Mitchell v. Morgan

181 N.W. 958 | S.D. | 1921

McCOY, J.

This action was instituted by the plaintiff to compel the defendant John P. Morgan, to specifically perform a certain contract in relation to the sale of certain real estate. Findings and judgment were in favor of plaintiff, and defendant appeals.

It appears from the record that the contract on which the respondent relies is contained in certain correspondence carried on between the parties through the United 'States mails, and telegrams, the substance of which is as follows: On the 19th day of May, 1919, the appellant wrote respondent as follows::

“In regard to my farm at Estelline, I will take $150.00 per acre with $2,000.00 down on contract and $11,000.00 March 1, 1920, the mortgage that is on it is $11,000.00 and it runs for seven years which draws six per cent, interest. N'ow if you don’t want it for this price, let me.hear from you by return mail. I am giving you the first chance at it.”

On May 20th, respondent answered as follows:

“I have just wired you acceptance on your farm per the terms in your letter of $150 per acre, $2,000.000 cash, $11,000.00 ‘ March 1, and assume $11,000 mortgage for seven years at six per cent. Kindly advise by return mail if you are coming up to draw the contract, or shall I have it drawn and send it to you to sign.”

On the same day respondent sent to appellant the following telegram.:

“This is for acceptance on your farm at Estelline per terms in your letter of May 19th; come or send contract at $150.00 per. acre, $2,000.00 cash, balance equity March 1st.”

On May 21st, appellant wrote respondent as follows:

“Received your letter and also the message that you would take my farm at the price and terms that I stated in my letter. You can draw up the contract and send, it to the bank at Kanaranzi, Kanaranzi State Bank, with the $2,000.00, and I will sign it and return it to you. I would come up, but it is impossible for me to get away for at least ten days, so this way will be just as good. This is with, the understanding that I get this year’s rent, and will pay 1919 taxes and interest.”

On May 23d, respondent sent appellant the following telegram :

“Have sent two thousand bank draft and1 contract for your farm to bank at Kanaranzi per your letter 21st inst.”

On Ma)7 23d the appellant sent to respondent the following telegram:

‘T have changed my mind about selling my place and will have bank at Kanaranzi return contract and draft for $2,000.00.”

On May 23d respondent caused to be sent to appellant the following letter:

“We have sent to the Farmers State Bank of Kanarnazi contract covering your land south of Estelline, being the N. E. of 11 — 112—51, Brookings county, South Dakota, same being as per your letter of the 21st inst., namjely, $24,000.00 for your quarter, $2,000.00 down, which we have mailed the bank our draft for, $11,000.00 March 1, cash, and $11,000.00 due in seven years from March 1, 1920. Kindly go to the bank there and sign up the contracts and forward to us at once as we have the quarter sold.”

On May 23d, respondent also caused to be sent to the Farmers’ State Bank of Kanaranzi, Minn., the following letter:

“Inclosed herewith please find contract for deed from1 Mr. John Morgan to E. A. Mitchell and R. A. Townsend, covering the N. E. 11-112-51, Brookings county, South Dakota. This is in accordance with Mr. Morgan’s letter and our telegram to- him, and will ask that you kindly have him execute the two' contracts, you forwarding- one to us, and he retaining the other, as per the contract and correspondence. We inclose herewith in amount of $2,000.00.”

[1,2] It is the contention of the appellant that this correspondence does not set forth a contract which could be specifically enforced; that there was no meeting of the minds of plaintiff and defendant and no acceptance of the terms of the offer; and that said evidence shows that said correspondence was merely negotiations for the purpose of and looking- toward the entering into a contract in the future. We are of the opinion that these contentions are -without merit. It is also contended by appellant that the said correspondence does not sufficiently describe the subject-matter of the contract. We are of the opinion that this contention is not tenable. The correspondence describes the land in question as “my farm at Estelline.” There was evidence offered on the trial that appellant owned only one parcel of land, or orne farm, in the vicinity of Estelline, that being the N. E Ya of section 11, in township 112 north, of range >51 west of the Fifth principal meridian, situated in the county of Brookings, state of 'South Dakota, and being the samle land described in the complaint. The general rule in relation to the sufficiency of the description of the sulbject-matter of such a contract seems to be that—

“If the designation is so definite that the purchaser knows exactly what he is buying, and the seller knows what he is selling and the land' is so described that the court can, With the aid of extrinsic evidence, apply the description to the exact property intended to be sold, it is enough.” Bacon v. Leslie, 50 Kan. 494, 31 Pac. 1066, 34 Am. St. Rep. 134.

This same rule is stated also as follows■

“'Any description by which the property might be identified by a competent surveyor with reasonable certainty, either with or without the aid of extrinsic evidence, is sufficient to permit the specific performance of a contract in relation thereto.” Flegel v. Dowling, 54 Or. 40, 102 Pac. 178, 135 Am. St. Rep. 812, 19 Ann. Cas. 1159; Pom. Contracts, § 90; 27 R. C. L. 317.

Finding' no error in the record, the judgment and order appealed from are affirmed.