98 So. 397 | La. | 1923
Plaintiffs’ vendors leased to defendant a certain plantation, and bound themselves to sink a 12-inch water well thereon. A pump is a necessary adjunct to such a well.
When it came to the sinking of the well it was found that pump and well would cost $4,415.84, without counting the cost of a temporary derrick necessary for the sinking of the' well (the erection of which would, according to the petition, cost $200, and the worth of which when erected would, according to the answer, be $100).
The lessors, however, refused to spend more than $3,000 altogether, and sunk the well only when defendant agreed to bear, or advance, the difference'. There is some con,- • fliet in the evidence as to who was ultimately to stand 'for this difference; but at any rate the lessors paid the $4,415.84, cost of well and pump, and charged $1,415.84 thereof against the balance in their hands for defendant. The derrick was erected by defendant entirely at his own cost.
When defendant was 'about to leave the premises, he attempted to remove the pump and derrick; but was enjoined herein by the plaintiffs, vendees of his lessor.
I.
In reconvention defendant, instead of first claiming the pump and derrick as his, and asking for their value only in the alternative, reversed this order, and claimed first the value of the pump and derrick, and asked only in the alternative to be decreed the owner thereof.
II.
III.
Decree.
The judgment appealed from is therefore amended so as to decree defendant the owner of the derrick in controversy herein, and allow him 30 days in which to remove it from plaintiffs’ land; and to this extent the injunction herein issued is dissolved. In all other respects the judgment is affirmed, plaintiffs to pay costs of appeal and defendant to pay costs of the court below.