| Mo. | Jul 15, 1848
Lead Opinion
delivered the opinion of the Court.
This was a suit upon the official bond of Daniel Nolley and his securities, as Treasurer of Callaway county, for an alleged default. The plea of the defendants was non estfactum, and under this it was agreed that the plaintiff might give in evidence any matter showing a right of recoyery on the bond, and the defendants any matter constituting a legal defence.
On the trial, the plaintiff gave the following evidence :
1. The appointment and official bond of Nolley as Treasurer, of the 24th February, 1842 — his resignation on the 26th October, 1842, and the appointment of Henderson as his successor on the 2nd December, 1842.
2. Nolley’s official settlements of the 28th October, 1842, showing first, the following balances due the several Townships, on account of the school fund :
T. 47, R. 8, .................................. $252 83
T. 49, R. 9, ................. 000 00
T. 48, R. 7, ..:............................... 371 63
T. 47, R. 7, .................................. 334 52
T. 49, R. 10, .................................. 344 21
T. 45, R. 11, ..........■........................ 000 00
T. 45, R. 9, .................................. 000 55
T. 46, R. 9, .................................. 284 54
T. 44, R. 11, ..... 613 71
T. 46, R. 11, ................................... 6 37
T. 48, R. 8, ....................,............. 238 54
T. 47, R. 10, .................... 109 74
T. 48, R. 10, ...... 7 22
T. 46, R. 10, .................................. 499 28
T. 48, R. 9, .................................. 646 67
T. 44, R. 10, .................................. 379 85
,T. 47, R. 9, ......,........................... 1,228 04
Balance due School Fund,........................ 5,319 70
Balance due County Revenue, .................... 321 82
Balance due Road and Canal Fund, .............. 72 04
5,713 56
Interest to 1st of March, 1847 — 4 years 3 months, 1,556 56
7,270 12
Second, a balance due the Road and Canal Fund of 341 90
3. Nolley’s official settlement of 21st December, 1842, in relation to the county revenue showing a balance due that fund of $201 82.
The plaintiff also proved that on 25th August, 1842, Thomas Ritchie paid into the county treasury $120 00, on account of county revenue,
The defendants then gave in evidence—
1. Nolley’s annual appointments as county treasurer from the 22d May, 1833, to the 15th March, 1841, beth inclusive, with the several official bonds given on these occasions.
2. His quarterly settlements in relation to the county revenue from the 21st August, 1833, to the 1st April, 1842, both inclusive. The settlement of the 25th November, 1841, showed that the treasurer was then in advance to the county $1,944 59, and the settlement of the 1st April, 1842, showed a balance against him of $212 10.
3. His annual settlement in relation to the school funds from the 22nd March, 1837, to the 19th April, 1842, both inclusive.
On the 20th August, 1835, the county court settled with the commissioner, under the law as it then was, and upon that settlement there appeared to be due the several townships, $2,659 57 in money, and $12,-055 63 1-2 in bonds. These amounts of money and bonds were handed over to the court, and by the court were deposited in the county treasury and the treasurer’s receipt taken therefor.
On the 6th September, 1835, it was ordered that Daniel Nolley, County Treasurer, be appointed to receive the interest due upon all bonds now in his hands upon deposit to the several congressional townships in this county on account of school funds of said townships, and to renew such notes as are due upon receiving the interest as aforesaid, and upon his taking bonds and moitgages with such security as lie deems good under the provisions of the late law on that subject, and that he report to the court his acts under this order at the next term.
On the 22nd March, 1837, the court made a settlement with the treasurer (Nolley,) on account of school funds belonging to the several
townships, and found him chargeable as follows :
T. 48, R. 9, Principal, $1,731 66
Interest, 138 82
T, 47, R. 9, Principal 4,514 40 1-2
Interest, 263 71
Interest, 108 43
and so on, with the remaining townships. On the 6th and 7th March, 1838, another settlement of a similar character was made with Nolley. A single township will be sufficient to show the mode in which the settlement was made. “The court this day made settlement with D. N., &c., on account of the school fund belonging to C. T., 47. R. 9, and find said treasurer was chargeable on settlement made with the court on the 22d March, 1837, with the sum of $4,514 30, principal, and $263 71 interest, then due and unpaid up to the 27th February, 1837, and the sum of $406 28, interest due on the above principal up to this date, amounting in the whole to to the sum of $5,184 29; and that he has paid out in the same time to the several school districts in said township on warrants, the sum of $.407 90, the vouchers for which have been examined by the court, found correct and destroyed, leaving a balance in the hands of the said Nolley of $4,776 39, which the clerk will charge him with.”
