Moredock v. Rawlings
Moredock v. Rawlings
Opinion of the Court
delivered the Opinion of the Court.
Samuel Smallwood held a conveyance of land from Christopher Mush, giving metes and bounds, and calling the quantity of the tract one hundred and sixty-two acres and one half; and on the 27th July, 1814, he sold it to the appellant Moredock, and gave his bond, in which his wife united, binding himself to convey it by deed of general warranty, naming the same quantify, and rduring to the deed
On the 20th of October following, Rawlings filed his bill, making Moredock and Smallwood and wife defendants, — enjoining a judgment for the last instalments due to Moredock, and praying that the contract of purchase between him and Moredock might beset aside, and rescinded.
The equity on which ho relies, as set out in his original and amended bill, is—
First. — That Moredock represented the title to be sale, and free from interference, when he sold, when there was another claim on it in the name of one Johnston’s heirs, who had brought an ejectment, and he feared would succeed in recovering the land or part of it, and that Smallwood is insolvent.
Secondly. — Moredock had misrepresented the true position oí the land, by stating it to begin at a certain point, when it began at a different-place, and lay at a considerable distance from the place represented.
And lastly, the writings concurred in stating, and Moredock assured him. that there were 162 1-2 acres in the tract, when it was lately discovered that there was only about one hundred and twenty-oue or two acres.
Moredock answered. The bill was taken pro con• fesso as to Smallwood and wife, and the court below set aside the contract entirely; and from that decree Moredock appealed. Moredock denies any representation about the title, and adds that he never did, nor does he yotknow of any other claim on
And as to Smallwood’s insolvency it was notorious at the date of the assignment.
It is true,.although there was no warranty in the assignment, yet if the contract was obtained by any unfair and untrue representations, equity would set it aside, as well as any other contract. But this is not tlie case here. There is no proof of false representations, nor is it shewn that Moredock ever knew of any other claim.
In sales of land vendors are only bound upon their express warranty, or by their fraud, and neither exists here, and therefore Moredock could not be bound to rescind or pay damages on either ground.
As to the second ground of equity, it is denied, and not proved, and there is no pretence for rescinding the contract on that account.
As to the third ground, to wit: a deficiency in the quantity of land, Moredock denies, to his recollection, making any special declarations, but admits that he thought that tlie land which he sold, and the deed of Bush io which it refered was right in the quantity. It may be taken for granted on this point, that both the parties, at the time of the contract, believed, that the nominal quantity was there, and If it is not it was a mutual mistaken both, without a wrong intention in either.
On the question of fact whether the quantity is or is not deficient, the complainant below introduced the deposition of one witness who deposed that he had surveyed the tract, and had found it to con-lain only 12! acres, and that if a stream which
A surveyor to make a diagram is like a commissioner to report sums and make assessments. Be acts in, the presence of both parties, or when both may bo present, and is liable to detection if he reports facts untruly, and his report ought to he excepted to and quashed as other reports before hearing, if it is incorrect, whether he was sworn or not; and we deem such evidenceproenred-by noting facts on the ground, in the presence of both parties, superior to the oat in of a surveyor who acted ex-partc, and there is no statute requiring the surveyor appointed by an order to he sworn either before or after be acts. We, therefore, admit this evidence, and decido on tin* cause as if it. had been heard by the court below.
Taking this plat, the quantify is ascertained to he 148 acres, 1 quarter and 6 poles, there being a deficit of 14 acres and 54 poles. The question then remaining is, will the mutual mistake of the parties in a sale of tisis nature.to that extent, he a rmllident ground for setting aside an executed contract, or will it require compensation, or be a ground neither for rescisión or compensation. \Ye do net conceive that this deficiency is sufficient to set aside the contract after the deed is executed. It. is presumed every buyer looks *tt the territory whi.ch ho is about to
But as the purchase money is not paid, and this deficiency is discovered, we conceive the case analagous to the case of Shelby &c vs. Smith’s heirs, heretofore decided by this court, 2 Marsh. 504; and that compensation ought to be made for it, and that compensation be deducted out of the price, and credited on the judgment at law, at the date when the note on which it is founded became due. This compensation is easily ascertained. It is the price of the numler of acres contained in the deficiency, ascertained by the price of the whole quantity as agreed by the parties, and the injunction must be dismissed as to the residue with damages, and the bill as to Smallwood must be dismissed, as the appellee lias against him a plain remedy at law.
The decree must be reversed, with costs, and tho cause be remanded for new proceedings Hot inconsistent with this opinion.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.