If the delinquent, or either of the delinquent's sureties, has died before the motion is made, the court shall give judgment against the sureties alone, in case of the death of the principal, or against the principal and surviving sureties on the bond, in case of the death of either of the sureties.
Code 1858, § 735 (deriv. Acts 1839-1840, ch. 160, § 13); Shan., § 1048; Code 1932, § 1777; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 67-1608.