On the 8th March, 1838, the county court made the following order .— “It is ordered by the court that in settling with Daniel Nolley, county treasurer, of his accounts, on account of the school funds belonging to this county in his hands, that the interest arising upon said funds be calculated against him at the rate of nine per cent, per annum, and that the additional one per cent, be considered as his compensation for services and loss on said fund in loaning and taking bonds, See.”
On the 23d February, 1839, the court made a settlement with Daniel Nolley on account of the school fund. The mode of calculating what was due one township will be sufficient to show the principles upon which the settlement was based. The court found in relation to C. T., 47, R. 9, that there was charged to Nolley on settlement of March 6, 1838, the sum of $4,77639, and that he had paid out on warrants the sum of $379, leaving a balance of principal due said township of $4,397 39, and $395 73 interest due and unpaid up to 6th March, 1839, making a balance due the said township of $4,792 12.
On the 20th March 1840, another settlement was made with Nolley on account of the school fund. In this settlement it appeared (as the record states,) that Nolley was chargeable on his settlement made 23d February 1839, with the sum of $4,792 12, (on account of T. 47, R. 9,) principal and interest, and has paid out in the same time the sum of $400 70, upon warrants, leaving a balance of principal then due of $4,392 42, and the sum of $395 31 interest, due and unpaid up to the 6th March, 1840, amounting in the whole to the sum of $4,787 73.
On the 19th April, 1842, the county court had another settlement with Nolley in relation to the school fund, calculated on the same principles as the foregoing, and on the 28th October, 1842, was the final settlement given in evidence by the plaintiff.
4. Nolley’s settlements in relation to the road and canal fund of 23d March, 1837, 9th March, 1841, and 30th April, 1842. The last settlement showed a balance of 1,550 52, at its date, against Nolley. The interest was calculated at nine per cent, as in the case of the school fund.
The defendant also introduced sundry witnesses, who testified as to the manner in which the treasury of Callaway county was managed.
Grant, the clerk of the county court, testified that he had been clerk since August, 1836, and that he had examined the records of the county court, and that the orders, and settlements given in evidence were all relating to the subject; that there .were no orders on record showing that loans were made by the county' court to borrowers of any sums of money out of the road and canal fund, or the township school funds, and that no order for any such loans had ever been made by the court to individual borrowers since January, 1836.
During the period of witness’ holding the clerkship up to the date of Nolley’s resignation, no note for any sum loaned by the court or any person for them has ever been deposited with the clerk of the county-court. He recollected of but one instance, at which time Smart was a county court justice, that the notes for the loan of the funds were exhibited in court by the treasurer, and they were exhibited on settlement on that one occasion, but were not deposited in court or with the clerk, but were retained by the treasurer; that in the files of the county court there is not any receipt filed, given by toe treasurer for any money paid out by him to borrowers of either of said funds, nor was there any receipt filed given by him for the payments of any principal, nor any of the payments of annual or other interest due to the treasury by any borrower or payers of any notes for either of said funds at any time since the first appointment of the said Nolley as treasurer. With regard to the county revenue received and paid since the 24th February, 1842, to the
At the times of Nolley’s several settlements, there never was any exhibit of cash in court, nor were commissioners appointed to examine the county funds, nor any receipt taken by the court of the treasurer for any amount passing over from one term to another.
Several other witnesses testified as to the mode in which Nolley’s private and public business was conducted, substantially, the same as Grant.
