Neagle v. Kelly

Illinois Supreme Court
Neagle v. Kelly, 146 Ill. 460 (Ill. 1893)
34 N.E. 947
Ceaig

Neagle v. Kelly

Opinion of the Court

Mr. Justice Ceaig

delivered the opinion of the Court:

No complaint is made in the argument in regard to the ruling of the court in the admission or exclusion of evidence. The court, however, gave one instruction on behalf of.the plaintiff which is claimed to be erroneous. The instruction was substantially as follows: 6

“The court instructs the jury, that if they believe, from- the evidence, that the defendant Neagle signed the bond offered in evidence, as surety for Simon Stafford, and they further believe, from the evidence, the defendant Stafford, deceased, agreed with the plaintiff to pay the ground rent and taxes for the premises described in the bond, in consideration of being allowed to occupy the said premises, and if the jury further believe, from the evidence, that at the time of restitution, as shown by the evidence, there was any ground rent or taxes due and unpaid for the said premises, or that the plaintiff had prior thereto paid any ground rent or taxes that ought, as they believe, from the evidence, to have been paid by the defendant Stafford, then they should find for the plaintiff.”

It is claimed in the argument, as the bond upon which the action was brought contained no provision in regard to the payment of taxes, the direction to the jury in regard to plaintiff’s right to collect taxes is erroneous. Upon looking into the record it appears that Kelly, at the request of Simon Stafford, purchased a building located on a leased lot, and agreed with Stafford that the latter might have the possession and use of the property upon the payment of the rents and taxes as the same became due according to the terms of the ground lease. Stafford entered into possession of the premises under this arrangement, but failed to pay the rent and taxes as agreed upon, and Kelly was obliged to pay, according to the terms of the ground lease, rent and taxes amounting to over $1000. The condition of the bond upon which the •action was brought required Stafford to prosecute his appeal with effect, and pay all rent then due and that might become due before the final termination of the suit, and all damages and loss which the plaintiff might sustain by reason of withholding the premises in controversy. -It is true the condition of the bond does not require Stafford to pay taxes, in terms, but it does require him to pay all rent due and that may become due, and as the taxes constituted a part of the rent which Stafford had agreed to pay, he and his sureties were liable for the taxes. The ground lease required the taxes to be paid as they matured, as a part of the rent, and so far as appears the taxes were as much a portion of the rent as the monthly sum, $43.75, required to be paid in money. For a failure to pay the rent, the taxes, and $43.75 monthly, the judgment in the action of forcible detainer was rendered, and the taxes and monthly payment of $43.75 constitute the rent named in the bond. We do not, therefore, regard the instruction erroneous.

It is also suggested in the argument that the Statute of Frauds may be availed of as a defense. Stafford obtained the possession of the premises from Kelly under an agreement to pay the rent. It was not collateral to any agreement made by Kelly, but, on the other hand, it was an original undertaking on his part, and the Statute of Frauds has no application to such an agreement. Besides, the Statute of Frauds was not pleaded or relied upon in the circuit court, and it is too late now for the first time to claim the benefit of the statute on appeal here.

We think the judgment of the Appellate Court was correct, and it will be affirmed.

Judgment affirmed.

Reference

Full Case Name
John F. Neagle v. Edward M. Kelly
Cited By
5 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
1. Statute oe Fbauds—promise to pay debt of anothei—contract, whether collateral. The holder of a lease, who was liable to his lessor for the payment of a ground rent, put a third person in possession of the premises under his agreement to pay such ground rent: Held, that such agreement by the latter to pay the rent owing by his lessor was not collateral to any agreement made by the first lessee, but was an original undertaking, and did not fall within the Statute of Frauds. 2. Same—waived if not pleaded in time. Unless the Statute of Frauds is pleaded or relied upon in the trial court it can not be availed of as a defense on appeal or writ of error, but will be held as waived. 3. Laudeobd and tenant—when rent includes the payment of taxes. Where a party leases land under a lease or agreement, by which he is to pay to the lessor a monthly rental in cash and also to pay all taxes on the property, the taxes so agreed to be paid will constitute a part of the rent, and may be recovered as such in a suit upon the lessee’s bond given to secure the rent due and to become due. 4. Appeal bond—condition of bond as to payment of rent, construed. Under the condition in an appeal bond, given on appeal in an action of forcible detainer, that the appellant should pay the appellee “all rent now due and that may become due before the final determination of the suit,” the obligee may recover for the taxes, when the rent agreed to be paid includes the taxes.