Ellsworth v. Buell
Ellsworth v. Buell
Opinion of the Court
Covenant by the appellees against the appellant. The declaration contains three counts. There are five pleas to each count. The first count and the pleas filed to it, present all the points made in the case; therefore, the other counts and pleas will not be farther noticed.
The first count is upon an agreement under seal, executed by the appellant and one Henry W. Ellsworth, on the 8th of May, 1845, by which they agreed to pay the appellees 217 dollars and 50 cents, in good farming land in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, or the adjoining counties, or in town lots in Lafayette, within two years from the date of the agreement; said lands and lots to be appraised at their fair value by appraisers appointed by the judge of the Probate Court and sheriff of the county for the time being. The breach is, “ And although the time for the payment of said sum of money,” &c., “ hath long since elapsed, yet the appellant hath not paid,” &c., “in the manner specified,” &c., “or in any other manner whatever.”
Pleas, 1. That the appellant did, on the 8th of May, 1847, at, &c., pay to the appellees the said 217 dollars and 50 cents in said agreement mentioned, in manner and form as therein specified. This plea concludes to the country. 2. That he has at all times, &c., held him
Demurrers were sustained to the pleas, and judgment was given for the plaintiffs below.
To the first plea the demurrer was special. It assigns, 1. That the plea alleges performance without stating the special manner, &c.; 2. That it should have concluded with a verification.
These causes are well assigned. This is not a case in which performance, in general terms, may be pleaded. The rule is, that “if there be anything specific or particular in the thing to be performed, though consisting of a number of acts, performance of each must be particularly stated.” 3 Chitty’s Pl. 985, n. 1. By the agreement sued on, the appellant, in effect, stipulated that within a stated period he would cause real estate to be appraised and convey the same to the appellees in payment of their debt. The plea does not specifically aver the performance of these stipulations. Therefore, it is defective on special demurrer. But even if it was in other respects good, still its conclusion is evidently wrong.
The second, third and fourth pleas obviously constitute
But it is said that the declaration is objectionable. It does not allege that the appellees had been willing to receive the land; to attend and sanction an appraisement of it, and receive any just award that might be made. There is nothing in these objections. Neither the terms nor effect of the agreement imposed on them any condition, either express or implied. The time of performance was stipulated, and a demand on the appellant was not requisite. Nor were they required, by the agreement, to do anything relative to the appraisement of the land.
The judgment is affirmed with 7 per cent, damages and costs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Ellsworth v. Buell and Another
- Status
- Published