Jones testified that in 1841, he got a warrant for school funds on the treasurer; that he presented it several times, but finally took Nolley’s individual note for it. The witness was asked what reason Nolley gave' for not paying it when presented, but this was excluded and an exception taken. Witness was then asked whether Nolley paid this individual note which he had given for the warrant, but this question was objected to and the court excluded it.
Witness proceeded to state that he had loaned money to Nolley and other members of the firm before that time, and defendant’s counsel offered to prove by this witness and others that from 1840, to February, 1842, Nolley was much embarrassed in his private affairs, that he was unable to meet his liabilities, borrowing money where he could get it, and frequently in small sums. This evidence was excluded and an exception taken.
Several witnesses stated that they had warrants on the school fund and always found difficulty in getting them immediately — some of them taking goods out of the store and others taking orders on individuals.
King stated that he was collector of Callaway for the years 1841 and 1842; that he had a settlement with Nolley on the 19th Feb. 1842, as treasurer, in relation to the revenue he collected in 1841, and took Nolley’s receipt for $2,028 11; that when collecting the revenue for 1841, individuals frequently requested him to call on Nolley for their taxes; that Nolley would in such cases give him a written statement, sometimes signed by him as treasurer, and sometimes as an individual, that he would pay the taxes named therein, and Nolley afterwards took in these
The plaintiff then gave the following evidence in reply:
1. An order of the county court of Sept. 1842, appointing Messrs. Basket and Sitton commissioners to aid Nolley in making his settlement.
2. The testimony of these gentlemen, who stated that Nolley made out the settlements substantially as they have been given in evidence; that they went over the calculations with Nolley, examined the bonds and notes on hand, and calculated the interest due upon them; that on the settlement, Nolley was charged with the balances due on the last preceding settlement, and with 9 per cent, interest thereon, and credited with all the bonds and notes he produced, good and bad, and with the interest apparently due upon them, calculated at ten per cent, and compounded annually.
The plaintiff asked sixteen instructions, áll of which the court gave, except the 14th and 16th, which are as follows:
1st. In this case, if the bond sued on w_as executed by all the defendants, the jury must find a verdict against all of them or none.
2nd. The settlements of 1842, given in evidence in chief by the plaintiff, are evidence against both Nolley and his securities, that the balances of money therein stated to be due and belonging to the county, were in Nolley’s hands as treasurer at the respective times'of the settlements, and upon this evidence the jury ought to find for the plaintiff, unless the defendants have shown to the satisfaction of the jury that these balances were not at the respective times of the settlements, or at any time-during Nolley’s last official bond in his hands as treasurer, or unless these balances have, since said settlements, been paid over to the county.
3rd. It is the duty of the defendants to prove to the satisfaction of the jury that the balances exhibited in the settlements of 1842, given in evidence in chief by the plaintiff, were nct in Nolley’s hands as treasurer at any time during the last bond, or.if they were, that they have since and before the commencement of this suit, been paid over to the plaintiff.
4th. It was the duty of the defendant after his resignation in 1842, and the appointment of hi? successor, immediately after he had notice of such appointment, to pay over to his successor the balances in his hands belonging to the county, and if he failed to do so, the jury ought to allow the plaintiff interest upon such bálances at six per cent, per annum
5th. The treasurer had no right to apply the school funds to the payment of warrants drawn on the county treasury, or upon the road and canal fund, nor had he any right to apply the school funds of the township to the payment of warrants drawn upon the funds of another township; but it was his duty to pay the warrants drawn upon him out of the funds upon which they were drawn, and which were appropriated by law to that purpose.
6th. The neglect or refusal of Nolley to pay any warrant drawn upon him as treasurer, is no evidence that funds not applicable by law to the payment of such warrants, and which funds ought to have been in the treasury, were not in fact there.
7th. The order of the county court of the 8th of March, 1838, given in evidence by the defendants, does not constitute a loan of the money of the county by the county court to Nolley, nor is there any evidence that the funds of the county were loaned to Nolley.
8th. It was the duty of Nolley, as treasurer, to make correct settlements of his accounts as treasurer, and his securities were bound for him that he should make such settlements.
