Couch v. State
Couch v. State
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiff brought this action to recover from the state the sum of $300, the amount of a reward offered by the governor of the state “for the arrest or information leading to the arrest” of one James Smith, also known as Jacob Bassanella, who escaped from the -county jail of McLean county, where he was held for the murder of Anton Helinger. Smith was recaptured, tried, convicted and executed. There -are three claimants for the reward. The plaintiff, Couch, attached a copy of the governor’s proclamation to his complaint, and alleged that, relying upon the promise contained therein, he furnished the information which led to Smith’s arrest and his return to the sheriff of McLean county. The state filed an answer which admits all -of the allegations of the plaintiff’s complaint essential to his recovery, except the allegation above stated, which allegation was denied. The answer alleged that -one Robert -Cotton, a deputy sheriff of McLean county, and one Lieut. Weeks, of the United States army, have
Counsel for appellant, Cou-ch, contends that a review of the evidence will show that intervener Cotton did not furnish the information or any information which caused Smith’s arrest, but that same was furnished exclusively by the plaintiff to the state’s attorney of McLean county, and in reliance upon the reward; that intervener Weeks, in making the arrest, acted at the request of the state’s attorney, and without knowledge of or reliance upon
We are met at the outset by an objection on the part of the respondents that the case cannot be tried de novo in this court, for the reason that the action is at law to recover money only, and, as such, is properly triable to- a jury, and is therefore not governed by section 5630, as amended in 1903. The objection is sound, and precludes a review of the evidence. Since the amendment of section 5630 by chapter 201, p. 277, Laws 1903, such actions, even when a jury is waived, are not triable in the district court, or reviewable upon appeal in this court, under the provisions of that section. See Barnum v. Gorham Land Co. (N. D.) 100 N. W. 1079. Counsel for appellant concede that the action was not originally triable under section 5630, but contend that the character of the action was changed to one of equity cognizance before the trial. It is said that the state admitted its liability, and -merely asked the court to determine which of the claimants it should pay, and that the case stood in the same position as though the claimants had been brought into court under what was formerly known as a “bill of interpleader.” The record does not sustain the statement as to the state’s attitude or the procedure adopted. The remedy formerly obtained through a bill -of interpleader is now obtained through the simpler method provided -in section 5240, Rev.- Codes 1899, which reads as follows: “A defendant against whom an action is pending upon a contract, or for specific, real or personal property, may, at any time before answer upon affidavit that a person not a party to the action and without collusion with him makes against him a demand for the same debt or property, upon due notice to such person and the adverse party, apply to the court for an order to substitute such -person in his place and discharge him from liability to either party on his depositing in court the amount of the debt, or delivering the property or its value, to such person as the court may direct, and the court -may in its discretion make the order.” Under this section a defendant against whom demands are made for the same debt as that sued upon may cause the substitution of the claimants and his own discharge upon complying with its provisions, which include the deposit of the amount of the debt in court. When this is done, the only issue remaining is between the several claimants as to the right to the money or property so deposited. It is held that “an action at law becomes one in equity by interpleading proceedings, and neither
The only question for consideration, then, is whether the findings of fact sustain the conclusions of -law and judgment. The answer to the question .presents -one of the principal grounds of error argued by counsel for appellant. It is urged that it does not appear that Weeks had knowledge of the offer of reward, and relied upon such offer when he made the arrest. If this fact is vital to his right of recovery — and we are agreed that it is — the judgment in his favor must be reversed. There is no finding upon this issue, and the same fatal defect exists as to the other claimants, including the plaintiff. Each claimant, in his complaint, alleged that he relied upon the offer of reward in rendering the service which he claims entitles him to- recover it. The findings are entirely silent upon this issue. The trial court merely found that the plaintiff and intervener Cotton gave the information which led to the arrest, and that intervener Weeks, acting upon this information, made the arrest. These facts 'do not establish a right of recovery in any of the claimants. To entitle one to a reward, 'he must stow a rendition of the services required in' the offer after knowledge of, and with a view of obtaining, such- reward. The rule relating to contracts applies to such a case. An offer cannot become a contract unless acted upon or assented to, Howland v. Lounds, 51 N. Y. 604, 10 Am. Rep. 654; Bank v. Bangs, 2 Paige, 570; Fitch v. Snedaker, 38 N. Y. 248, 97 Am. Dec. 791; Mayor v. Bailey, 36 N. J. Law, 490; Hewitt v. Anderson, 56 Cal.
The judgment must therefore be reversed, and a mew trial ordered.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Luther A. Couch v. State of North Dakota, M. M. Weeks, Intervener, and Robert Cotton, Intervener
- Status
- Published