Mason v. Whipple
Mason v. Whipple
Opinion of the Court
It does not seem necessary in order to a decision of this case, to discuss the technical questions that were raised upon the pleadings. It may be assumed as appearing in the case that the plaintiff, as an officer by special authorization, attached on several writs against William P. Briggs, various articles of personal property, which afterwards, during the pendency of said suits, were appraised and went into the hands of said Briggs,
The bond in suit was taken by the plaintiff as such satisfactory security. Without determining whether it be a statutory official bond, it may, for the purposes of this case, be treated as valid, for all the purposes provided for in its condition. After reciting the fact of the attachment of the property on the several writs against Mr. Briggs, and the appraisal thereof in pursuance of the statute, the condition proceeds, “now if the said Whipple and Russell shall pay to the said Mason, or to any officer having executions which may be obtained upon these suits, the sum of two hundred and thirteen dollars, or shall indemnify saicl Mason from all damages and costs which may accrue to him if such payment is not made to meet such executions, then this obligation to be void, otherwise of full force.”
It appears that of said suits, only that in favor of Gleason was prosecuted to judgment and execution. The replication sets forth that the execution was duly delivered to the plaintiff, as an authorized officer, and, on demand made, the execution was fully paid and satisfied within its life.
Now, it is to be. observed that the condition of the bond is in the alternative. One alternative is, to pay the two hundred and thirteen dollars to the officer who should have the executions that might be obtained in those suits ; the performance of which would be a full satisfaction of the condition. The other alternative is, that the obligors should indemnify said Mason from all damages and costs which may accrue to him, if such payment is not made to meet such executions. If the payment should be made to meet such executions, then of course no damages and costs could accrue in that behalf. Only one execution was obtained. Payment was made to meet it. It was met, paid and satisfied. It is quite clear then, that the second alternative of the condition was performed.
This bein'g so, and shown to be so by the replication itself, it would seem that the replication, instead of answering and avoiding, fully sustains the plea of performance, as well as that of non damnificatus.
It will hardly be claimed that the plaintiff, as against these defendants, is entitled to anything upon the bond beyond the scope
The judgment of the county court is reversed. Judgment in this court that the replication is insufficient, and that plaintiff be barred.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Edwin D. Mason v. Joseph Whipple and Robert Russell
- Status
- Published