Pratt v. Gilbert

BlacKburn, J.: Plaintiff sued the Jarvis-Conklin Trust Company before a commissioner and obtained judgment. The company gave notice of appeal, and in said appeal defendants gave their bond. It was filed one day too late before the com 55 missioner, but the appeal as a matter ol fact, was actually taken. The docket fee was paid by appellant, and the case docketed in the district court. . In apt time a motion was made to dismiss the appeal because the bond was not filed 'in the commissioner’s court in time, which motion was sustained. The judgment in the commissioner’s court not being paid, this suit was brought to recover on the bond in commissioners court. Judgment for plaintiff, and an appeal was taken to district court. Motion was made for judgment on the pleadings by the plaintiff. Thi motion was overruled and denied. Trial was had, and plaintiff offered in evidence the bond and all the proceedings in the suit .of plaintiff against the Jarvis-Conklm Mortgage & Trust Company; and the court on motion of the defendants, dismissed the case because the evidence was insufficient to support a judgment. The contention of appellant is that the court erred in dismissing the case and refusing to give judgment for plaintiff. We think this contention is well taken. The defendants cannot deny the validity of the bond, because they are estopped from denying its recitals. The first, bond recites that it is given for costs, and the second that it is given to stay the operations of a judgment and the record shows that judgment was stayed by means of the undertaking. It says: “In consideration thereof, and of such stay of proceedings, and of the premises, jointly and severally undertake and promise,” etc. Now, it would be an outrage on justice and fair dealing to allow these defendants to plead that they were not liable on these undertakings, because they .were filed one day too late, after they have operated to stay the proceedings, as they were intended. When sued upon an undertaking of the nature of these, the obligors are estopped from denying their recitals. Arnott v. Friel, 50 Ill. 174; Trimble v. State, 4, Blackf. 435; Smith v. Whitaker, 11 Ill. 417; Adams v. Thompson (Neb.), 26 N. W. Rep. 316. We think these 56 authorities clearly sustain the position that the defendants are estopped- from denying-that an appeal was taken, when all that could have been gained by an appeal was gained. We think reason and righteousness sustain this view. Judgment is reversed, and cause remanded. ZANE, O. J.,- and ANDERSON, J., concurred.