9th. The alleged misconduct of the county court in not counting the money of the county, or in allowing Nolley to loan out the school funds, or in neglecting to take receipts from the treasurer for money paid into the treasury, does not discharge or release Nolley or his official securities for official mis’conduct, for which he or they were otherwise responsible: but each set of officers are liable for their own misconduct.
10th. The settlements of 1842 given in evidence by the plaintiff, are evidence against Nolley and his securities, that the balances of money therein stated to be due and belonging to the county, were in his hands as treasurer at the several times, and that the’ jury are bound to find a verdict for the plaintiff against all the defendants for such balances, unless the defendants have shown to their satisfaction that they were not then, or at any time during his last term of service in his hands, as treasurer, or unless they have been since paid over to his successor in office.
11. The settlement of October, 1842, given in evidence by the plaintiff, is conclusive evidence against Nolley and his securities, that the balances therein stated as belonging to the county, were in his hands as treasurer as therein stated, and that Nolley and his securities are estopped by the settlement from denying the same, unless there were fraud or mistake in the settlement.
ISth. In this case the jury must find their verdict against all the defendants or against none of them.
14th. The several settlements given in evidence are conclusive against Nolley and his official sureties for the time being, that the balances therein stated to be due and belonging to the county, were in the hands of Nolley as county treasurer as stated in the settlement, and that neither Nolley nor his securities for the time being, can deny that said balances were so in his hands, although they may show by evidence that said balances were subsequently withdrawn from the county treasury, or misapplied. "
15. It was the duty of the defendant, after his resignation in 1842, and the appointment of his successor, immediately to pay over to his successor the balances in his hands belonging to the county, if he failed to do so, the jury ought to allow the plaintiff interest on such balances at the rate of six per cent, per annum from such time, down to the time of finding their verdict.
16. The jury will disregard all the parol evidence given in the cause, so far as the same proves, or conduces to prove, that there was not in the hands of Nolley, .as county treasurer, the balances stated in the settlement of October, 1842, as therein, stated.
The defendants asked twenty-four instructions, all of which were given, except the 8th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th; they are as follows, to wit:
1st. To entitle the plaintiff to recover in this action, she must prove to the satisfaction of the jury that the defendant, Daniel Nolley, was guilty of some default or official misconduct after the execution of the bond sued on. in the absence of such proof, the jury ought to find their verdict for the defendants.
2nd. The present defendants, securities of Daniel Nolley, are only liable for some default or official misconduct of the defendant Nolley, occurring after they executed the bond on their part, while the former securities are liable for defaults or official misconduct occurring during the time they were bound as said Nolley’s securities.
3rd. The present defendants, securities as aforesaid, are not liable in this action as Nolley’s securities for money received by him prior to the execution of their bond, unless the jury are satisfied from the evidence
4th. It was the duty of the county treasurer to receive the funds of the county in money, keep them separate and apart from his own funds, and pay them out when lawfully required so to do; and if he failed to do so during the time of his prior appointments, his former securities are liable for such omission and default.
5th. It was the duty of the county court to settle annually with the treasurer, and also to settle with him upon his resignation; and if by reason of the neglect of the court to do so, it is difficult or impossible to find the amount of the treasurer’s default, or the time when it occurred, the present securities are not' to be prejudiced by such omission.
6th. It was the duty of the plaintiff in the present action, not only to prove an official default on the part of the treasurer, but also that such default occurred during the time of the present securities.
7th. Although the accounts of the treasurer with the county court, showing money in the county treasury, may be prima facie evidence of such money being in the treasury, yet it is competent for the defendants to show that in fact such money was not in the treasury; and if from such evidence the jury believe that it was not in the treasury, they are bound so to find, notwithstanding the accounts may show to the contrary.
8th. The plaintiff must show the amount of the defalcation of the treasurer during the term for which , the defendants were sureties, to charge them, and this is not done on the face of the general transaction, it. is necessary therefore to have a re-statement of the accounts for this purpose; this re-statement does not falsify the general account, but arranges the items of debits and credits, so as to exhibit the transactions of the treasurer during the time covered by the bond in question.
