Christian v. State ex rel. Heaston

34 N.E. 825, 7 Ind. App. 417, 1893 Ind. App. LEXIS 270
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedSeptember 19, 1893
DocketNo. 810
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 34 N.E. 825 (Christian v. State ex rel. Heaston) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Christian v. State ex rel. Heaston, 34 N.E. 825, 7 Ind. App. 417, 1893 Ind. App. LEXIS 270 (Ind. Ct. App. 1893).

Opinion

Gavin, C. J.

The facts from which this suit arose are as follows:

The appellant, Christian, was duly elected treasurer of Huntington county for two successive terms, extending from November 7th, 1876, to November 7th, 1880, and as such executed for each term his bond’ with different [418]*418sureties, conditioned that he should faithfully perforin and discharge his duties as such treasurer, and pay over, on demand, to the person entitled thereto all moneys that might come into his hands as such treasurer. In July, 1878, appellant received the sum of $12,000 as the proceeds of certain Stultz gravel road bonds, with which, through mistake, he failed to charge himself in his reports or upon final settlement with the commissioners.

In 1883 the error was discovered by the auditor and appellant’s attention called to it. After having the accounts examined by his son, who had been his deputy, appellant acquiesced in the conclusion that there had been such a mistake, and arranged with the treasurer of the county to report the money as paid, agreeing that he would pay it to him. This was done, and the $12,000 paid in installments commencing January, 1884, the last payment being made July 15th, 1886, and the first payment being made more than five years after the expiration. of his first term of office, during which term the money had been received.

This suit was commenced October 16th, 1883, by filing a complaint in two paragraphs on the first bond.

After a change of venue had been taken to Wells county, the second and third paragraphs were filed upon the second bond. There were answers of general denial, payment, set-off, and the statute of limitations.

To the answer of the statute of limitations a reply was filed, setting up part payment within the statutory period of five years.

The demurrers of all the sureties were sustained and the cause was tried on the issues made with appellant - alone, against whom judgment was rendered for $2,376.

From this judgment he appeals.

The second paragraph of complaint is not bad on the [419]*419ground that it shows upon its face a cause of action barred by the statute of limitations.

There are several exceptions contained in our statutes, notably concealment and nonresidence, which prevent the statute from running, R. S. 1881, sections 297 and 300, and there is nothing in the pleading to negative these exceptions.

In order that the statute of limitations may be available as a defense it must be pleaded, unless the complaint shows affirmatively that the plaintiff is barred, notwithstanding the exceptions. Potter v. Smith, 36 Ind. 231; Hogan v. Robinson, 94 Ind. 138; Medsker v. Pogue, 1 Ind. App. 197.

Then, and then only, is it available- on demurrer.

The appellant moved to dismiss the third and fourth paragraphs of complaint for want of jurisdiction, because they were based upon the second bond and were filed after the cause went on change of venue to Wells county. In this there was no error.

Whatever might be the rule applicable, were the sureties on the second bond complaining, there is no error of which appellant can complain, he being the principal on each bond.

Errors affecting the sureties against whom no judgment was rendered could not be available to the principal.

In considering the question as to appellant, we are not required to resort to the statute of 1889, Elliott’s Supp., section 15, which authorizes a suit on two bonds to be joined in one action, although the sureties may be different. As to appellant, each paragraph of the complaint was a suit on contract and properly joined in one complaint, even though some were filed after the change of venue.

As a matter of fact, but one question was really pre[420]*420sented, on the trial, by all these paragraphs, viz: Whether or not appellant had really accounted for and paid over the $12,000 received from the sale of the Stultz gravel road bonds. Ross v. State, ex rel., 131 Ind. 548.

For the same reasons, the court did not err in sustaining demurrers to the plea in abatement setting up the same matters. So far as the motion or the plea set up the statute of limitations, that was properly raised by plea in bar subsequently filed and held good.

None of the other objections to the complaint, suggested by counsel,jare well taken.

The third paragraph of appellee’s reply was addressed to the answer of the five years’ statute of limitations, and pleaded part payment on the appellee’s claims, within the statutory period.

Fairly construed, these allegations are sufficient to bring them within the rule laid down in Prenatt v. Runyon, 12 Ind. 174, cited by counsel, which requires that the payment shall be made on account of the- debt sued on, and as a part thereof, the allegation being that appellant paid on each of said causes of action January 4th, 1884, $134.16.

It is further insisted that the reply is bad because the lapse of five years after the cause of action accrues forever bars any action upon the bond without any power of revivor.

Counsel for the appellant say in support of this proposition:

“The subject-matter or basis of the action in this case was the bond sued on. * * * The alleged payments could be no more than an acknowledgment by the appellant of his personal liability on account of the breach of his own implied contract that he would do and perform the duties of his office — a new promise to be responsible on account of the alleged»failure to do his duty. [421]*421Such payment could not increase his liability on his bond. No renewal of the bond could be made only by the consent of all the parties thereto. No new or different obligation could be made without the consent of all the parties to said undertaking. One of the parties to said obligation could not make a contract to bind the others. The obligation sued on was an entirety in itself. * * * If the bond sued on is binding on one, it is binding on all who executed it.”

It is undoubtedly true, as asserted by counsel, that this action is founded upon the bond. As such we regard it. For this reason, the five years’ statute of limitations provided for in subd. 2, section 293, R. S. 1881, applies and is a good defense, unless its force is avoided by the part payment.

It is true, also, that the appellant, the principal on the bond, could not, by any act of his alone, revive against his sureties a right of action which had been once barred by the statute. Hunter v. Robertson, 30 Ga. 479; Bottles v. Miller, 112 Ind. 584 (588); 13 Am. and Eng. Ency. of Law, 763; R. S. 1881, sections 302-306.

But while this is true, it is also equally well settled that an obligation of one of several joint obligors may be, by his part payment, revived as to himself, although not as to the others. Bottles v. Miller, supra; Shoemaker v. Benedict, 11 N. Y. 176; Littlefield v. Littlefield, 91 N. Y. 203.

Counsel contend that the payment made was upon appellant’s individual and personal liability or debt, and not upon the bond.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Martin v. Brown
716 N.E.2d 1030 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1999)
Meehan, Admx. v. Meehan's Estate
186 N.E. 908 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1933)
Spencer v. McCune
126 N.E. 30 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1920)
Board of Commissioners v. Hall
99 N.E. 1009 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1912)
Barrett v. Sipp
98 N.E. 310 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1912)
Park v. Park
70 N.E. 493 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1904)
Koontz v. Hammond
51 N.E. 506 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1898)
Brudi v. Trentman
44 N.E. 932 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1896)
McNear v. Roberson
39 N.E. 896 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1895)
DeVay v. Dunlap
7 Ind. App. 690 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1892)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
34 N.E. 825, 7 Ind. App. 417, 1893 Ind. App. LEXIS 270, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/christian-v-state-ex-rel-heaston-indctapp-1893.