Ætna Insurance v. Monaghan

38 Mo. 432 | Mo. | 1866

Wagner, Judge,

delivered the opinion of the court.

This was an action commenced and prosecuted in the Pike county Circuit Court by the plaintiff in error against James Monaghan, John B. Henderson, and John M. Milroy. It seems that on the 9th day of April, 1859, Monaghan was appointed agent of the insurance company in the city of Louisiana, Pike county, Missouri, and gave his bond in the penal sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars, with Henderson and Milroy as his sureties. The bond was conditioned that Mo-naghan should receive, as agent of said company, sums of money for premiums, payments of losses, salvages, collections for goods, chattels and other property, and also keep true and correct account of the same, and make regular reports of the business transacted by him, and in every way. faithfully perform his duties as agent in compliance with the instructions of the company through its proper officers; and at the end of the agency, by any cause whatever, deliver up to the authorized agent of the company all its moneys, books and property. Monaghan was removed by the company, from his position as agent, and at the time of his removal had in his possession the sum of two hundred and eighty-two dollars, which he had received for premiums and which he refused to pay. This suit was instituted on the bond to coerce the payment of that sum.

After the removal of Monaghan and his refusal to pay, a demand was made on the securities for payment, and Henderson thereupon notified the plaintiff in writing to commence suit forthwith. This notice was given after the forfeiture for which the action was brought. The plaintiff failed to bring its suit within thirty days after the notice was given, and Henderson contends that in consequence of such failure and neglect to sue he is discharged and exonerated from all liability. The court below held this to be a good defence as to Henderson and gave judgment in his favor, and then rendered judgment against Milroy for half the amount claimed. Monaghan made no defence, and judgment was taken against him by default.

The only question involved in the consideration of this cause is the proper construction to be placed on the fourth section of the “Act concerning securities.” The first section of the “Act concerning securities” declares that any person bound as security for another in any bond, bill or note for the payment of money or delivery of property, may, at any time after an action has accrued thereon, require in writing the person having, such right of . action forthwith to commence suit against the principal debtor and other parties liable. The second section declares that if such suit is not commenced within thirty days after the service of such notice, and proceeded in with due diligence, in the ordinary course of law, to judgment and- execution, such security shall be exonerated from liability to the person so notified. But the fourth section provides that these two sections shall not extend to the bond of any administrator, executor, guardian, curator, officer or other person given to secure the performance of the duties of his office, trust, place or business; nor to any bond with collateral condition, except bonds with conditions exclusively for the payment of money or the delivery of property, or for the performance of any covenant or agreement for the payment of money or delivery of property.

The bond given by the defendant in error to the insurance company is a bond with a collateral condition, and not with conditions exclusively for the payment of money or the delivery of property, or for the performance of any covenant or agreement for the;payment of money or delivery of property. It has other conditions, among 'which are that the principal shall keep true and correct accounts, make regular reports of the business transacted by him to the company, and in every way to faithfully perform his duties as agent in com-, pliance with the instructions of the company through the authorized and proper officers. These are all conditions, and the violation of, or non-compliance with, either or all of them, would amount to a breach of the bond.

The bond must then be construed^ as given to secure the performance of a trust, place or business, and as such not embraced within the meaning of the first and second sections.

The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.

The. other judges concur.