9th. The sureties are only bound for the misapplication of the public money during the term of the appointment for which their bond is given? and the extent of this responsibility m.ust be shown by the plaintiff: the official terms are as distinct and separate in regard to the sureties, as if different persons had served in each of them.
10th. That the legal responsibilities of the sureties are not, and cannot be affected by the mode of keeping the accounts between the treasurer and the county court; if liable, the sureties are made so by their contracts, and the plaintiff being made a party to that contract, cannot by any action of the county court or its officer, the clerk, change its legal or equitable effect.
12th. The funds currently received and paid over in one term, and belonging to that term, cannot be appropriated in discharge of a defalcation that accrued before the sureties were bound, and- by such appropriation hold the sureties liable for the amount.
13th. If Daniel Nolley was permitted by the county court to loan or dispose of the road and canal funds of the county, otherwise than by paying them out on the warrants draw;n by the order of the county court, and any losses or default in said fund accrued from said permission, then the securities of said Nolley are not responsible in this suit for such losses or default.
14th. If the jury find from the evidence, that by the consent of the Callaway county court, Daniel Nolley was permitted for several years previous to and from the 24th of February, 1842, until his resignation, to have the possession and control of all the bonds given for the school funds, to renew said bonds from time to time, with toe makers thereof, said Nolley agreeing to take the risk of losses on said bonds, then the defendants in this suit, who are securities of said Nolley on the bond sued on, are not chargeable with any default or deficit on said funds, that were the consequences of such arrangement between said Nolley and the Callaway county court.
15th. The securities of Daniel Nolley, defendants in this suit, cannot by law be charged with any interest on moneys belonging to the county while remaining in the county treasury-.
16th. The jury have the power to find a verdict against Nolley, the principal obligor, and a verdict in favor of the defendants who are sureties.
17th. That the settlement of the county court ascertaining balances due from the defendant Nolley, in his previous terms of service to that in which the defendants are sued as sureties, are not as to those sureties conclusive evidence that such balances were actually due, or that such balances were in money actually in the treasury.
18th. That if during those former periods of service, the treasurer misconducted himself by receipting for sums as of money paid in, which wore not money, such misconduct is chargeable to the former sureties,
19th. The settlements made in 1842, given in evidence-by the plaintiff, are not conclusive evidence of the moneys received from the preceding treasurer, or during the term of the present bond sued on, but are only presumptive evidence of such facts, and each charge may be disproved by facts and circumstances, and by parol proof.
20th. If the jury find that any of the balances charged against Nolley, the treasurer, from year to year, since Feb. 9th, 1839, upon the read and canal fund, and the township school funds, and charged against the defendants, arises from any default of the treasurer, other than in safekeeping the moneys received from the State treasury, or paid in by debtors upon loans specially made to borrowers by order of the county court, or for interest paid in by such borrowers, these defendants are not responsible.
21st. If the jury find that any default arises from the loss of the funds of the kind aforesaid, or either of them, which the court authorized the treasurer, Nolley, to loan at his own discretion, and charged at any time during his several terms, these defendants are not responsible for any such losses.
22nd. If the jury find that any of the balances on settlement aforesaid, arises from interest charged upon balances supposed to be in the treasury, and unappropriated by order of court1, in loans or other appropriations by court, these defendants are not responsible for any such deficits-
23rd. If the jury find that any of said balances arise from compounding interest upon interest, supposed to be in the treasury, or in the hands of the treasurer, to be used at his1 discretion, and without specific loans made by the court, such balances are not chargeable against these defendants.
24th. These defendants are not chargeable for any funds in the treasury, except such as were received from the State or from debtors under' loans made specifically to borrowers, .by the county court, or for interest paid in by such debtors; and only for a default in paying over to the successor of the treasurer, of the amount of such deficits in actual money, at the date of the defendant’s bond, or for money received after its date from the State treasury, on those funds, or money paid in by borrowers,, of loans actually made by the court, as principal, or the interest thereon, during the term specified in the bonds sued on.
