Mason v. Cater

192 Iowa 143 | Iowa | 1921

De Graff, J.

Plaintiff and defendants exchanged farms at stipulated values. Taking into consideration the agreed values of the farms and the outstanding mortgages, it was determined by the parties that the difference was in the sum of $2,455, in favor of the plaintiff, as evidenced by the notes in suit.

It is alleged in answer by defendants that the execution and delivery of said notes were made upon the express condition, understanding, and .agreement between the parties that the land conveyed to defendants was to be placed upon the market for sale, and, if sold to a purchaser acceptable to plaintiff, and one who would agree to pay the indebtedness evidenced by the notes, then these defendants would not be liable for .any other sum than the interest upon said notes at the date of sale; that plaintiff was to collect the remaining interest and principal of said notes from said purchaser, or make the said sum from the land in question.

Defendants further allege that, on October 22, 1915, a purchaser (C. M. Arthur) was found for said land, who was acceptable to the plaintiff; that plaintiff requested these defendants to make sale of said land to him; that the sale of said land was made to C. M. Arthur, and in consideration of the oral promise; that the said Arthur agreed to pay said indebtedness, and assumed to pay it, in the deed executed to him; that the defendants did pay the interest on said notes up to the date of the sale to Arthur; that, by reason of the said oral contract and the sale of said land to Arthur, there is nothing due plaintiff, and he is estopped from asserting his claim against the defendants.

Upon the issues thus joined, trial was had. The court instructed the jury on the theory presented by defendants in their pleadings, and the jury returned its Verdict in favor of defendants.

If the evidence offered by the defendants in support of the allegations of their answer, is competent, it is amply sufficient to sustain the verdict.

1. Pleading: demurrer : waiver. I. Plaintiff filed a demurrer to the answer of defendants, and error is assigned in the overruling thereof by the trial court. There is no merit in this contention. A demurrer is but a legal exception to the sufficiency of a pleading (Wapello St. Sav. Bank v. Colton, 143 Iowa 359), and is waived by a subsequent pleading.

2 evidence: fectingas writ-oral 'contract^ for discharge. II. The major contention of appellant and the assignment of errors in relation thereto are predicated on the principle “that all agreements made between the parties touching the subject-matter of a contract, when reduced to writing, are presumed to be evidenced by the writing; that the writing is the last and fullest expression of the agreement itself; and that it can be neither altered, modified, nor changed by parol evidence, except- in an action in equity to reform. ”

It is the contention of appellee “that, as between parties to a written contract,' an oral agreement collateral to the writing and serving as an inducement for the signing thereof may be shown by parol, and that it may also be shown that a written obligation has been discharged, in accord with the terms of a collateral oral agreement, differing from the terms of the instrument itself.”

The defendants produced a purchaser satisfactory to plaintiff, and one who did agree to pay this indebtedness. The defendants did pay the interest to the date of sale, in conformity to their agreement. The burden of proof was on the defendants to establish, by a preponderance of the evidence, the allegations of their answer, to wit: (1) That a part of the consideration moving to the defendants in the execution and delivery of the notes to plaintiff was the promise of plaintiff that he would release them from payment, on the performance of certain conditions. (2) That the conditions were that defendants should transfer the land to a person acceptable to plaintiff, and that such person would agree to pay said notes, and that defendants would pay the interest on said notes to the time of sale and transfer to such person. (3) That defendants did sell and transfer the said land to one Arthur, a person satisfactory to plaintiff, and that Arthur did assume and agree to pay the said notes. (4) That defendants did pay the interest on said notes to the time of sale and transfer. (5) That defendants relied upon the said promise of the plaintiff to their detriment, and that said notes would not have been executed and delivered, except for the statements, promises, and representations made by the plaintiff to defendants, prior to execution of the notes in suit.

As between the immediate parties to a negotiable promissory note, the delivery may be shown to have been conditional, and for a special purpose only. Section 3060-a16, Code Supplement, 1913; First Nat. Bank v. Miller (N. D.), 179 N. W. 997.

The essence of the delivery of negotiable paper is the intent of the parties, and proof of conditions of execution and delivery is not in contravention of the parol evidence rule. Herron v. Brinton, 188 Iowa 60; Oakland Cem. Assn. v. Lakins, 126 Iowa 121.

Our reports are replete with decisions that, as between original parties to a written contract, an oral agreement collateral to the writing, and serving as an inducement for the signing thereof, may be established by parol. Ball v. James, 176 Iowa 647; Sutton v. Griebel, 118 Iowa 78; Garner v. Kratzer, 173 Iowa 292; Banwart v. Shullenberg, 190 Iowa 418. The ease at bar is controlled by the cases cited, and no good purpose would be served in discussing in this opinion the weight of authority rule repeatedly affirmed by this court.

Wherefore, the judgment entered by the trial court is— Affirmed.

EvaNS, C. J., Weaver and Preston, JJ., concur.