107 Wash. 585 | Wash. | 1919
The respondents, Zittel and Holzkamp, and appellant Meyer, by an oral agreement, purchased lands in Grant county for their joint account. The respondents were to furnish the money to make the initial payments and take title to the property, and Meyer was, within one year thereafter, to pay to them the portion of the purchase price corresponding to such interest as he might desire in the lands. Meyer was to negotiate the purchase of the
Two actions were begun by the respondents to clear up this situation, and two actions were also begun by the holders of mortgages given to Meyer’s representatives for the purpose of foreclosure. These various actions were consolidated and are here as one.
The contention of the appellants is that all the arrangements between the parties having been oral, the statute of frauds prevents the impressing of any trust upon the property in the hands of Meyer or his dummy representatives. In Stewart v. Preston, 77 Wash. 559, 137 Pac. 993, we committed ourselves to the salutary rule that the fraud of an agent who was orally employed to purchase real estate for his principal may not be avoided by the plea that his agency was not evidenced in writing.
Holcomb, C. J., Main, Tolman, and Mitchell, JJ., concur.