The principal controversy in this case has arisen out of the alledged default in relation to the school fund. The balances due the road and
To this end, it will be proper, first', to ascertain the law which governed the management of this fund, during the period of Nolley’s last official term.
In 1831, the Legislature of this State authorized the sale of the township school lands. Commissioners were appointed to make the sales, and to loan out the money arising therefrom, at an interest not exceeding ten, nor less than six per cent. The commissioners were permitted to take personal security for sums under one hundred dollars, and required to take mortgages on real estate- to secure all sums over that amount. The notes were directed to be made payable to the commissioner, and his successor in office, for the use of the inhabitants of the township to which the fund belonged; and the interest was ordered to be paid over to the township trustees, or such other persons as the county court might direct.
In 1833, the Legislature authorized sales on credit. In 1835, material changes were made in the system. The office of commissioner was abolished, and his principal duties were transferred to the county court. The sheriff of the county was selected to superintend the sales, and the commissioners in the several counties were directed to hand over the bonds in their possession to the county court, and make a full settlement of their accounts with that tribunal, and the court was directed to deposit the bonds with the county treasurer.
The court was thereafter to loan out the moneys arising from sales of school lands, as the commissioner had before done, and was entrusted with the duty of determining the sufficiency of the securities offered, and seeing from time to time that no loss was likely to happen through their insufficiency. A change in the form of the bonds was also made. They were to be drawn payable to the county, for the use of the inhabitants of the township, and the interest was to be paid annually into the county treasury. The compensation of the treasurer was limited by the act of 1835 to one-half of one per cent, upon all moneys received and paid out by him.
The act of February 9th, 1839, was still more specific in detailing the
The court was entrusted with summary modes of proceeding in order to enforce the collection without delay of moneys due upon these bonds and mortgages. They were directed to require the clerk to keep and state all accounts with the treasurer relative to the township school funds, and the clerk was ordered to receive and file all bonds and mortgages relating to this fund.
The treasurer’s duty was specifically defined: it was to keep all moneys paid into the treasury on account of the township school funds; to pay all warrants drawn upon such fund; to exhibit to the county court such reports and accounts concerning these funds as that court should direct, and keep accounts of all receipts and expenditures arising out of this fund. This was the law at the time the bond was executed upon which this suit was brought.
It will notbe denied, as a general principle, that the securities of a pub-lie officer, whose duties are defined by law, are only responsible for the faithful performance of the duties so assigned to him, and cannot be made liable for malversation in the conduct of affairs which do not pertain to the office. The reason is obvious enough: it is not so “nominated in the bond.” The securities do not bind themselves to become responsible for any but official misconduct, and if the officer voluntarily engages, or be employed by another body who by law have a conü’ol over his official conduct, in matters entirely foreign to the business of his office, any Josses which may happen in the transaction or management of such business cannot be visited upon those who have guarantied the official conduct of the officer. Hence, it was held by this court, (Blair vs. Perp. Ins. Co., 10 Mo. R.) that if a corporation employ a clerk in the transaction of business in which the law prohibited the corporation from engaging, the securities of such clerk were not responsible for any losses or
The securities are presumed to have an eye to the law which defines the duties of the officer, when they enter into an engagement with reference to the performance of those duties; and to hold them responsible for the performance of other duties than those assigned to him by law, however the risks oi loss or the liabilities of. mistake might be increased or varied, would be a palpable violation of the letter and spirit of the contract.
What, then, was the duty of the treasurér from the 24th of February, 1842, to the 26th October of the same year, in relation to the school funds ? It was too keep all moneys paid into the treasury on account of this fund; to pay all warrants drawn upon this fund; to exhibit to the county court such reports and accounts as might explain its condition, and to keep accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements. These duties are essentially different from the duty of keeping the bonds; they are essentially different from the business of renewing the old bonds, or taking the new ones and passing upon the sufficiency of the proffered securities. They are still more at variance with a responsibility for the entire amount of the school fund, principal and interest, running from year to year ata compound interest of nine per cent. The duty of keeping the bonds, in 1842, belonged to the clerk of the county court; the duty of taking new bonds and passing upon the sufficiency of the securities, either upon the old or new bonds, was entrusted by law to the court.
