Curry v. Whitmore

| Mo. Ct. App. | Feb 6, 1905

ELLISON, J.

— Plaintiff brought this action against defendant to recover the sum of eleven hundred dollars. At the close of all the evidence the trial court gave a peremptory instruction for defendant.

Since the case went off on a demurrer we will treat it from the standpoint of the evidence in behalf of plaintiff, without regard to its being contradicted by the evidence in behalf of defendant. It appears that plaintiff and one, Guest, entered into a contract whereby it was agreed that if plaintiff would find a purchaser for Guest (s farm of 110 acres in Chariton county the latter would give the former all over the price of $35 per acre which the purchaser would pay. That afterwards plaintiff produced defendant (who was ready, able and willing to buy) as a purchaser for the farm at the price of $45 per acre, which price would make due to plaintiff from Guest $10 per acre, or the total sum of $1,100. As soon as Guest came to an agreement with defendant the latter made him a cash payment of $1,000 and was to pay him the balance of $3,950 on the following first day of March, a title bond being executed by Guest.

It was then agreed between plaintiff and Guest that the former would give to Guest his note for $1,100 (the amount of plaintiff’s commission) due plaintiff as commission, and that Guest would accept such note as a payment on the balance of $3,950 due him from defendant as balance of purchase-money on the farm. Defendant was then informed that his vendor, Guest, had agreed to accept plaintiff as paymaster for $1,100 and lie thereupon agreed that if plaintiff paid Guest that sum for him he would pay it to plaintiff on the first of March when the balance of purchase-money was to be paid. Plaintiff did execute his note to Guest for $1,100 and Guest thereupon accepted it as a payment on the farm and indorsed on the back thereof that it was paid “as so much of the purchase price of my farm.” Defendant was present when the transaction took place and agreed to it, at the same time accepting a credit on the bond for deed (which Guest gave him) of $2,100. That sum being made up of the $1,000 cash he paid himself and the $1,100 paid for him by plaintiff in the manner stated.

This sale of the land was not consummated by deed and it seems to have been agreed to be annulled by Guest and defendant: Among other reasons assigned for this was that Guest’s wife refused to execute a deed. Guest and defendant then entered into another contract, ignoring plaintiff, whereby the former sold his land to the latter for a less price.

The foregoing is not the evidence in detail, but it is the substance and effect of plaintiff’s showing. It undoubtedly entitled plaintiff to have the case submitted to the jury.

It is true that the agreement between plaintiff and Guest whereby the former gave his note, to Guest for $1,100, the amount of his commission, and Guest immediately cancelling it by indorsing on it that it was a payment of so much of the purchase price on the land and handing it back to plaintiff, was rather odd, unusual and indirect, yet, things represented which are unusual and indirect are not necessarily untrue. It is probable that that agreement between Guest — the owner of the land — and plaintiff — his agent — to sell it, was intended as a means of plaintiff collecting his commission out of the balance of purchase money yet to be paid, and of preventing defendant from knowing that he was paying for the land ten dollars per acre more than Gfuest was willing to take for it. But that would not alter the legal rights of the parties. The contract between Guest and plaintiff whereby the former agreed to pay the latter all over a certain price per acre was a valid contract. And when plaintiff produced defendant to Guest ready, able and willing to buy, and the failure to consummate the sale came about, not by plaintiff’s fault, but through a refusal of Guest —or his wife — to sign a deed, Guest’s liability to plaintiff became fixed.

It is, however, said by defendant that the land was Guest’s homestead and that he could not sell it without his wife’s consent. Neither can a husband sell any of his other lands and make perfect title without his wife’s consent. But neither of these conditions will relieve him of liability on his contract for the sale of such lands. That is a matter he should think' of and provide against at the time he enters into his obligation.

The judgment will be reversed and the cause remanded.

All concur.