Campbell v. Gates

| Ind. | Nov 29, 1861

Davison, J.

The appellant, wTho was tbe plaintiff, sued Adam Gates and John Gates, upon a promissory note, for tbe payment of $300. The note is dated April 16, 1857, and was payable on December 25, 1858, to one Benjamin F Strong, wbo indorsed it to one Deary Bowers, who, without indorsement, assigned it to tbe plaintiff. Adam Gates was defaulted. The other defendant, John Gates, answered tbe complaint. His answer says, that he executed the note as the surety of Adam Gates ; that at the time of its execution he was, also, the surety of said Adam upon another note for $233, payable to one John lloneyman, and that Strong, the payee, when the note in suit was given, promised this defendant, in consideration that he would execute the same as surety, that he, Strong, would release him, defendant, or procure his release, from all liability on the note to lloney■man. It is averred that Strong, notwithstanding his promise, has failed and refused to release the defendant, or to cause liis release, from such liability. And that since he became surety on the note given to Strong, lloneyman has recovered a judgment on the note given to him, against this defendant, which he has been compelled to pay, &c. To this answer, the plaintiff demurred; but his demurrer was overruled. And thereupon he replied, that before he fully purchased said note, he called on the defendant and informed him of Ms intention to purchase it, and inquired of him if the note was valid, and if there were any set-offs against it; and further ashed the defendant to execute to him, plaintiff, one note for $220, and another note, for the residue thereof, to one Deary Bovjers; but the defendant, although he refused to execute the new notes as requested, stated to the plaintiff that he had no set-off against the note, and that the same was valid; and the plaintiff, relying on said statement, purchased the entire interest in the note, wherefore, &c. The issues were submitted to a jury, who found for the defendant; and the Court, having refused a new trial, rendered judgment, &c. The causes for a new trial are thus assigned: 1. The verdict is contrary to law and evidence. 2. The charges asked by the defendant, marked Nos. 1 and 2, and given by the Court, are erroneous. 3. The Court erred in overruling the demurrer to the answer.

The charges referred to are as follows: 1. “The plaintiff having admitted the facts stated in the answer of John Gales, before he would be entitled to recover of John Gates, you should believe from the evidence that said Gates said or did something, to induce the plaintiff to purchase the note.” 2. “If you believe that Gates said enough, in the conversation alluded to by Elias Jcirret, to put the plaintiff on his guard, and require him to make further inquiry in regard to any defense that Gates might have to said note, you should find for the defendant.” As the evidence is not in the record, we are unable to say whether these instructions are, or not, applicable to the case made by the proof. Nor can it be said that they axe inconsistent with the issues made in the cause. We are not, therefore, authorized to adjudge them erroneous.

As has been seen, the answer to which the demurrer was overruled, sets up a contract between the payee of tire note and the defendant, whereby the former, in consideration that the latter would become surety on the note, promised to release him, or procure his release, from certain liabilities to Jolni TToneyman. This contract, it seems, was made at the time the note was executed; but was not reduced to writing. Hence it is argued that the contract, thus made, is not operative as a defense to the action, because it conflicts with the legal effect of the note. We are not inclined to adopt that construction. Ordinarily, a surety is liable to the creditor in ^ie same manner, and to the same extent, as the principal debtor. But as an exception to this rule, the surety is allowed to set up in defense, any matters which ought, in equity, to go to his personal exoneration. Mr. Burge says: “If the contract of suretyship is, as between the creditor and the surety, subject to a condition, the surety is discharged if the condition be not performed.” Burge on Suretyship, pp. 115, 116. Indeed, we perceive no valid reason why the engagement of the surety, who, as such, executes a written contract, may not be founded upon a consideration variant from’ that which induced its execution by his principal. And if, as hr the case at bar, such consideration be a condition subsequent, to be performed by the creditor, his failure to perform it would evidently operate as a fraud upon the surety, and, upon that ground, release him from all liability upon his engagement. 2 Am. Lead. Cases, p. 262; Pidcock v. Bishop, 3 B. & C. 197. And it is plainly competent for the surety to set up and prove such failure of consideration, because it has been often adjudged that such defense is not in conflict with the legal effect of the contract. If these positions are correct, and we think they are, the Court, in overruling the demurrer, committed no error.

Jno. F. Reid and J. F. Gardner, for the appellant. B. F. Claypool and F. G. Trusler, for tire appellee.

Per Curiam. — The judgment is affirmed, with costs.