Henry Hill, in Error v. Caleb B. Smith and Others , 16 L. Ed. 113 ( 1859 )

62 U.S. 283

21 How. 283

16 L.Ed. 113

HENRY HILL, PLAINTIFF IN ERROR,
v.
CALEB B. SMITH AND OTHERS.

December Term, 1858

THIS case was brought up by writ of error from the Circuit Court of the United States for the district of Indiana.

It was an action brought upon the contract recited in the opinion of the court, to which there was a general demurrer, which was sustained by the Circuit Court.

Hill, who was the plaintiff, then brought the case up to this court by a writ of error.

It was submitted on a printed argument by Mr. O. H. Smith for the plaintiff in error, no counsel appearing for the defendants.

Mr. Smith made the following points

First. That the Circuit Court erred in sustaining the demurrer to the first and second counts, and each of them; to sustain this position, we rely upon the positions above, and authorities cited, to sustain the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth points.

Second. That the court erred in sustaining the demurrer to the whole declaration, if there be one good count, or part good of a divisible count.

1 Chitty, p. 665, Ed. 1855, notes c(3) and authorities.

Third. The guaranty set out in the first and second counts was an original undertaking of the appellees, and is binding in law.

4 Maule and Selw., 66; 8 East., 231.

1 Johns. R., 362; 1 Parsons on Con., 480.

2 Howard, 450; 12 East. R., 227.

Cowper R., 714; Chitty on Con., 80, 81.

1 Parsons on Con., 495.

6 E. C. L. R., 32; 41 E. C. L. R., 848.

1 How., 187; 10 Pet., 493.

Fourth. The whole contract set out in the first and second counts being in writing, and founded upon a sufficient consideration, was obligatory upon the parties.

10 Moore R., 395: 3 Bing. R., 107.

8 Cush. R., 159; 15 Penn. St. R., 156.

Fifth. Suppose the undertaking of the appellees to be collateral to a contract of the railroad company, the undertaking or guaranty is valid in law, and binding on the appellants.

2 How. R., 426; 7 Cranch R., 69.

10 Peters R., 482; 7 Peters R., 122.

10 Moore R., 395; 3 Bing. R., 3, 107.

14 Illinois R., 237; 15 Penn. St. R., 27.

2 Story on Con., p. 400, sec. 862, and authorities cited, Ed. 1857.

17 Peters R., 161; 5 B. and Ad., 1109.

Mood. and Al. R., 394.

Sixth. Neither the railroad company nor their guarantors can set up the illegality of their executed contract, either at law or in equity, without placing the parties in statu quo.

4 Blackf., 515; 5 Blackf., 441.

7 Blackf., 55; 8 Blackf., 409, 469.

Adams Equity, 191.

1 Story on Con., p. 601, sec. 497, note 2, Ed. 1857.

Hill on Trustees, p. 221, Ed. 1857.

Seventh. The third count sets out an original, independent contract between the appellant and the appellees, founded upon a sufficient consideration, and the facts being admitted by the general demurrer, raising no question as to the form, is valid in law, and the demurrer to the whole declaration should have been overruled.

1 Parsons on Con., 497, and authorities.

37 E. C. L. R., 120; 2 McLean, 103.

3 McLean, 387; 1 Story on Con., p. 530, sec. 431.

Ib., p. 544, sec. 551.

Eighth. The undertaking of the appellees is valid and binding, whether an action could be maintained against the railroad company or not.

1 Burr. R., 371; 1 B. and Ald., 297; 15 E. C. L. R., 47.

1 Stark. R., 14, 19; 2 E. C. L. R., 16, 18.

Mr. Justice GRIER delivered the opinion of the court.

1

The plaintiff's demand is founded on the following contract, dated August 17th, 1853, signed by defendants, and set forth at length in the declaration: 'Whereas Henry Hill, of Delaware county, has proposed to convey to the Cincinnati, Newcastle, and Michigan Railroad Company a certain tract of land in Delaware county, containing three hundred and nine acres, for the consideration of six thousand one hundred dollars, to be paid in the capital stock of said company, at par, on the condition that Caleb Smith and other responsible persons will guaranty that the said stock shall be worth par in three years from the present date, and in default thereof, that the company shall make it up to par; and whereas the said Cincinnati, Newcastle, and Michigan Railroad Company have agreed by a resolution of their board of directors to accept said proposition: Now, we, the undersigned, in consideration of the premises, hereby guaranty to the said Henry Hill, that the said stock shall be worth par in three years from the date of this instrument; and if at the expiration of that date said stock shall not be worth par, we guaranty the said Henry Hill that the said Cincinnati, Newcastle, and Michigan Railroad Company shall make up to him or pay him whatever sum the said stock shall be worth less than par, so as to make the said stock worth par to said Henry Hill at that date.'

2

The declaration is in proper form, and contains all the averments necessary to show a breach of this contract, and the consequent liability of defendants.

3

There was a general demurrer to the declaration and judgment for the defendants.

4

As we have not been furnished with an argument on behalf of defendants, we are at a loss to discover on what grounds it is supposed that this judgment can be supported.

5

As the contract is in writing, signed by the parties to be charged, it cannot be affected by the statute of frauds; and, although the term 'guaranty' is usually applied to a collateral undertaking to pay the debt of another, yet when taken in connection with the other terms of the instrument, this is clearly an original, independent contract. If it had been under seal, the term 'covenant' would have been the technical synonym for the word 'guaranty' as here used.

6

It states that the defendant would not agree to sell his land in exchange for stock, except on condition that defendants should guaranty that the stock in three years would be worth par, or should be made so by the corporation. For this consideration, defendants agree to make it so, or, in other words, to pay the difference between the cash value of the stock on that day and its nominal value.

7

On this condition and for this consideration, the plaintiff agreed to convey his land to the railroad company; and, on the faith of defendants' undertaking, he had conveyed it, and accepted, not money, but certain stock, which defendants have agreed to make equal to money by a certain day. The declaration avers, that at the time specified the stock was wholly worthless, and of no value, and the railroad company utterly insolvent, and unable to pay the difference; and that defendants, having full notice of these facts, refuse to comply with their contract.

8

There is no reason why this contract should be treated as void because of an illegal or immoral consideration. Its conditions require no previous suit to be instituted against any one as principal debtor. The declaration contains every necessary averment: a valid contract, a large consideration paid, and a breach of the contract by defendants; all set forth in proper and technical language.

9

The plaintiff in therefore entitled to judgment on the demurrer, unless the court below, in their discretion, shall permit the defendants, on payment of costs, to withdraw their demurrer, and plead some good defence in bar.

10

The judgment of the court below is reversed, and record remitted for further proceedings.