Vawter v. Brown
Vawter v. Brown
Opinion of the Court
Appellant, as assignee of one D. M. Kelly¡ sued. Brown, tlie maker, on two promissory notes. Answer: ¡that -the notes were executed for the balance of the purchase
The bond from Bruden to Kelly was given in evidence by the defendant, with the assignments thereon. It was in the usual form. The assignment to John Kelly was in consideration that he should pay the balance of the purchase money due Bruden, and contained a reservation of the said forty acres to Brown. The assignment to Cravens was in consideration that he should pay said Bruden; but did not contain any reservation of said forty acres to Brown.
Cravens, as a witness, stated that he drew the assignment from Kelly to Kelly; that after he received a deed from Bruden, a judgment was obtained against him for the balance of the purchase money due said Bruden ; that Brown stayed said judgment, and in consideration that he would convey him said forty acre tract, agreed with him that he Vould pay, and did pay on the same, $225, and the title bond executed by Kelly was delivered to witness. John Kelly testified that Cravens was to pay the purchase money due to Bruden for the tracts of land mentioned in the bond, other than the said forty acres; that he had nothing to do with that.
Upon these facts the Court instructed the jury, in substance, that if a deed was not made in conformity with the bond, Brown, after waiting a reasonable time, had the right to treat the contract as at an end; and a contract to pay any
We are of opinion that the ruling of the Court upon the question of instructions was erroneous. Whether Bruden could have refused to transfer the land, upon the failure of Cravens to make payment, we need not inquire. He had transferred it; and without some averments showing that the persons responsible for the purchase money to said Bruden were unable to pay the same, we can not perceive any obligation resting upon Brown to make such payment. Indeed, he might have insisted upon the other portions of said land being exhausted, before the vendor could have disturbed him for said purchase money.
The instructions were wrong.
The judgment is reversed, with costs. Cause remanded, &c.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.