Harnsberger's ex'or v. Geiger's adm'r
Harnsberger's ex'or v. Geiger's adm'r
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court.
The bond in this case was executed by Tapp as surety for Imboden, and at the time of its execution, it was payable twelve months after date. No valuable consideration passed from Peck, the obligee. On the contrary, it was executed solely for the accommodation of Imboden, the principal, and to enable him to raise money for his own benefit, by transferring it to Harnsberger. Accordingly, Imboden employed Peck, the obligee, to make the arrangement with Harnsberger. The evidence in the cause does not shew whether Harnsberger was informed or knew that the bond had been given without value, and for the accommodation of the principal obligor. But whether he knew it or not, that was certainly the fact; and therefore, according to well established principles, the instrument had no obligatory force, on any body, until it passed into the hands of Harnsberger, for value. But before the bond was thus passed to him, a memorandum had been made thereon,
But the agreement was not absolute; there was a condition attached to it, namely, the punctual payment of the interest at the expiration of each year. This condition was not performed; for no interest was paid until many months after the expiration of the first year. That the nonperformance of a condition, on the performance of which, the agreement to extend the time of payment depends, destroys the obligatory force of the agreement, and leaves the parties in the same situation, and with the same rights and obligations, as if the agreement had never been made, was decided in the case of Norris v. Crummy, 2 Rand. 323. The hands of Harnsberger, therefore, were never tied up, so as to prevent his suing the principal, as soon as he could have
The Qourt jg farther of opinion, that the evidence is not sufficient to shew that the said bond was given for . ... a usurious consideration.
The decree is therefore reversed, and the cause is remanded, to be farther proceeded in, according to the principles now declared.
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