Nichol v. White's Administrator
Nichol v. White's Administrator
Opinion of the Court
In Warren County Court they sued White, and declared upon a bond not making profert, because, as they alleged, it is part of a record of a suit in equity in the Circuit Court of that county. White pleaded, stating in his plea that the writing obligatory declared on had a condition in these words, to wit: “ The condition of the above obligation is such, that whereas the above bound John A. Wilson hath prayed and obtained a bill of injunction, to enjoin a judgment that the above named Nichol and Ramsay obtained against him in the County Court of Warren County, at the November session, 1813, of said court, for $714 with interest and costs: now if the said injunction be dissolved, or if on a final
Secondly, how is the condition to be understood, * and will a dissolution of the injunction discharge the bond ?
Thirdly, is the interpretation which the law puts upon this bond different in case of a surety, from that of the principal obligor ? First, no objection, is made in proper time by the defendant, but he has pleaded setting forth the condition. Perhaps it is too late now to object for want of profert.
It is true that oyer cannot be demanded of a record in general (1 Term, 150); but it still remains a question whether this bond be a record. It belongs to the obligee named in it, and may be demanded by him to be proceeded on in any other court. How else can it be tried on a plea of non est factum? But at this time it is too late to inquire into any defect on this score.
Secondly, as to the meaning of the condition, see 1 Douglas, 382, and Ambler, 194; 2 Bur. 923; 6 East, 486; 9 Ves. 225; 4 Ves. junior, 45, 51; 3 Bur. 1626; 2 Ves. junior, 365. Words contrary to the evident meaning may be rejected, and words also may be supplied. And can it be supposed in the case before us, for an instant^ that the obligors were to be discharged upon a dissolution of the injunction, when that was the very cause of requiring the bond at all; the very event provided against, together with the intermediate insolvency of the defendant at law, which may have taken place in the interim ? You shall give bond to pay in case of a dissolution, and shall be discharged in case of a dissolution, are direct contradictions, and the latter could not have been intended. The meaning is, if
As to the third point, we cannot perceive any difference * of construction between the case of a surety and principal. The same sentence applicable to each in the same instrument, must mean the same thing precisely: not one thing in the case of one of them, and the direct contrary in the case of the other. Judgment affirmed.
See, as to contradictions and defects in written contracts, Wood v. Goodrich, 9 Yer. 266; Perry v. Pearson, 1 Hum. 431. As to omission of profert, Everly v. Marable, 2 Yer. 113; Union Bank v. Osborne, 6 Hum. 318; Lowry v. Medlin, 6 Hum. 450; Haley v. Long, Peck, 93. See King’s Digest, 1562, 3633, 9024, 9159, 9913, 10,058, 11,116.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Nichol and Ramsey v. White's Administrator
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- Published