LaRose v. Logansport National Bank

1 N.E. 805, 102 Ind. 332, 1885 Ind. LEXIS 55
CourtIndiana Supreme Court
DecidedJune 25, 1885
DocketNo. 11,471
StatusPublished
Cited by46 cases

This text of 1 N.E. 805 (LaRose v. Logansport National Bank) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
LaRose v. Logansport National Bank, 1 N.E. 805, 102 Ind. 332, 1885 Ind. LEXIS 55 (Ind. 1885).

Opinions

Mitchell, C. J.

Oscar M. Goodwin was appointed cashier of the Logansport National Bank on the 9th day of January, 1878.

In compliance with a requirement of its by-laws, he executed his bond, with the appellants as sureties, in the penal sum of $25,000, conditioned for the faithful discharge of his duties as cashier.

This suit was brought by the bank against Goodwin and his sureties on the bond.

[334]*334The complaint is in six paragraphs, to each of which a demurrer was filed and overruled. Each paragraph avers the-appointment of Goodwin, on the date above mentioned, the execution and approval of the bond on the 23d day of January, 1878, that he entered upon, and continued in, the discharge of his duties as cashier until June 17th, 1882, when he wrongfully destroyed the bond and absconded, largely in default to the bank.

With each paragraph of the complaint is set out what purports to be a substantial copy of the bond, which is, in substance, as follows:

Know all men that we, etc., are held and firmly bound unto the Logansport National Bank, etc., in the penal sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, for the payment of which we-bind ourselves, etc.

But, whereas the above named Oscar M. Goodwin was on the 9th day of January, A. D. 1878, duly appointed cashier of the above named bank by the board of directors of said bank, to hold said office during the pleasure of said board,, etc.: Now, therefore, if the above named cashier shall faithfully dischai’ge the duties of said office during his continuance therein, and such duties as are now or may hereafter be from time to time prescribed by the by-laws of the board of directors, etc., and shall safely keep account for and pay over all moneys, etc., belonging to said bank, and deliver all notes, bonds, bills, obligations, books, papers and other property of said bank which shall come into or be ‘in his possession by virtue of his office, to the board of directors, then this bond shall be void, otherwise, etc.

A by-law of the corporation is also set out, which provides that the cashier shall be responsible for the moneys, funds and valuables of the bank, and requires that he give bond for the faithful discharge of his duties.

The breaches assigned in varying detail in each paragraph are, that Goodwin embezzled, appropriated and converted to his own use large sums of money belonging to the bank; that [335]*335he failed to discharge his duties as cashier, by making false entries on the books of the bank in order to deceive its board of directors; and that he also failed to discharge his duty in other respects, with reasonable skill and diligence, by means of which a large sum of money was lost to the bank, which, upon demand, he failed to account for and pay over.

We concur in the statement found on page 3 of appellants’ counsel’s printed brief, in which it is said, These paragraphs of complaint are all substantially the same.”

The case was argued orally, with great ability and learning, and elaborate briefs were filed by counsel on both sides.

On the one hand, it was argued that the undertaking of Goodwin’s bondsmen constitutes a continuing guaranty, and is collateral to the original contract, and tha^ as there is in the complaint no averment of notice of the default before suit brought, the demurrer thereto should have been sustained.

As against this view, it is contended that as the contract was entered into jointly with the principal obligor, it is an original undertaking, and that the bondsmen became liable as sureties, and as such were not entitled to notice.

With respect to the distinction between a guarantor and surety, much nicety of refinement and some uncertainty will be found to exist, and the basis on which the. distinction is made to rest is not always satisfactory. We think it may be said, however, that where the engagement is that one who is liable in the first instance will pay a debt or perform an obligation, and that, upon his default, the promisor will answer for such default, the contract is one of guaranty. A concise definition of the term is: “A promise to answer for the payment of some debt, or the performance of some duty, in case of the failure of some person who, in the first instance, is liable for such payment or performance.” Baylies Sureties and Guar. 2; 3 Kent Com. 121; Gallagher v. Nichols, 60 N. Y. 438; Dole v. Young, 24 Pick. 250; Colebrooke Col. Secur., p. 329.

The engagement of a surety is, that in the event his prin[336]*336cipal fails, he will perform the original obligation, and whether it is entered into jointly with the principal or separately, the extent and character of the obligation are the same as to both, depending only upon the form in which it is expressed. The contract of a guarantor, on the other hand, is that the principal is able, willing, and that he will perform an engagement which he has undertaken or is about to undertake, and that in the event of failure the guarantor will answer for the consequences. Whether the contract is entered into separately or jointly with the principal, if by its terms it appears that the principal is separately bound by an original independent contract, to which the contract for security is collateral, and the obligors agree therein that the principal will pay or perform according to his original engagement, and that they will answer for his default in the event of failure, they become guarantors. The contract of the one is a direct original agreement with the obligee that the very thing contracted for shall be done. The other enters into a cumulative collateral engagement, by which he agrees that his principal is able to and will perform a contract which he has made, or is about to make, and that if he fails he will, upon being notified thereof, pay the resulting damages. Ward v. Wilson, 100 Ind. 52 (50 Am. R. 763); Reigart v. White, 52 Pa. St. 438; Woods v. Sherman, 71 Pa. St. 100.

In Murfree on Official Bonds, section 1, it is said: “ If, however, a bond be executed by a stranger to the original debt, it is regarded as a guarantee.” Goodwin's contract with the bank was that he would devote himself, in skill, experience and fidelity, to the conduct of its affairs as cashier. This was his personal obligation to the bank, which no one could discharge in his stead. His bondsmen engaged, that he was possessed of the requisite qualifications to that end, and that he would faithfully exert them in its behalf. In no event was it contemplated that they or either of them would discharge the duties of cashier, or do the particular things which he might fail to do. The fair import of their contract [337]*337is that they will pay any damages which may accrue on account of his default. This constituted them guarantors, and that Goodwin also joined in this collateral contract did not make it different.

The bond was not the original or principal contract, but was collateral, or id addition to, or by the side of the engagement of Goodwin with the bank, and being so collateral it is brought within the very terms of a guaranty.

Goodwin remained liable on his original engagement with the bank in the same manner and to the same extent that he was before.

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Bluebook (online)
1 N.E. 805, 102 Ind. 332, 1885 Ind. LEXIS 55, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/larose-v-logansport-national-bank-ind-1885.