Underkoffler v. Scott
Underkoffler v. Scott
Opinion of the Court
The defendant was the owner of a tract of land on the south side of the railway track, in the village of Alexander, in Franklin county, through which he caused streets to be laid, and the land abutting to be staked off in a way to indicate corners and the streets. The land has since been regularly subdivided into blocks and lots, the lots be" ing one hundred and fifty-five feet in length by sixty feet in width. After the land was staked off, and before it was platted, the defendant agreed with the plaintiff that if he would put his blacksmith shop on the south side of the track, and not remove from the place, as he contemplated doing, he would give him ground upon which to place it. In pursuance of this agreement, the plaintiff built his shop on a corner, which, when the land was subdivided by the platting, was lot 5, m block 2, These lots o^ sixty feet in width were designed in platting the ground for three business lots of twenty-two feet each. Thereafter defendant made, and sent to plaintiff through the mail, a deed for the south twenty-two feet of said lot 5, on which the shop stands. This suit is brought to compel a conveyance of lot 5 entire, under a claim that such was the agreement. The district court found the issues with the plaintiff, and gave a decree for performance. We think the evidence does not warrant such a decree. If there is a preponderance of evidence, it is with the defendant. The agreement to give the lot was an oral one. Plaintiff says the defendant agreed to give him a lot on which to place his shop, and that he told him the lots were four rods by eight. The defendant says in his testimony that nothing was said about the size of the lot or ground. At that time the land was not divided into lots, and he says that he told him he would give him the ground to place the shop on. That/ is the situation of the ease upon the statement of the facts by the parties. Plaintiff’s claim is not materially aided by other witnesses or facts. The only witness to the conversation on which plaintiff relies is one Howe, who was a witness for plaintiff, and he said: “I know the parties to this suit. Was present and heard the conversation between the defendant, Mr. Scott, and Mr. Under" koffler, in reference to putting a shop on a piece of land south of the rail
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.