Harrington's v. Crawford
| Decision Date | 15 December 1896 |
| Parties | Harrington's Administrator v. Crawford, Appellant |
| Court | Missouri Supreme Court |
Appeal from St. Louis City Circuit Court. -- Hon. John A. Harrison Judge.
Transferred from St. Louis Court of Appeals.
Reversed.
W. B Homer for appellant.
(1) The bond sued upon was void as being without any consideration or upon a consideration which was against the law. "A sheriff may take a bond to keep himself harmless in doing that which he ought to do, but if he takes a bond to keep himself harmless in doing that which he ought not to do, the bond is void and against the law." Blockett v Crissop, 1 Ld. Ray. 278; Murfree on Sheriffs [Ed. 1890], sec. 635a, p. 301; Cole v. Parker, 7 Iowa, 167; Cass Co. v. Beck, 76 Iowa 487; Hodson v. Wilkins, 7 Maine, 113; Denson v. Sledge, 2 Dev. 136; Griffin v. Hasty, 94 N.C. 438; Carroll v. Partridge, 12 Mo.App. 583; Buffendeau v. Brooks, 28 Cal. 641; Denny v. Lincoln, 5 Mass. 385; Greenwood v. Colcock, 2 Bay (S. C.), 67; Kirk v. Merry, 23 Mo. 72; Thornton v. Mo. Pacific Railroad, 42 Mo.App. 58; Morgan v. Hale, 12 W.Va. 713; Webber v. Blount, 19 Wend. 190; Millard v. Canfield, 5 Wend. 61; Prewett v. Garrett, 6 Ala. 128; Ayer v. Hutchins, 4 Mass. 370; Love v. Palmer, 7 Johns. 159; Porter v. Stapp, 6 Col. 32. (2) There is in this case no question of indemnity of a past illegal act. Plaintiff's own testimony is fully to the effect that the agreement was made to refuse to execute the writ upon Kinealy's promise to furnish bond. Bond was furnished and the writ was returned unexecuted. (3) The action of the sheriff in returning said execution unexecuted and declining to execute the same in accordance with the agreement with said Kinealy was illegal. State ex rel. v. Harrington, 41 Mo.App. 439; State ex rel. v. Harrington, 44 Mo.App. 297. (4) Plaintiff can not recover whenever it is necessary for him to show as a part of his cause of action his own illegal transaction. Parsons v. Randolph, 21 Mo.App. 353; Buckingham v. Fitch, 18 Mo.App. 99; Welch v. Wesson, 6 Gray, 505; Harrison v. McCluney, 34 Mo.App. 489; White v. Bass, 3 Cush. 448; Sprague v. Rooney, 104 Mo. 359. (5) The sheriff should look to the plaintiff alone for directions as to the manner of serving the writ, and all the directions of the plaintiff should be obeyed. Freeman on Executions, secs. 108, 472; State ex rel. v. Harrington, 44 Mo.App. 300.
E. T. Farish for respondent.
(1) A distinction is to be drawn between cases where a bond of indemnity is given to induce an act which is a palpable wrong and plainly a breach of duty, and cases where there is doubt and uncertainty as to the duty of the officer, and the bond is taken in good faith as indemnity against loss or damage which may accrue to such officer. The authorities make such distinction, and hold that where his duty is not plain and manifest, but where under the law and the facts his duty is doubtful, there is no impropriety in the officer taking indemnity against the result of an unfortunate choice. And that such indemnity so taken is not illegal, or void as against public policy. Murfee on Official Bonds, sec. 385; Chitty on Contracts, p. 678; Stark v. Raney, 18 Cal. 622; Wolfe v. McClure, 79 Ill. 564; Anderson v. Farnes, 7 Blackf. (Ind.) 343; Forniquet v. Tegarden, 24 Miss. 96; Mays v. Joseph, 34 Ohio St. 22; Miller v. Rhodes, 20 Ohio St. 494; David v. Arledge, 3 Hill (S. C.), 179; Jameison v. Calhoun, 2 Spear (S. C.), 19; Commonwealth v. Vandyke, 57 Pa. St. 34; Marsh v. Cold, 2 Pick. 289; Train v. Gold, 5 Pick. 379; Stanton v. McMullon, 7 Ill.App. 326; McCartney v. Shephard, 21 Mo. 573; Carroll v. Partridge, 12 Mo.App. 583; Foster v. Clark, 19 Pick. 329. (2) Chitty, in his work on contracts, page 526, says: "An engagement to indemnify a sheriff in the execution of a lawful or apparently legal act is good, and indemnity bonds given to him in cases of disputed property in goods and given to induce him to execute or not to execute a fieri facias against such goods, are clearly lawful," citing: Arundel v. Gardinor, Cro. Jac. 652; Blackett v. Crissop, 1 Ld. Raym. 279; 4 Mass. 63; 2 Pick. 289-290; 7 Blackford, 343; 1 Little, 273. And the cases of Foster v. Clark, 19 Pick. 329; Kemper v. Kemper, 3 Rand. (Va.) 8.
