Harshman v. Paxson

16 Ind. 512 | Ind. | 1861

Worden, J.

Complaint as follows, viz., Ezeriah Paxson complains of Enos Harshman and David Mason, and says, that heretofore, to wit, on November 20, A. D., 1854, the said Enos Harshman, conspiring with said David Mason to cheat and defraud the plaintiff, did execute and deliver to the plaintiff, by the hand of said Mason, a written representation, assurance, and inducement, (a copy of which is filed,) whereby, intending to deceive and defraud the plaintiff, the said defendants caused and induced plaintiff to deliver to said Mason, a worthless and insolvent person, one dark brown mare, and one bay mare, each of the value of $100, and of the collective value of $200; and upon the faith and credit of said written instrument, and confiding in the honesty and rectitude of defendants, said plaintiff ‘ having delivered, as aforesaid, the said mares to the said Mason, confidently trusted and expected that he, the said Mason, or Ilarshman, on his behalf, would, on the faith and obligation of said written instrument, pay to plaintiff the full value thereof, or secure the same to be paid. And the plaintiff avers that the deception and fraud of the defendants consists, in part, in this: that theretofore the said Mason had represented to one Aaron Paxson, that he was the owner in fee simple of valuable, undivided interests in two certain tracts of land, in Jay county, in said State; which he proposed to sell and convey to said Aaron Paxson, in consideration that said Aaron would procure from plaintiff, and deliver to him therefor, the two mares above described, to which proposal said Aaron verbally agreed. But afterward, and before the execution of the aforesaid instrument, defendants were fully informed, and well knew, that said Mason was not the owner, or entitled, of any interests in more than one tract of land in Jay county, and that he could not make conveyance of any such to said Aaron Paxson. Yet notwithstanding being so informed, the said defendants, intending to defraud and deceive plaintiff, withheld from him their knowledge of Mason's want of title, and induced him, (plaintiff,) to deliver to said Mason the above described mares, by the means above set forth. And plaintiff further says, that the said defendants, nor either of them, have paid to said plaintiff the value of his said property, though often requested,” &c.

The written instrument mentioned is as follows, viz.,

“ November the 20th, 1854.

“Mr. E. Paxson, Sir:

“If you will let David Mason have them horses, I will go his bail for the making of the deed, whenever the letter comes with the numbers and range in; if he does not, I will pay you two hundred dollars for horses. I am to trade him a good mare for the filly, on trial, a mare worth one hundred and ten dollars.

(Signed,) “Enos ITabsiiman.”

A demurrer to this complaint was overruled, and the defendants excepted. Such further proceedings were had, as that final judgment was rendered for the plaintiff.

The record presents no question but the one arising upon the ruling on the demurrer to the complaint.

By the complaint, we suppose it was intended to set forth a cause of action arising ex delicto, and not ex contractu. It is clear, that no cause of action is shown against the defendants arising upon the contract set out. By the contract set out, Ilarshman became “ bail ” for Jjlason for the making of the deed, upon the happening of the event named; and on Masorís failure to make the deed, as provided for, Ilarshman bound himself to pay the plaintiff $200 for the horses. In order to hold Ilarshman liable on this contract, it must be shown that Mason refused or neglected to make the deed, upon the coming of the letter named in the instrument. Perhaps the instrument should be construed to mean that such letter was expected, and would be forthcoming in a reasonable time. Viewing- the complaint as sounding in contract, it is immaterial whether Mason was the owner of an interest in both, or neither, of the pieces of land mentioned, at the time the instrument was made, and the horses delivered. If he had the title at the time the deed was to be made, that would be sufficient. Garver v. Fennimore, 8 Ind. 135, and authorities there cited. There is no liability shown as against Ilarshman upon the contract, and still less, if possible, is there such liability shown against him and Mason jointly.

But as before observed, we suppose the alleged tort is the gist of the action. In this view also, the complaint, as we think, is bad. The general charge of fraud amounts to nothing. It is the office of pleadings under the code, to set forth .facts, and not more conclusions. We must look to the specific acts of fraud which are charged in the complaint, and those only. The fraudulent acts charged amount to this, only: that Mason represented to one Aaron Paxson, that he owned an interest in certain pieces of land, and agreed to sell liim the land, if the latter would procure for him the horses in question, to which proposition the latter'agreed. That afterward, both Mason and Harshman discovered that Mason had no interest in one of the pieces, and fraudulently concealed this knowledge from the plaintiff, at the time the horses were delivered. Now, taking it for granted, without inquiry, that the land which Mason agreed to sell to Aaron Paxson, was the same as that for which a deed was to be made as specified in the written instrument, still it is not shown that the plaintiff' was in any way a party to the arrangement between Mason and Aaron Paxson, or was even cognizant, at the time the mares were delivered, of the representation made by Mason to the latter, that he had title to both pieces. This representation, for aught that appears, was made in good faith, for it is alleged that the defendants were afterward informed that Mason had not title to both pieces. So far, no fraud is shown. Neither of the defendants is charged with having made any representations to the plaintiff, in reference to Mason's title. The/case amounts, then, to about this: Mason was to convey certain land at a future day, to a part of which he had no title, and Harshman was to see that this was done, or pay the $200. We have already seen that' this was a valid contract. If, when the time arrived for making the deed, Mason had no title, unless it was the intention of the parties that Mason should make a quit-claim of whatever interest he might have in the land, of course the plaintiff would not be bound to accept the deed, but might hold Harshman liable on his guaranty. But the fact that Mason had, at the time the mares were delivered, no title to a part of the land, does not authorize the plaintiff to convert the contract into a tori, and recover, in money, the value of the mares, when by the contract ho was to take it in land. But there is another fatal defect in the complaint, viewed as-counting upon the alleged tort. The plaintiff utterly disclaims having relied upon Mason’s title to the land. The mares are alleged to have been delivered “ upon the faith. and credit of said written instrumentand it is alleged, that the plaintiff “ confidently trusted and expected that the said Mason, or Harslman on his behalf, would, on the faith and obligation of said written instrument, pay the plaintiff the full value” of the mares, or secure the same to be paid.

J. JV. Sims and J. F. Suit, for the appellants. B. P. Davidson, for the appellee.

It is evident, from the allegations in the complaint, that the plaintiff relied upon the security he had by the guaranty of Ilarshman, and not upon any confidence he had in MasorHs title to the land.

Par Ouriam.

The judgment is reversed, with costs. Cause remanded, &c.