74 P. 261 | Kan. | 1903
The opinion of the court was delivered by
The first contention is that there was error in the holding that the plaintiffs were under legal obligation to secure an extension of the Bowman note and mortgage in behalf of John J. Kunkel. In
It is argued, first, that the agreement to extend is so ambiguous and uncertain as to be unenforceable. It is definite as to the parties and the subject-matter. It positively fixes the rate of interest to be paid by Kunkel in case of the extension, and definitely provides that all excess of that rate must be paid by the Leises. The only uncertainty of the agreement is as to the time of extension. Some time was manifestly within the contemplation of the parties, an'd as the right of extension was at the option of Kunkel, it is not unreasonable to infer the intention to have been that the duration of the extension should be likewise at his option, within a reasonable time. In Atwood v. Cobb, 16 Pick. 227, 26 Am. Dec. 657, where no time was fixed for performance, Chief Justice Shaw remarked :
“As to the uncertainty of the time at which the agreement is to be executed, the case is c ear, that wh9re on an executory contract a party stipulates to do some act, and no time is limited, it is to be done*755 within a reasonable time, and, therefore, the want of any stipulation to that effect does not render the instrument void.”
Ambiguous terms and doubtful stipulations may be interpreted by courts in the light of extrinsic and surrounding circumstances, but, of course, no testimony can be received which will alter or contradict the terms of an agreement. Testimony was received explanatory of the purposes and objects of the parties in executing it, and some of it may have trenched on the rule admitting parol testimony to affect a written agreement. However, if it were assumed that the agreement was so uncertain as to be defective, it was not necessary to support it by parol testimony in order to make it effective. The defects, if any, were cured by the action of the parties in recognizing and ratifying it. They contended in the court below, and are contending here, that they complied with this part of the agreement. Aside from an ineffectual attempt to obtain an extension through H. C. Bowman, it was shown in the testimony, and found by the court, that after Kunkel had himself obtained an extension and had brought it to the attention of plaintiffs, the latter paid the excess of interest in accordance with the stipulation in the agreement challenged. In that way they ratified and confirmed the agreement and cured whatever of invalidity there was in it.
The next contention is that there was error in the finding that the Leises had not complied with their contract to procure an extension of the Bowman debt. When Kunkel notified George Leis that he desired an extension or renewal of the note for five years, the latter opened negotiations with H. O. Bowman, the original mortgagee, for an extension, and did secure from him a verbal agreement to extend the note for a
Under the reciprocal agreements between these parties, their conduct in confirming the agreements and in acknowledging their obligations, there is no room for the application of the doctrine of suretyship or to claim a release of plaintiffs’ liability because an extension was obtained without their-consent. Nor is there ground for reversal in the deduction of the amount paid by Kunkel as commission on the extension. Plaintiffs specifically bound themselves to obtain an extension, and as they failed in that respect Kunkel was justified in obtaining it, and the cost or charge
The statute of limitations referred to is not properly in the case and requires no attention.
We find no errors in the rulings of the trial court, and therefore its judgment will be affirmed.