United States Printing Co. v. George W. Linn Co.

Mr. Justice McSurely delivered the opinion of the court. This is an action on an appeal bond signed by appellants, which was tried by the court which entered judgment for the appellee. The errors urged in argument by appellee are, first, that the' trial court should have entered judgment for the defendant, Miller, for want of replications to certain pleas filed by him to the declaration. An inspection of the record shows proper replications to have been duly filed. Another error suggested is that the appeal bond was improperly admitted in evidence, because of. a variance between the bond as described in the declaration and the document offered in evidence. An examination of the declaration and the bond admitted in evidence discloses no such substantial difference as to amount to a variance. Ittis also argued that the defendant, Miller, was releaséd as surety on the bond by reason of an extension agreement entered into between the plaintiff and the defendant, George W. Linn Company. This agreement was in writing and introduced in evidence. By it the plaintiff undertook to extend the time for the payment of the judgment it had obtained against the Linn Company. The agreement does not purport to have been made for a consideration, and there is no evidence that it was so made. Therefore it was invalid and not binding upon the parties thereto, and it follows that it was not sufficient to release Miller. In Harrison v. Thackaberry, 154 Ill. App. 246 (250), the court said: “To release a surety the extension of time must be upon a new and valid consideration; it is essential that the agreement be such that neither the debtor can compel the creditor to accept the payment of the debt, nor can the creditor enforce payment before the agreed time has expired; the contract must be mutual.” To the same effect are English v. Landon, 181 Ill. 614, 620; Moyses v. Schendorf, 238 Ill. 232, 236; Crossman v. Wohlleben, 90 Ill. 537; King v. Griggs, 116 Ill. App. 132; Higgins v. McPherson, 118 Ill. App. 464. It is said that there is no evidence of any default in the payment of the judgment mentioned in the bond, but the record shows that the witness, Friedman, so testified. It is stated that the judgment exceeds the amount of the ad damnum. It appears that upon motion the court granted leave to increase the ad damnum to $500, and the judgment was for $487.62. There seems to be no force in this point. Finding no reversible error, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed. Affirmed.