of Moss & King, the latter asked him to witness a bond which Moss had made to him for the penal sum of ten thousand dollars, he took him to the writing desk, and producing the bond, asked Moss if that was his act and deed, Moss answered in the affirmative; he then presented the paper to the plaintiff, who asked King where he should sign as a witness. Lie pointed to the space under the name of the principal, where there had been a scroll written for a seal, and the plaintiff, with a belief that he was signing it as a witness, subscribed his name there as a co-obligor.
The paper proved to be a penal bond in ten thousand dollars payable by the defendant King and conditioned that Moss should pay ail the debrs of the firm of Moss and King which was insolvent for a large amount. The prayer is, that the said bond be declared void, and be surrendered for cancellation.
The defendant having left the State, there was judgment pro oonfesso as to him. The other partner, Moss, answered, and was examined as a witness; he proved the fraud as above stated.
The cause was set down forbearing on the bill, answer, proofs and former orders, and sent to this Court.
Lander and Avery, for the plaintiff.
No counsel appeared for defendant in this Court.

Opinion:
Battle, J.
The material allegations upon which the plaintiff founds his title to relief, are clearly proved by the testimony on file, and lie is therefore entitled to a decree to have the obligation mentioned in the pleadings delivered up to be can-celled as to him, and he may have costs against the defendant King.
Per Curiam. Decree accordingly.