Hansel v. Morris
Hansel v. Morris
Opinion of the Court
Debt on bond for 600 dollars, payable to the plaintiff. The declaration sets forth the condition of the bond to be, that if an injunction obtained by Morris on a judgment against him in favour of Hansel should be dissolved, the defendants would satisfy the judgment and damages. On oyer, the bond appeared payable to Hansel, Collett, and Sims, with a condition as follows: “Whereas Morris hath obtained injunctions against the obligees, enjoining them severally from collecting the several judgments they had recovered against him; now if upon the failure of Morris in the suit, he shall pay Hansel, Collett, and Sims, their several judgments and damages, the obligation to be void.” General demurrer to the declaration, and judgment for the defendants.
With respect to bonds payable to several persons, not appearing therein to have several interests, the law is settled that suit must be instituted by all the obligees living, and the death of any of them must be alleged in the declaration. Here, the case we are investigating is a suit by one of three obligees, the others being alive for aught shown in the pleading; and it must therefore be erroneous, unless the interests of the obligees can be shown by the bond to be several. It is contended by the. plaintiff, that though the penalty is payable to the obligees
The judgment is affirmed, with 1 per cent, damages and costs.
When the declaration shows, that there are other obligees who ought to be but are not joined, the objection may be made on demurrer, in arrest of judgment, or in error. If the objection be not shown by the declaration, the defendant may crave oyer and demur, as in the text, or object on non est factum. 1 Will. Saund. 154, n. 1.
In actions against joint obligors the law is otherwise. They should all be joined, but if they be not, the omission cannot be objected to by demurrer, or on non est factum. The defendant, in these cases, must crave oyer, and plead in abatement that there are other joint obligors who had sealed the bond, and who are still living. If, indeed, these facts essential to the plea, be admitted in the declaration, the defendant may then demur or move in arrest of judgment. Ibid. 291, n. 4.
In contracts not under seal, if all who should join in bringing the suit do not, advantage may be taken of it on non-assumpsit; or, should the objection appear in the declaration, a writ of error lies. Ibid. If, in such contracts, all the j oint contractors living be not sued, the defendant must plead in abate
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Hansel v. Morris and Others
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- 1 case
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- Published