State v. McDonald , 4 Idaho 468 ( 1895 )

SULLIVAN, J.

This is an action to recover on an official bond. One Richard A. Cunningham was elected sheriff of Shoshone county on the first day of October, 1890, and on November 26, 1890, filed his official bond. Thereafter a question was raised as to the validity of his acts as sheriff, on the ground that he had failed to qualify as sheriff within thirty days after his election. To avoid any complications that might in the future arise by reason of that fact, Cunningham was appointed sheriff of said county by the governor of the state, and on the .suggestion of the board of county commissioners he filed another bond, on the 18th of March, 1891. Said bond was duly approved by said board. Subsequent to the filing of said bond, the said sheriff collected and received for licenses $7,303.05, and also collected for the use and benefit of said county fees in civil cases amounting to $754.75. No part of either of said sums has he ever paid to said county or to the state of Idaho. The complaint alleges the entry of said Cunningham into said sheriff’s office, his giving the bond sued on, his collection of public moneys, and his failure to pay the same over as required by law or at all; and prays for judgment against tbe bondsmen for the sums so collected, with interest and costs. To the complaint several demurrers were interposed, one of which was joined in by several of the defendants, and others by separate ■defendants. The court sustained the several demurrers. ThereTipon the plaintiff refused to amend, and judgment was entered ■dismissing the action, and for costs against the state. This appeal is from the judgment.

The first point made by the demurrers is that the complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. The complaint alleges the election and appointment of the said Cunningham to said office, and his entry upon the duties of said ■office; also that he gave an official bond conditioned upon the faithful performance and discharge of all duties required of him by law as such sheriff, with the defendants as sureties thereon; that as part of such duties he collected certain license taxes and fees, which belonged to the county and state, and failed and refused to pay the same over as by law required. 'The complaint states a cause of action, without ambiguity or uncertainty.

It is contended by respondents that section 396 of the Devised Statutes provides that the bond must be. signed by the principal and at least two sureties, and, as the bond sued on was not signed by the principal, it is void for that reason. The bond recites the fact that said Cunningham, as principal, and the defendants, as sureties, are jointly bound unto the state of Idaho, etc. The omission of the principal to sign the bond •did not release him from any liability arising under the terms •of the bond, nor would such omission release the sureties. The failure of Cunningham to sign as principal does not invalidate the bond. (People v. Slocum, 1 Idaho, 62; Kurtz v. Froquer, 94 Cal. 91, 29 Pac. 413.) A fact which must be borne in mind is that the bond is joint and several.

The bond sued on recites that Cunningham was elected, when It is contended it was given in pursuance of the appointment ■of the governor. The misrecital in that regard (if it is a misrecital) is not sufficient to avoid the bond and release the sureties. .The clear intention of the sureties was to give a bond for the faithful performance of all duties required of Cunningham as sheriff, and they cannot escape liability by such a trivial technicality as that mentioned. And further, the plain rule of law is that the surety is estopped from deling any fact recited in the bond, when, by such denial, he seeks .to avoid liability in an action between the parties to the bond. (Murfree on Official Bonds, sec. 133, and authorities there cited, also, sec. 9; Bigelow on Estoppel, 4th ed., p. 355, note 5, p. 361, notes 3, 4; People v. Love, 25 Cal. 251.)

The next contention is that the bond was given on Cunningham’s behalf as sheriff, and not as license or tax collector. The law makes it the duty of the sheriff to collect and pay over county and state licenses. (Rev. Stats., sec. 2157.) The bond is conditioned on the faithful performance and discharge of all duties required of the sheriff by law. There is nothing in this contention. (Murfree on Official Bonds, sec. 193.)

The complaint clearly indicates that this action is upon the bond filed March 18, 1891. There is nothing in the point made by the demurrer as to misjoinder of causes of action. The-several items of defalcation need not be separately averred. (1 Estee’s Pleading and Practice, sec. 560.)

The fourth cause of demurrer is that there is a misjoinder of parties defendant. It is claimed that the defendants did not each obligate themselves in the same sum, and that the defendants Monk and Desaulnier did not bind themselves in any sum. To this contention it is sufficient to say the bond is joint and several, and therefore the action may be maintained against all jointly or against each severally. (People v. Stacy, 74 Cal. 373, 16 Pac. 192.) The fact that a surety fails to justify does-, not release him from liability, if the bond is accepted without, requiring him to justify. (Taylor Co. v. King, 73 Iowa, 153, 5 Am. St. Rep. 666, 34 N. W. 774.) The judgment of the-court below is reversed, with instructions to overrule the demurrers, and to proceed with the case. Costs against the respondents.

Morgan, C. J., and Huston, J., concur.