144 Mich. 235 | Mich. | 1906
Lead Opinion
This is a bill filed for specific performance. Saron Beardslee was in his lifetime the owner of a farm in Oakland county, through which ran a highway known as the Old Territorial Road. The complainant’s predecessor, the Detroit, Rochester, Romeo & Lake Orion Railway, contemplated the construction of an electric railway following the line of the highway, but, desiring to build on private right of way, sought a right of way from occupants extending three rods westerly from the center line of said highway.
On the 13th of August, 1899, Saron Beardslee conveyed to complainant’s predecessor such a right of way across his farm. Later it was thought desirable to locate the track on the easterly side of the highway as it passed through Beardslee’s farm, and also to have a right of way four rods in width from the center of the highway. Negotiations were opened which culminated, on October 24, 1899, in an agreement signed by Mr. Beardslee, by which he agreed to the change in location, and agreed to convey the four-rod strip in consideration of a payment of $35 per acre for the additional rod, and subject to the same conditions as to crossings, fencing, etc., as were embodied in the deed of August 13th. It was provided that the deed was to be given when the company had laid its tracks. Authority was given to the company to proceed to build its road. Saron Beardslee died November 9, 1899. The railway having been completed, and complainant, having succeeded to the rights of the Detroit, Rochester, Romeo & Lake Orion Railway, files this bill against the legatees under his will and those claiming under them,
The claims of appellants are best' stated in the language of the brief: It is the claim of the defendants that the complainant has no right to the relief prayed in its bill of complaint for the following reasons:
First. That at the time of the alleged execution of the contract in question by Saron Beardslee, he, Saron Beards-lee, was not in a condition mentally to understand and comprehend the nature of the contract.
Second. That John Winter and Oliver H. Lau fraudulently took advantage of the mental condition of Saron Beardslee at the time the contract is alleged to have been made, and fraudulently put or caused to have placed his name to the contract.
Third. That there was laches on the part of the complainant in attempting to have this alleged contract enforced and in bringing this action. •
Fourth. That the complainant never made any demand on the defendants for a deed, and never made any tender of the purchase price before this action was commenced; and never returned or offered to return the deed of August 13th, but retained possession of it, and still retains possession of it.
.Fifth. That, if the contract is found to be a valid and binding contract in consequence of its execution by Saron Beardslee, there has been no such compliance with the terms thereof on the part of the complainant as to entitle it to a decree of specific performance.
Sixth. That the contract is not mutual in its operations as between the parties to it, and specific performance cannot be enforced in favor of the complainant.
There has been no such laches as to bar the complainant’s remedy. During all the time since the construction of the track soon after the contract was made complainant and its predecessor have been in,the actual occupancy of the strip to the knowledge of all parties concerned. The demand for a deed would evidently have been with
The court below found a substantial compliance except in some minor details, and imposed such equitable conditions as compensated for any dereliction of complainant in that regard.
The contention that there was no mutuality is answered by Welch v. Whelpley, 62 Mich. 15. See, also, Bigler v. Baker, 40 Neb. 325 (24 L. R. A. 255).
The first two questions above stated are all which remain to be considered. The circuit judge, on defendants’ motion, impaneled a jury, which found that Saron Beards-lee was mentally competent when the contract was made. The circuit judge also reached the same conclusion,and also negatived in his finding the contention of defendants as to fraud. The defendants contend that the circuit judge, permitted the jury to consider testimony which was incompetent under section 10212 of the Compiled Laws, as amended by Act No. 30 of the Public Acts of 1903. The testimony referred to was that of the agents of the contracting company who negotiated with Beardslee for the contract. We think their testimony was incompetent under the statute cited. The verdict of the jury was, however, at most, only advisory. The circuit judge was not bound to order a jury in the first instance, nor to accept its finding when made. Maier v. Wayne Circuit Judge, 112 Mich. 491; Detroit National Bank v. Blodgett, 115 Mich. 172. The circuit judge having determined the case on its facts, and an appeal having been made from his decision, it is open to this court to decide the question of fact. We are satisfied that the circuit judge reached the correct conclusion. We reach this decision although the witnesses who express an opinion as to the mental competency of Beardslee testify that they do not believe that he was competent on the 24th of October.' We base our conclusion on the facts and circumstances
The decree is affirmed, with costs.
Concurrence Opinion
I concur upon the ground that the appellants are estopped to assert the incompetency of Saron Beardslee. Burt v. Mason, 97 Mich. 127; Norfolk, etc., R. Co. v. Perdue, 40 W. Va. 442.
