Cadwell v. Randall
Cadwell v. Randall
Opinion of the Court
Mrs. Cadwell filed a bill against her husband, George IV. Cadwell, for a divorce. She caused a writ of ne exeat to be issued, on which he was arrested by the sheriff, and then liberated on bail.
The amount was five thousand dollars, and' the defendant Randall and the decedent Foster became sureties that Cadwell would remain within the state. Subsequently the court decreed a divorce, and further, that Cadwell should pay certain sums by way of allowance. The decree also continued the ne exeat in force. But shortly after such decree, Cadwell went to another state, without leaye of the court and contrary to the obligation of the bond.
The sheriff thereupon obtained leave to prosecute the bond, and accordingly impleaded Randall and Foster, the sureties upon it, in the circuit court for Kent county. Issue was joined and the cause noticed for trial, which, however, was postponed. This was in 1871, and whilst matters were in this shape, and on the 2d of November of that year,
On the part of the defense the general issue was pleaded,, with notice of set off.
The case was tried without a jury, and the judge made-a special finding of facts. He found that Mrs. Cadwell had failed to establish a cause of action, and that the defense-had made out a valid claim by way of set off, for five hundred and sixty-one dollars and ninety-four cents.
Judgment was accordingly given against Mrs. Cadwell for that sum, together with the costs of suit; and she complains that the facts do not sustain the judgment. Her position is, that by the finding a cause of action is made out in her favor on -the writing executed by Eandall and Foster.
We cannot take this view of the case. We think the finding distinctly negatives the existence of a cause of action in her favor on the covenant.
The obtainment of their discharge from liability on the. bond by Eandall and Foster, and the capture and surrender of Cadwell under the ne exeat, the discontinuance of the suit upon the bond, and the enforcement against him, if practicable, of the decree, were the important objects, and they were to precede any liability to pay Mrs. Cadwell any thing whatever.
Now the judge has found in substance and effect that Cadwell was never surrendered under the ne exeat, that Eandall and Foster were never discharged from liability by the court, that the suit on the bond has not been discontinued; and this finding is conclusive against any right of action on the covenant.
The circumstances and contingencies upon which it was to become efficacious and have active operation, have not taken place.
The judgment must be affirmed, with costs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Lydia J. Cadwell v. Leonard H. Randall and others
- Status
- Published