We do not wish to be understood as intimating that the responsibility of' the treasurer would be diminished or affected by a failure on the part of the court or clerk to perform their respective duties. We only design to maintain the position that, if the court assigns duties to the treasurer which the law requires the court to perform, the securities of the treasurer are not liable for any failure in the performance of such duties.
It will be necessary to examine the records of the county court, as presented by the bill of exceptions and the oral testimony given on the trial, for the purpose of ascertaining the valué of the official settlement of Nolley on the 28th of October, 1843, as evidence of the amount of the school fund which passed through his hands during the term for which the present defendants became responsible. That settlement was admitted in evidence on the part of the plaintiff, and, no doubt, very properly : for, although it was not completed until the 28th of October, and Nolley’s resignation had been handed in on the 26th, it may be considered
In order to show how far the settlement of October 28th, 1842, would tend to establish the amount of money belonging to the school fund which actually was paid into the treasury during that year, from the 24th February until the 26th October, let us glance at the successive settlements from 1837 to the date of this final settlement. It will only be necessary to refer to the settlement in reference to a single township, as the calculation for all the townships are based upon the same principles. In March, 1837, the court charged Nolley, on account of township 47, range 9, witli the sum of $4,514 40.f principal, and $263 71 interest. In March, 1838, Nolley was charged, on account of this township, with $5,184 29, being the amount of principal and interest found due on the former settlement, and nine per cent, interest on that amount up to the date of this settlement. From this, was deducted the amount which Nolley had paid out on warrants drawn upon this fund, which left a balance in his hands of $4,776 39. In 1839, the court charged Nolle.y with the amount so found in 1838, and after deducting the amount he had paid out on warrants, found a balance due'of $4, 397 39, and charged him nine per cent, interest on this to the date of the settlement — making the amount he was debited with, $4,792 12. In 1840, the same course was pursued, and Nolley’s indebtedness on account of this township was found to be $4,787 73.— In 1841, the calculation, proceeding on the same basis, makes the amount of indebtedness $4,796 35. In April, 1842, the amount of indebtedness on account of this township was $4,800 20. On the final settlement in October, 1842, (given in evidence by the plaintiff,) the court assumed the previous settlement in April as the basis of their calculation, and accordingly charged him with $4,800 20, and $240 interest, making $5,040 20, which, after deducting the amount of the bonds, leaves a deficit of $1,228 04. Now, what tendency has this settlement, we mean the final one, to explain the amount of money, either principal or interest, which had been paid to the treasurer on account of township 47, range 9, during the year 1842 P Prima facie, and without explanation, it would seem to show that $4,800 of the principal and $240 interest had been paid since the previous settlement, and that, inasmuclvas he could show bonds
If it be said that by invalidating the effect of the official settlement of October, 1842, we leave the plaintiff without the means of proving the actual amount of money which came to the hands of the treasurer during the term for which the defendants became responsible, our answer is, that the loss which happens through such defects of testimony will justly fall upon those whose agents have brought about such a state of things.
The law which regulates the management of this fund is plain enough. Had the treasurer given receipts for all sums paid into the treasury on account of this fund, as the law directed, and one of them been deposited with the clerk, and the clerk charged the treasurer with such sums, the condition of the fund would have always been easily ascertained.— The amount received and the amount paid out in any given year could be readily shown. If the treasurer neglected to perform any of his duties, the records of the clerk’s office would at once detect his errors or omissions. This was no doubt the policy of the law in requiring duplicate receipts, and in requiring the clerk to file the receipts and keep the b >nds. One officer was designed to check the other, as the auditor of public account? is constituted a check upon the State treasurer. But as this system, so judiciously prescribed by law, was not observed in Calla-way county, she cannot complain if embarrassments grow out of a failure on the part of her public agents. At least the losses occasioned by such a course of conduct cannot with any propriety be visited upon those who have never agreed to be responsible therefor.
