Peake v. Estate of Dorwin , 25 Vt. 28 ( 1852 )

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Isham, J.

The note in this case, was at first executed by B. & H. Boynton, as principals, and Jedediali Boynton, as surety, payable in one year, to John A. Place. The object of its execution, was to raise money thereon, from the plaintiff, for the ultimate benefit of B. & H. Boynton. The note, thus signed, was refused by the plaintiff, but he agreed to advance the money thereon, if William Dorwin, the intestate, would also become obligated for its payment. At the solicitation of Mr. Place, Dorwin signed the note, as joint maker, without the knowledge of the Boyntons, on receiving the obligation of Mr. Place, to indemnify him thérefor. We learn from the case, that about the time the note became payable, a valid and binding agreement was made by the plaintiff, with B. & Ii. Boynton, for a further delay on the note, for one year after it fell due, without the consent, or knowledge, of the other parties to the note. Evidently, that agreement discharged all the parties thereon, who stood, with the knowledge of the plaintiff, in the light of sureties. Whether the plaintiff knew that Jedediah Boynton was surety, or not, does not very definitely appear in the case; but it is obvious, that he knew that Dorwin signed the note as surety, and which he required, before he would make advances upon it. The act of Dorwin, in signing that note at the request of Place, did not create the relation of principal and surety, between him and the Boyntons; but, as the money was raised for their benefit, very slight' acts, recognizing that relation on their part, would place him, in the light of surety for them. Without some evidence, however, of that character, the relation does not tained an action against them for money paid; for no one can make another his debtor, by paying his debt, without a request, either express, or implied. His signing the note, however, did not vary or alter, the obligation of the Boyntons. It was their duty to pay the note; as much so, as if the nóte had been taken, and the money advanced thereon, when first offered to the plaintiff by Place. In no point of view, did Dorwin stand as principal, for he had received no consideration, for giving the note. In his relation to the plaintiff, he was a mere surety, or guarantor, for the payment of the debt, by the other parties on the note; and the plaintiff was bound so to regard him, and without his consent could do no act, in contravention of his rights as such surety. The case of Talmadge v. Burlingame, 9 Barr. Penn. R. 21, is very decisive on this subject, and establishes exist, and Dorwin, on payment the principle, “ That if one becomes surety for another, at the re- “ quest of the creditor, and without the knowledge of the principal “ debtor, the creditor is bound, by all the rules respecting sureties, “ though the principal debtor is not bound, for the want of a privity “ of contract between them.” If Dorwin, before the contract for delay was made, had been called upon by the plaintiff, and had paid the note, he would have been entitled, by subrogation, to all the rights, and remedies of the creditor against the other jjarties thereon, and would stand as a purchaser of the note. This right of subrogation exists in equity, not only where the strict relation of principal and surety is formed, “ but where one is compelled to “ pay the debt in order to protect his own interests.” 1 Lead. Cases in Eq. 88-94, notes. In the case of Wilkes v. Harper, 2 Barb. Ch. R. 338, the chancellor observed, “ that it is a well settled principle of equity, that when one person, or his property, “ stands in the situation of a surety for the payment of a debt, and “ for which payment another person or his property is primarily “ liable, the one who is secondarily liable, upon his paying the debt “ to the original creditor, is entitled to be subrogated, to all the rights “ and remedies of such creditor, as they then exist, against the prin- “ cipal debtor or his property.” This rule has its foundation, not in the contract of the parties, but in the elementary principles of equity law. The same doctrine is sustained in the case of Matthews v. Aiken, 1 Coms. 595, and 2 Lead. Cases in Eq., ¶ 2, 378, in notes to Rees v. Barrington. Any act of this plaintiff, therefore, that altered the terms of the original contract, or placed Dorwin, in a situation different from what he at first assumed, would effect his discharge on the note. After that contract for delay was made, if the debt had been paid by Dorwin, he could not, have been subrogated to, and prosecuted the note, without violating the contract for delay which the plaintiff had made. He has, therefore, been affected by that contract, in the same way, and to the same extent, as if he had signed the note, at the request of and as surety for, the Boyntons. And that agreement, or act of the plaintiff, which would discharge the liability of sureties, who signed as such, at the request of the Boyntons, will equally discharge the defendant.

Neither is the relation of Dorwin to the plaintiff, affected, by his having the obligation of Place, to indemnify him. If effects had been placed in bis bands, by the principal debtor, for the payment of the debt, possibly, that effect would follow. But no such consequences result, where securities, or contracts of indemnity, are given by one surety to another, in which the principal debtor has no claim, or interest. We think, therefore, that the agreement, made by the plaintiff with B. & H. Boynton for delay, must operate as a discharge of the defendant on the note.

The judgment of the county court is, therefore, reversed.