Burgess, J. -- This cause was transferred to the supreme court from the St. Louis court of appeals because of the dissent of one of the members of that court from the opinion filed therein. See infra and 61 Mo.App. 221. We approve that opinion, and in accordance therewith affirm the judgment of that court reversing the judgment of the circuit court. Gantt, P. J., and Sherwood, J., concur.
OPINION OF ST. LOUIS COURT OF APPEALS.
In January, 1885, the circuit court of the city of St. Louis, which had full jurisdiction of the parties and subject-matter, ordered a writ of restitution to issue to Henry F. Harrington, the then sheriff of the city. The writ commanded said Harrington to oust August Zelle, Michael Kinealy, and Sarah Watson from certain premises, and to deliver the possession thereof to the plaintiff in the action. The sheriff found one Mamie Williams in possession, and having reason to believe that she did not come into possession under either of the defendants, but claimed under a paramount title, he made the following return on the writ:
"I return that I decline to execute this writ by delivering possession thereunder, because I found the premises occupied by Mamie Williams, alias Mamie Moss, not a party defendant, nor claiming under them or either defendants, and not in possession of the premises when the suit was instituted."
The plaintiff in the writ thereupon sued the sheriff upon his bond, and in that action such proceedings were had that the court found the sheriff guilty of a breach of official duty and rendered judgment against him and his sureties for the damages sustained by the plaintiff in the writ.
The present action is brought by the sheriff's administrator upon a bond of indemnity, which Kinealy, one of the defendants in the writ of restitution, had given to the sheriff, with his (Kinealy's) wife and the defendant Crawford as his sureties. The bond is conditioned to indemnify the sheriff for all loss or damages to which he may be subjected by reasons of any claim or recovery had against him for, or on account of, his failure to execute said writ of restitution. The petition states the facts above stated; that the sheriff made diligent inquiry as to the validity of the claim of Mamie Williams when the writ of restitution came to his hands; that such inquiries left the question in doubt as to whether said Mamie Williams came into possession and claimed under either of said defendants; and that the sheriff took said bond of indemnity in good faith. The petition then alleges that when the sheriff was sued he notified the obligors of the bond, Kinealy and Crawford, to defend the suit, but they failed to do so. Judgment is prayed for the damages which the sheriff was required to pay, and for costs and attorney's fees incurred and paid by him in the defense of said suit.
The answer of the defendant, Crawford, among other defenses, set up the following: "That the said acts of the said sheriff set forth in said petition were illegal, against public policy, and wholly void, and that such acts furnished no consideration for the execution and delivery of said obligation so described in said petition, and the same is wholly void."
The cause was tried by the court without a jury, and upon the trial the foregoing facts appearing, the defendant, Crawford, asked the court to declare the law that, upon the pleadings and evidence, the plaintiff could not recover. The court refused so to declare, and upon the request of the plaintiff declared the law in substance that if the sheriff acted in good faith, and after diligent inquiry was unable to ascertain whether Mamie Williams came into possession and held possession under either of the defendants, or by a paramount title, then the bond taken by the sheriff for not executing the writ was supported by a sufficient consideration, and not opposed to public policy and was a valid bond. The court thereupon found for the plaintiff and the defendant Crawford appeals from such judgment.
The refusal to give the declaration of law asked by the defendant is the substantial error assigned by him on this appeal.
The authorities from the earliest date are uniform in holding that a contract to indemnify a sheriff or other ministerial officer for omitting to do that which he ought to do, is void as against public policy. Blackett v. Crissop, 1 Ld. Rd. 278; Cole Adm'r, v. Parker, 7 Iowa 167; Cass County v. Beck, 76 Iowa 487; Hodsdon v. Wilkins, 7 Me. 113; Buffendeau v. Brooks, 28 Cal. 641; Griffin v. Hasty, 94 N.C. 438; Millard...
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