Whatever may have been the course of the county court, and however much they may have departed from the duty prescribed by law, there is no doubt that the treasurer and his securities are still responsible for whatever moneys may have been paid into the treasury on account of the school fund during the term and not accounted for atits expiration. But the plaintiff must show the amount by some legal evidence. The instructions given by the court evidently point the jury to the settlement of October 28th, 1842, as a leading and controlling document from which they
One or two questions in relation to the admissibility of evidence offered by the defendants, have been discussed at the bar, which we will now briefly notice.
It was proved that Nolley, on several occasions, refused or failed to pay warrants presented to him; and it was proposed to prove further that, upon these occasions, he gave as a reason for not paying, that there was no money in the treasury. These declarations of Nolley were excluded. It is contended that they were admissible as a part of the res gestee. It is exceedingly difficult, if not impracticable, to settle upon any general principle which will determine in every class of cases the competency or incompetency of declarations offered as a part of the res gestee. If we resort to authority, we find that adjudications and commentaries conflict; if we seek for the principle upon which the doctrine rests, we find it will not adapt itself to every class of cases and every variety of circumstances. If it be the law, that every declaration which forms a part of the res gestee, is competent, provided the res gestee itself be admissible in evidence, the only question to be decided in a given case, would be whether the declaration offered could properly be considered a part of the res gestee or not. This opinion has been maintained by several learned commentators on the law of evidence, and it is possible that it may eventually prevail with the courts. The inclination of judicial tribunals tends more and more every day to relieve themselves of questions of this character, and let the evidence, along with the objections, go to the jury. But this principle, whatever may be its merits, has not received any general sanction, although a solitary case may be found to favor it. In the case of Turner vs. Belden, adm’r. of Pulliam, (9 Mo. R. 797,) it was held by this court, that declarations made by the possessor of personal or real property, although made during the continuance of the possession, could not be admitted to strengthen or enlarge the title which that possession would of itself -imply. Declarations in disparagement of the title, it was conceded, might be admitted, because they tend to rebut the inference which the possession implied, and were against the interest of the party making them. Whatever may be the propriety of this opinion, and there was certainly an abundance of adjudged cases to sustain it, it would not do to carry the principle into
If a man be charged with some misconduct or crime, his acts at thd time, and immediately subsequent upon the commission of the alledge4 offence, might be very material, and would certainly be competent to relieve him from the charge, and it would be hard to exclude his declarations explanatory of his acts, although they might favor his defence.— A man, for example, is entrusted with a package of money, which he fails to deliver according to the directions of the owner, and he is sued for the amount. His defence is, that he was robbed. His conduct at the time of the alledged robbery, in searching for the package, in putting the officers of justice on the look-out — his apparent or real concern at the time of the loss, would certainly be evidence in his favor. Would not letters written by him, or declarations made at the time of the alledged robbery, giving an account of the circumstances attending the robbery, be also admissible? (Tompkins vs. Saltmarsh, 14 Serg. & Rawle, 275.) It would seem that the principle determined in Turner vs. Belden cannot be safely adopted in every class of cases. But I am unable to perceive any thing in the circumstances of the case now under consideration, to distinguish it in principle from the case of Turner vs. Belden, or bring it within any of the exceptions just alluded to.
Nolley’s refusal or failure to pay off the warrants presented to him, was of itself evidence that there was no money to meet such demands— because the presumption is, that a public officer will do his duty. Had Nolley, at the time the warrants were presented, placed his refusal to pay them on other grounds, such as their informality or illegality, his declarations to this effect would clearly have been admissible; because they would tend to rebut that presumption which his refusal to pay would legally imply. His declarations that there was no money in the treasury to meet the demands, would only confirm the presumption already raised by his acts — and being in his own favor — upon the principle decided in Turner vs. Belden, should be excluded.
The testimony in relation to Nolley’s pecuniary embarrassments, would be clearly illegal upon general principles, and under ordinary circumstances. A public officer would not be presumed to apply public moneys to meet personal liabilities. His embarrassed condition as an individual, would therefore generally have no tendency to prove his misapplication
the judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.
Concurrence Opinion
I concur in reversing the judgment, and the main principles of the opinion, but dissent from the review of the case of Turner vs. Belden.