Scott v. Vizard
Scott v. Vizard
Opinion of the Court
This is a bill filed by Gaston Scott against William Vizard and J. W. Dillard, as indicated by the prayer, “to ascertain and determine the interest owned by complainant in and to the mineral rights or interests in and to the land described in Exhibits A and B to the bill, and that a trust be declared in favor of complainant to the extent of a one-half interest therein,” and it prays for general relief.
Complainant and William Vizard entered into an agreement in 1910. The complainant held an option on certain mineral interests in land in Chilton county from the Magnetic Ore Company. Under an agreement with defendant Vizard, it was transferred to him; and complainant assisted Vizard in investigating the title to the land. Vizard purchased the mineral interests in the 31,309 acres of land mentioned in the option. It cost him $8,837.13 purchase price, and $1,000 additional as expenses. Vizard paid this entire sum, $9,837.13. The title to the mineral interests was conveyed to Vizard. Complainant’s mother owned certain land in Chilton county, described in Exhibit B to the bill. Complainant agreed to have her convey the mineral interests therein to Vizard or to a corporation to be organized by them. Complainant’s mother conveyed, as agreed, the mineral interests in her land to Vizard. Complainant and Vizard were to organize a corporation, Vizard to convey all the mineral interests in all the lands described in Exhibits A and B to the corporation, for which he was to receive from the corporation the sum of $9,837.13 the amount paid by him for it. Vizard and complainant were to own the entire stock of the corporation in equal parts —one-half to each. The bill avers complainant was to have one-half interest in the mineral rights under the agreement. Vizard wrote complainant a letter which is made a part of the bill by exhibit. It reads:
*72 Exhibit 0.
“Mobile, Ala., October 21, 1920.
“Mr. Gaston Scott, Esq., Clanton, Ala. — Dear Sir: I am writing to make clear the ownership of the mineral rights on 31,309 acres of land located in Chilton county, Alabama, conveyed me by the Magnetic Ore Co., an Alabama corporation, domiciled at Birmingham, Ala.; the consideration for same being $7,835.-13. The understanding is that you or your assigns have an undivided one-half interest in this land, and that the land is to be conveyed to a corporation, to be organized hereafter, and the stock to be divided in the proportion one-lialf to the undersigned and one-half to you or your assigns. You to convey to said corporation or the undersigned, or to have your mother do so, certain mineral rights on lands located in Chilton county, Alabama, on the same terms as aforesaid. It is understood that the undersigned shall be reimbursed for the cost of said land- and for $1,000.00 heretofore ad* vaneed, and said amounts shall be an obligation of said corporation.
“Yours very truly, [Signed] Wm. Vizard.”
The corporation was never organized. The bill avers that in 1918 William Vizard conveyed all or some of the mineral rights or interests in the land described in Exhibits A and B to Jasper W. Dillard; and. at the time of the conveyance Dillard had full notice and knowledge of the interests of complainant in the lands.
Each defendant demurred to the bill. These demurrers were sustained by the court. This decree sustaining the demurrers is assigned as error by appellant, the complainant.
The complainant avers that he has always been, and is now, ready, willing, and able to do any act necessary to perfect the organization of the corporation as agreed.
The complainant has complied in part'with the contract and paid part of the purchase price for one-half interest of the mineral rights in the land by transfer of the option to Vizard, by personal services rendered, and by his mother conveying the entire mineral interest to Vizard in certain lands described in Exhibit B of the bill; and the letter of Viz-ard to complainant shows the balance of the purchase money due him, one-half of whicli with interest should be paid by complainant to entitle him to an undivided one-half interest in the mineral in the land described in Exhibits A and B to the bill. ■
The court did not err in sustaining demurrers to the bill of complaint as amended.
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- SCOTT v. VIZARD Et Al.
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