Dunn v. State

53 S.W.2d 307
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas·Decided March 30, 1932·No. No. 15136·Published·Cited by 1 cases

Opinions

LATTIMORE, J.

This is an appeal from a final judgment upon forfeiture of a bail bond.

Mr. Dunn was indicted in Midland county, Tex., for permitting property under his control to be used as a place for gaming; a felony. He made an appearance bond with Hanks and Currie as sureties. On November 25, 1930, the case being called for trial and Dunn failing to appear, his bond was forfeited and a proper judgment nisi was rendered against him and said sureties. In said judgment, among other things, was the following recital :

“And it is ordered; adjudged and decreed by the court that the State of Texas do have and recover' of and from the said C. J. Dunn as principal, the sum of One Thousand and no/ 100 Dollars; and in like manner that the State of Texas do have and recover of and from the said O. E. Hanks and R. J. Currie as sureties, the sum of One Thousand and no/100 Dollars each, and that this judgment will be made final unless good cause be shown at the next term of this court why said defendant did not appear.”

Citations were issued and served on said sureties, who filed what is called defendants’ original answer, which upon examination shows to be merely a request that the court “Give them the rest of the term in which to bring in the principal.” It is also stated therein that said sureties were under the impression tnat Dunn had made another bond, and that hence they were released.

The district court of Midland county holds two terms each year, beginning on the first Mondays in February and September, respectively, and continuing three weeks. The answer above referred to was filed February 2, 1931, but if called to the attention of the court, or action taken thereon, this is not shown. At the September term 1931, of said court, and on October 3d, the judge entered a nunc pro tunc final judgment in said cause as of date February 19, 1931, the recitals of which followed those of the judgment nisi above set out, and further set forth that on said February 19, 1931, said final judgment was rendered, but that same was not then entered upon the minutes, and that same were now entered as of said date.

By proper writ, of error and supersedeas bond, said sureties bring the case to this court upon three propositions, viz.: First, there is a fatal variance between the bond and the judgments nisi and final, in that the bond of the parties bound them for $1,000 “Jointly and severally,” whereas the judgments were rendered against the principal in the sum of $1,000, and against the sureties for $1,000 each. Second, that no valid nunc pro tunc judgments were entered, because no notice was given these sureties of any such intention [308]*308prior to such entry. Third, the indictment having be.en quashed, the judgment final upon the bond forfeiture was void and of no effect.

Our statutes are unusually plain in telling what should be done in bond forfeiture cases. Article 425, O. O. P. states: “Judgment shall be entered that the State of Texas recover of the defendant the amount of money in which he is bound, and of his sureties, the amount of money in which they are respectively bound.” Article 427, Id., regarding citation to the sureties, states: “It shall state * * * the amount for which it [the judgment] was taken against each party thereto.” Article 437, Id. recites “Judgment shall be made final against him and his sureties for the amount in which they are respectively bound. * * * Separate executions shall issue against each party for the amount adjudged against him.” Article 435, Id., recites: “The judgment * * * shall not be set aside because of any defect of form; but such defect of form may, at any time, be amended under the direction of the court.”

The books are full of cases on the point involved. In Kiser v. State, 13 Tex. App. 201, Judge Willson said: “The judgment nisi was rendered against the defendants severally for the amount of the bond. In this we think there was no error. They were severally bound under the law, and the law requires that the judgment should be thus rendered against them. (Code Crim. Proc., Arts. 306 and 441.) The final judgment is against them jointly and severally. This is a variance from the judgment nisi, and is not strictly correct ; but, in our opinion, it is immaterial, and not sufficient to vitiate the judgment.”

Practically the same thing is said in Fulton et al. v. State, 14 Tex. App. 34. In Mathena v. State, 15 Tex. App. 461, Judge White writes forcibly, and says: “Now, however, they cannot sever the amount of the obligation, and all must unite in making themselves liable for the full sum for which the principal is bound; and in our opinion they are each bound for that amount, both jointly and severally. They are jointly bound by virtue of the undertaking, but are severally bound because the law fixes their status as that of several, and not joint, obligors.”

The court in its opinion further states that this does not mean that such amount is in any event collectable from each, but that payment by any one of said parties is full and complete settlement and satisfaction for all as far as the state is concerned. This is a correct announcement. In Allee v. State, 28 Tex. App. 531, 13 S. W. 991, this court said: “There is no material variance between the judgment nisi and the citation. The liability of sureties upon a bail-bond or recognizance is several as well as joint, and it is immaterial whether it be stated in the judgment nisi or the citation to be joint or several, or joint and several. Code Crim. Proc. arts. 290, 306; Mathena v. State, 15 Tex. App. 460.”

In Avant v. State, 33 Tex. Cr. R. 312, 26 S. W. 411, Judge Davidson said: “The judgment nisi was entered against the parties severally, and this is assigned as error. There is no merit in the position.”

In Thompson v. State, 34 Tex. Cr. R. 135, 29 S. W. 789, Judge Henderson said: “The judgment nisi was entered against the principal and the sureties for the sum of $500 each. This is complained of by appellants, and in support of their contention they cite Ishmael v. State, 41 Tex. 245. This case, and all others holding the same doctrine, have been overruled. See Kiser v. State, 13 Tex. App. 201.”

, See Trail v. State, 56 Tex. Cr. R. 73, 118 S. W. 714, opinion by Judge Brooks, holding likewise. In General Bonding & Casualty Ins. Co. v. State, 73 Tex. Cr. R. 656, 165 S. W. 615, 618, the judgment nisi sets but as follows: “That the state of Texas do have and recover of and from Henry Jackson, as principal, the sum of fifteen hundred dollars; and in like manner that the State of Texas do have and recover of and from the said General Bonding & Casualty Insurance Co., as sureties, the sum of fifteen hundred dollars each.” This was held correct. Judge Davidson dissented in this case, but upon other grounds. In Stall-ings v. State, 77 Tex. Cr. R. 23, 177 S. W. 132, there is fully set out a bond similar to the one here, in the judgment upon forfeiture of which it is stated that complaint was made “Because it was against the principal for the full amount, and against each of the sureties for the full amount.” This was held a correct recital. Appellants cite on this point two cases: Sanders et al. v. State, 86 Tex. Cr. R. 322, 216 S. W. 870, and Gass et al. v. State, 110 Tex. Cr. R. 238, 8 S.W.(2d) 123. We do not regard the announcement of either upon the point here at issue as sound, and in so far as contrary to what has been so long and so often held otherwise, and to any extent as contrary to what we have here said, same will be overruled.

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