Hooks v. Evans

68 Iowa 52 | Iowa | 1885

Adams, J.

I. The defendant Evans was charged with failing to account for certain money and notes which came into his hands as proceeds of the sale of certain real estate. The bond in question was Evans’ general bond. The ruling of the court below that the guardian was liable, but that the sureties upon his bond were not, was doubtless based upon the rule held in Madison Co. v. Johnston, 51 Iowa, 152, and Bunce v. Bunce, 65 Id., 106. But the ruling in those cases was made with reference to the proceeds of sales made by the guardian liimself. In the case at bar the sale was made by-referees in a proceeding for partition. The question presented is as to whether the ruling in those cases is applicable to this. In our opinion it is not. The Code expressly provides that the guardian, when about to sell real estate, shall give a sjtecial bond as security for the proceeds of the sale, as a condition precedent to his right to sell. Section 2261. Where such bond is given, it has been repeatedly held that the ward cannot look to the sureties upon the general bond, in case of failure of the guardian to account for the proceeds. In Bunce v. Bunce, above cited, the court went further, and held that, even where a special sale boud was not given, the ward could not look- to the sureties upon the general bond, because those sureties, when they signed the general bond, had a right to suppose, in case of a guardian’s sale of real estate, that a special sale bond would be given, and it was thought that their liability could not properly be held to be greater than they had reason to suppose it would be at the time it was assumed.

When, however, real estate of the ward is sold, not at a guardian’s sale, but at a referee’s sale, made in proceedings for a partition, the case is different. There is no provision of statute that a special bond shall be given, and the sureties cannot be allowed to say that they had reason to suppose that there would be. Their liability, therefore, must be determined solely by the terms of their contract. Com. v. Loyd, 12 Phila., 221; Blauser v. Diehl, 90 Pa. St., 350. Now, when we look into their contract, we find it to be that the guardian “shall, from time to time, whenever thereunto required bylaw, render and pay to said minors all moneys, goods, chattels, title-papers and effects which may come into the hands or possession of such guardian.” It is urged by the sureties that these words are to be construed with reference to the circumstances existing at the time the bond was given, and-that, so construed, the contract could not be held to cover the moneys and notes in question, because at that time they had no existence. It is also urged that the statute provides that the amount of the bond shall be double the value of the personal estate, and of the rents and profits of the real estate; and, as personal estate not then in existence, like that in question, could not be taken into consideration in fixing the amount of the bond, we ought to presume that it was not the intention of the law that the bond should be regarded as security for it. But we cannot think that the intention was that the ward should be without security for such property. It is true, it could not be estimated in fixing the amount of the bond, but the bond is to be double the value of the personal estate then seen; and, besides, an additional bond can be required from time to time, as the court shall think that the full protection of the ward demands. This property having come into the hands of the guardian as the ward’s personal estate, but not as the proceeds of a guardian’s sale of real estate for which a special provision is made, we think we must treat it like other personal estate of the ward, and regard the bond in question as security for it.

It is contended by the sureties that, even if such were the correct rule in case of a referee’s sale, it ought not to be applied in the case at bar, because what was set up as a referee’s sale was not such in fact, and ought not to be regarded as any sale at all. We do not deem it important to specially notice the objections urged against the validity of the sale. It is certain that the purchasers at the sale have paid their money, and the plaintiff has elected to take judgment for the same against the guardian, to whom it was paid. Under these circumstances, she would be estopped from questioning the validity of the sale, and we do not think that we would be justified in this proceeding in holding it invalid.

II. One question remains to be determined, and that is as to the amount for which these sureties are liable in this case. The judgment against the guardian was for $736.12. The penalty of the bond is $600. The judgment against the sureties might be for the amount of the penalty of the bond, but for tbe fact, which remains to be stated, that Evans was appointed guardian, not only for the plaintiff, but for three others, and the bond in question was given for their benefit, and was the only one given for the four. It is manifest that the aggregate liability of the sureties to the four wards could not exceed $600. The other three wards are not made parties, and without them no judgment can be rendered by which their rights can be impaired. It follows that the court below should have rendered judgment against the sureties for $150, and only that.

• Reversed.