Salem Township v. Cunningham , 45 Mo. App. 614 ( 1891 )

Smith, P. J.

— The plaintiff, a body corporate, under the provisions of chapter 162, Revised Statutes, In relation to township organization, which was in force in Daviess county, brought suit against the defendant Cunningham and the other defendants who were the sureties on his official bond as trustee and ex-officio treasurer of the township. The breach of the bond was assigned to be, that there came into the hands of the defendant Cunningham, as trustee and treasurer of said township, a large sum of money belonging to the several districts of said township, amounting to $831.26, which he had failed to pay over to his successor in office, and had converted to his own use, etc. The answer was a general denial. At the trial the defendants objected to the introduction of any evidence by the plaintiff, on the ground that the petition did not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, which objection being by the court sustained, the plaintiff took a nonsuit with leave, etc. After the usual motion, the plaintiff took its appeal here.

The only question discussed in the brief of counsel is, whether Salem township could maintain the action, on the bond of its defaulting trustee and ex-officio treasurer, for school money belonging to the several school districts therein. Under the township organization statute, section 8452, the trustee and ex-officio treasurer of the township is required, before entering on the duties of his office, to execute and deliver to the township clerk a bond .with one or more sureties, payable to the township board, in double the amount of the township funds, including school moneys which may come into his hands, etc. Section 8514 requires the township collector to pay over to the township treasurer all school money collected or received by him. This section also makes it the duty of the treasurer, to safely keep such money until paid out upon the order of the board of directors of the various school districts of the township. The same section further requires the treasurer to make annual settlements with the township board. The township board, it, therefore, seems, is invested with a supervision over the accounts of the treasurer.

If the township treasurer fails to account for and pay over the school moneys which have come into his hands as such treasurer, why may not the township board sue on the bond given by him to it for the faithful performance of the duties of his office? Section 8462 provides that the township trustee and ex-officio treasurer of. each township shall receive and páy over all moneys raised therein for defraying township expenses; that before entering on the duties of his office he shall execute such bond as is required in section 8452, and, in case of default, it is made the duty of the township clerk to institute suit thereon in the name of the township, in any court having competent jurisdiction. But the defendants contend that this section does not authorize a suit by the township on the bond of the township trustee and ex-officio collector and treasurer for school moneys. This contention cannot be sustained. In State ex rel. Township v. Powell, 67 Mo. 395, the action was maintained in the name of the state, at the relation and to the use of the township for school moneys, which Powell, the township trustee and ex-officio treasurer and collector, had lost by reason of depositing the same in an insolvent bank. The bond had been given to the state by the trustee, instead of to the township, and hence the suit was brought in the name of the state, at the relation and to the use of the township. This seems to have been the reason why the township was a relator, instead of the direct plaintiff. In State v. Rubey, 77 Mo. 610, was where' this very identical question arose, and the supreme court disposed of it by remarking “that, where the action is not on a bond given to the state, the suit should be brought in the name of the county (LaFayette Co. x. Hixon, 69 Mo. 581), and in counties where the township organization law is in force in the name of the township.” It seems that, whether or not “school money ” is embraced in the descriptive terms “ all money raised therein for defraying township expenses,” we need not decide, since it seems to be the settled rule that, in every suit against the ex-officio collector and treasurer of a township or the county treasurer on his bond for the recovery of moneys of every kind belonging to the township and coming into his hands, whether for school or other purposes, shall be brought in the name of the township. The suit in this case, we think, was properly brought in the name of the toionship. If the school funds alleged to have been converted to the use of the defendant are recovered, the township trustee and ex-officio collector and treasurer then in office should receive and receipt for the same and be charged therewith. The school districts to which the same belong can then draw their warrants therefor, and thus receive the same.

The judgment must be reversed, and the cause remanded.

All concur.