Bower v. Jones

McCOY, J. At the close of all .the testimony on the trial of this case in the circuit court, both parties moved for a directed verdict, thereby, under a well-established rule of this court, taking the issues from the jury. The court directed a verdict in favor of the defendant, the respondent Klbert Jones, to which ruling of the court the plaintiff excepted and now assigns the same as error. There is no disputed question of fact in the case. The following facts are disclosed by the record: That Leonard Bower, the plaintiff and appellant, in June, 1904, bought 17 head of cattle from the defendant Squier Jones. That said Squier Jones sold said cattle to the plaintiff as his own. Thereafter the First National Bank of Pierre, under a claim of title superior to that of Squier Jones, instituted a replevin action against the appellant as defendant in said action to recover the possession of said cattle. Immediately upon the commencement of said, replevin action, appellant notified Squier Jones therpof 'and demanded that he defend the title to said cattle in said action. Squier Jones acquiesced in this demand and took charge of the defense in said, replevin action. On the trial of said replevin action in the circuit court of Lyman county, the bank’s title to 13 head of ¡said cattle was found to be superior to that of Squier Jones, or appellant, and judgment was given against the appellant in favor of said bank for the recovery of the possession of said cattle- or the value thereof, together with damages and costs, amounting in the whole to. the sum of $327.74. This judgment was rendered on the 14th day of [417] June, 1906. At the time of the rendition of said judgment, Squier Jones was a resident of the state of Nebraska, but was in South Dakota at the time attending the trial of said cause. Immediately after the trial was over and the rendition of the judgment in said replevin action, appellant demanded of Squier Jones that he satisfy the 'said judgment and costs obtained against appellant in such replevin action. Squier Jones desired to- apply for a new trial, and, if that was denied, to take an appeal to the Supreme Court of the state; but appellant insisted -that he be protected against the said judgment, and insisted that -in case he was not indemnified against said judgment he would immediately commence suit against Squier Jones for the amount of 'said judgment. Thereupon Squier Jones requested appellant not to begin suit, but to allow the case to be carried further in appellant’s name, to let a motion for a new trial be made, and let the case be carried to the Supreme Court, if such motion for a new trial were denied. Squier Jones agreed to indemnify appellant against such judgment if appellant would desist and refrain from then commencing suit against him. Appellant agreed to acc-ep.t respondent, a brother of Squier Jones, residing in South Dakota, as surety on the indemnity. Thereupon Squier Jones and Elbert Jones, the respondent, executed and delivered to the appellant the following written agreement of indemnity: “Oacoma, S. D., June 14, 1906. I hereby promise, undertake and guarantee to hold 'harmless and indemnify Leonard Bower against all costs, expenses, loss or damage which may be now or hereafter incurred against him by reason of a certain suit in claim and delivery of 17 head of cattle in the circuit court of Lyman county, South Dakota, and in Supreme Court of said state, in which action th-e First National Bank of Pierre is plaintiff and the said Leonard Bower is defendant, in which said action judgment was rendered on the 14th day of June, A. D. 1906, in the circuit court o-f the 'said Lyman county, in..the Fourth judicial circuit, in favor of plaintiff and against said Leonard Bower, -defendant, for the possession of 13 head of said cattle, and for $135.00 damages, and the costs of said action, the measure of indemnity for said cattle to be $32.00 per head, and to pay interest on said sum from this date at 10 per cent, annum.” [418] Upon receiving such instrument, appellant refrained and desisted from commencing action against Squier Jones to recover the amount of the said judgment rendered against him in said replevin suit, and agreed to appeal the cause to the Supreme Court, and Squier Jones thereupon returned to his -home in the state of Nebraska. The motion -for new trial was made in said replevin action and denied. Subsequently, by direction of Squier Jones, further proceedings «in such replevin action were abandoned, and no appeal taken, and appellant was compelled to pay the judgment therein, amounting to $327.74. After repeated demands on Squier Jones and respondent for reimbursement of said amount, appellant commenced this action against Squier Jones and Elbert Jones, but failed to obtain -service of the summons upon Squier Jones, who still resided in Nebraska, but service was obtained on Elbert Jones,, the respondent, who appeared and answered In said action denying the allegations of plaintiff’s complaint, and further' alleging as a defense that the execution and delivery of the indemnity contract set forth in appellant’s complaint was wholly without consideration of any kind whatever on -the part of defendant Elbert Jones. Respondent, Elbert Jones, moved the court for a directed verdict on the ground that the evidence introduced by plaintiff wholly fails to establish a cause of action -against the defendant Elbert Jones, and for the reason that the evidence discloses that the -contract sued upon is without valid or binding consideration as to this defendant, Elbert Jones. As indicated by his motion for a directed verdict, respondent contends that the said indemnity contract was wholly without consideration as -to him. In this contention we are of the opinion that respondent is in error. Respondent, by the written contract, under -the circumstances of this case, became surety for Squier Jones in the performance of the indemnity contract. If there was sufficient consideration, between Squier Jones, the principal in said contract, and appellant, passing and existing -at the time respondent executed said contract, then -there was sufficient consideration as to respondent also. A' consideration moving to the principal alone contemporaneous with or subsequent to the promise of -the [419] surety or the guarantor is ‘sufficient. Brandt on Suretyship, § 23. The forbearance of appellant to bring suit against Squier Jones while he was present within the jurisdiction of the South Dakota courts was sufficient present consideration for the indemnity contract as between Squier Jones and appellant. 32 Cyc. 55; 6 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Daw, 748. The 'agreement to- permit the replevin action to proceed after judgment to a motion for new trial and appeal to -the Supreme Court was also sufficient present consideration to make the indemnity contract valid and binding as against respondent as surety. Respondent’s testimony shows that he read the contract before signing and executed the same freely and voluntarily. He testified that appellant would not accept .his brother Squier Jones, and that they asked him to sign the bond. The instrument itself is plain in its terms that the signers thereof would guarantee to hold harmless -and indemnify appellant against all costs, expenses, loss, or damage, which may be now or hereafter incurred by appellant by reason of the replevin action instituted by the bank against him; and also to pay interest at xo per cent, per annum on the damages and costs which make up the judgment in the replevin suit. Having read this contract before signing, respondent would not now be permitted -to say that he thought he was signing only a cost bond for costs on the appeal to the Supreme Court. Respondent in his answer does not allege either fraud or mistake in the making or execution of the contract, or any other defense, save and except failure of consideration. Under the answer in this case, respondent would not be permitted to vary the terms of the written agreement by parol testimony. No possible defense, or other reason, has been shown why the respondent should not pay appellant the amount of the judgment he was compelled to pay in said replevin suit. It is conceded by both parties that a new trial of this case would be unavailing, as the facts would be no- different than as shown by the record on this appeal. The judgment of the circuit court is reversed, and the circuit court is directed to enter judgment in favor of plaintiff for the sum of $390.19, with interest, according to said indemnity contract, and circuit court cost's. ■