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1 Wright 71

Kilborn v. Cooke

Ohio Supreme Court

Decided August 15, 1832

Ohio Supreme Court · decided 1832-08-15

Covenant. The declaration is upon a bond of indemnity given to the plaintiff, to indemnify him against loss upon a bond given by him as the security of Cooke as a constable. The condition annexed to the bond is, that it shall become void if Cooke faithfully discharge the duties of his office, and faithfully pass over all moneys collected by him in virtue of his office.

Decided 1832-08-15

BY THE COURT.

¶1The real question in this case is this, does the bond cover the liability of the defendant, Cooke, for his neglect as constable, on the executions in favor of the plaintiff ? We think the condition cf the bond two-fold.

¶2*721st. To save Kilborn harmless for all the liabilities growing out *of his having gone security for the constable. 2d. To in- [7Ü demnify him against liability to others. If it were not so, the bond would not operate as a complete indemnity ; and if Kilborn had business for a constable, he would be without the security which the law contemplates for all. Ought this to result from his having gone security in the constable’s bond? We think not; and this is embraced in the first clause of the condition of the indemnity bond, faithfully to discharge the duties of the office of constable. By his neglect of these duties, the plaintiff has been subjected to direct loss. This supersedes the necessity which would exist in an ordinary case of indemnity bonds, of establishing the liability by some judicial proceedings in favor of the party injured. The defendants are placed in this declaration within the letter of their bond. We can see nothing unlawful in so placing them. They show no merits calling for any nice construction to exonerate them. On the contrary, the equity which appears in the casé is all on the other side.

¶3The demurrer is overruled.

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