United States v. Ballantine
Opinion of the Court
The trial judge properly held that the plaintiff in error would not be entitled to recover $43 against the surety for the excessive fees which the principal collected, and which were charged against him in settlement of his accounts with the government, under section 1723, Rev. St. [U. S. Comp. St. 1901, p. 1185], if such principal had in fact paid over or accounted for the whole amount collected, including the excess. The condition of the bond was that the principal should faithfully perform his duties, and should account for, pay over, and deliver up all moneys which should come into his hands as vice consul. The obligation of the bond did not require the surety to respond for the special statutory penalty.
The court, however, seems to have erred in directing a dismissal of the complaint as to those two items. Apparently the trial judge was under the impression that plaintiff had put in its testimony and rested. This is not surprising, for the position of the respective parties was indicated by a somewhat informal discussion as to what they understood to be the law and the facts. The complaint averred that the principal had failed to account for, pay over, and deliver the moneys collected (for excessive fees), and the answer squarely denied this averment. If, under these circumstances, the plaintiff had closed its case -without putting in any proof tending to show
The judgment must be reversed, and cause remanded for a new trial.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED STATES v. BALLANTINE
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published