Mahaffey v. Gray ( 1890 )

Simmons, Justice.

It appears from the record in this case that Pierce, Cain and Quigg, in December, 1882, obtained a judgment in a justice’s court against C. T. Bankstone, principal, and A. H. Gray, as security. Execution was issued upon said judgment and, on the 2d day of October, 1883, levied on 3,000 pounds of seed-cotton as the property of A. H. Gray, the security. On the same day, Gray gave to Mahaffey, the constable, two forthcoming bonds of $75.00 each, conditioned to deliver the cotton to Mahaffey, the constable, on the 13th day of October following. W. T. Nash was security for Gray on both of these forthcoming bonds. On the 13th day of October, 1883, which was the constable’s sale day, the cotton was not produced and delivered by Gray and his security to Mahaffey, but Gray filed an affidavit of illegality to the fi fa., wherein he set up several grounds which he alleged were sufficient to discharge him as security of Baukstone. It seems that the cotton levied upon remained in the possession of Gray until February, 1884, when Gray and J. B. Nash went to Mahaftey and stated that they wished to sell the cotton and buy a horse for Gray. W. T. Nash, the security on the foi’thcoming bonds, objected to the sale of the cotton unless he was relieved as security on the bonds. J. B. Nash then said he would take the place of "W. T. Nash on the bonds and sell the cotton and buy a horse for Gray, and “ if the illegality went against Gray, he (J. B. Nash) would pay the money.” Mahaffey, the constable, agreed to this, and wrote two other bonds and dated them to correspond with' the first bonds, both as to time of signing and the day of sale. The bonds were then signed by Gray and J. B. Nash, and ~W. T. Nash, the former security, was relieved, J. B. Nash taking his place. Gray and J. B. Nash sold the cotton and bought the horse. Shortly after these new bonds were executed, the illegality of Gray to the fi.fa., which had been appealed by consent to the superior court, was dismissed in that court. In February, 1889, Mahaffey, the constable to whom the bonds were made payable, brought suit thereon for the use of the plaintiff in fi. fa. against Gray as principal, and J. B. Nash as security. On the trial of the case, after the above recited facts were in substance introduced before the jury, upon motion of defendants’ counsel the trial judge awarded a nonsuit on the.ground (the bill of exceptions alleges) that no demand for the cotton had been made by Mahaffey upon Gray and J. B. Nash, to which ruling the plaintiff excepts and-assigns the same as error.

We think the court erred, under the above stated facts, in granting a nonsuit in this case. The conditions of the original forthcoming bonds signed by W. T. Nash were to produce and deliver the property on the 13th day of October, 1882, at the place of the constable’s sale in the 408th district G. M. The property was advertised for sale upon that day. It was not produced and forthcoming on that date, and the conditions of the bonds were broken by this failure to produce and deliver the property. This was known to J. B. Nash when he took the place of W. T. Nash as security upon the bonds. The bonds were given to the constable, Mahaffey, for his protection. He had, therefore, the right to relieve W. T. Nash and allow J. B. Nash to be substituted in his place, and 'the effect of the agreement made by Mahaffey with J. B. Nash was to substitute J. B. Nash in the place of W. T. Nash, J. B. Nash assuming the latter’s obligations and liabilities. Mahaffey also had the right to agree not to bring suit upon the bonds until the illegality of Gray had been disposed of. It was simply a suspension of his right to sue upon the bonds until the illegality had been determined; and when it had been disposed of against Gray, and J. B. Nash failed to pay the money, Mahaffey, as constable, had a right to sue upon the bonds. J. B. Nash having taken the place of W. T. Nash as security upon the bonds, under the facts of this ease, could not defend upon the ground that he signed the bonds subsequently to the 13th day of October, 1882, after the condition had been broken, because, as we have said, he stood in the place of W. T. Nash, assuming all. of the latter’s liabilities, and was therefore liable for the non-production of the property on the 13th day of October, 1882, although the bonds upon which he appeared as security were signed by him after that time but dated back to the 2d of October, 1882. Rodgers v. Rosser, 57 Ga. 319.

Judgment reversed.