48 N.J.L. 22 | N.J. | 1886
The opinion of the court was delivered by
The court has been asked by the counsel of the respective parties to decide the question involved irrespectively of the pleadings.
The case will be decided from the facts stated in the record, and the admitted fact that the debt secured by the sealed instrument sued on was the debt of the township of Harrison.
The only inquiry, therefore, is whether the defendants, by the form of the deed executed by them, have made themselves personally responsible for this public debt.
The counsel of the plaintiff, in support of the right of
Upon both reason and authority we think the law is against the plaintiff’s claim.
The case of Hodgson v. Dexter, 1 Crunch 346, is directly in point. The facts were, in brief, the following, viz.: the action was in form of covenant against Dexter, who had lately been secretary of war, and was founded on covenants contained in a lease, to keep in good repair and deliver up in good order a certain building hired for the use of the government. The building had been destroyed by fire, and the sole question was whether Dexter was personally liable. The lease was a deed inter partes, which Dexter had sealed as an individual. In the commencement of the instrument he had described himself, “ secretary of war,” and to the performance of the covenants he had bound himself (but not as secretary) • and “ his successors.”
Under these circumstances it was hold that Dexter was not bound personally, Chief Justice Marshall saying: “A contrary doctrine would be productive of the most injurious consequences to the public, as well as to individuals.”
This decision has, we believe, been universally approved of, and it is evident that unless overruled by this court, it must conclude this controversy. With everything that was said in this case, as well as in the conclusion reached by the court, we entirely concur.
It will be observed that in the sealed bill forming the
The defendants must have judgment.