Brewer v. Peed
Brewer v. Peed
Opinion of the Court
delivered the Opinion of the Court.
In 1828, Richard Brewer sold and conveyed to Philip Peed 100 acres of land, received 'a part of the, consideration, and took his promissory note for the residue. Peed afterwards filed a bill in chancery for a rescission of the contract, because, as he alleged, fifteen acres of the land, without which he would not have made the purchase, had been conveyed by Brewer to one Tewel, in 1825, and that Brewer had fraudulently concealed that fact, and had represented himself as the owner of the whole 100 acres. In an amended bill, he alleged that he bad ascertained that the fifteen acres mentioned in his bill had been conveyed to Tewell in consideration of a conveyance by him to Brewer, of fifteen acres adjoining the 100 acres, and including improvements which he supposed that he had bought, but which his deed, as written, did not include. He therefore sought a specific execution of the alleged parol contract for 100 acres, including the last described fifteen acres, and excluding the fifteen acres mentioned in the original bill, which he proposed to relinquish.
Brewer admitted in his answer that he had sold, and had thought that he had conveyed to Peed, 100 acres including the fifteen acres described in the amended bill; stated that he was illiterate, and that
On the hearing, the circuit court decreed that Brewer should convey to Peed, and that Peed should relinquish to him, according to the prayer in the amended bill and in the cross bill;' but did not decree the payment of so much of the purchase money as remained due. This writ of error is prosecuted to reverse that decree.
Although there was no memorandum in writing showing that the fifteen acres mentioned in the amended bill, had been sold by the plaintiff to the defendant, nevertheless, as the alleged sale was admitted in the answer, a correction of the mistake in the deed, and a specific execution of the original agreement as understood by the parties, were just, and proper. But the circuit court erred in decreeing a specific execution without requiring the payment of what Was due from the defendant to the plaintiff for the land.
The amount remaining due, including current interest (for no tender was alleged or proved,) should be paid before the vendor should be compelled to part with his title, and the circuit, court must, on the return of the cause, ascertain the amount to which the plaintiff is entitled, and then give the defendant a day for paying it, and, if he fail to make the pay
Although the plaintiff could not have been com-to modify or alter the contract as exhibited by the deed, vet as defendant .might have been entitled to a rescission of the contract, or to damages, and as there is some testimony tending to show that the plaintiff was unwilling, prior to the filing of the bill against him, to correct the mistake in the deed, and there is no proof of a tender by the defendant, each party must be deemed to have been in equal fault, and therefore there should be no decree-for costs in the circuit court.
Decree reversed, and cause remanded for proceedings and decree consistent with this opinion. The plaintiff must have his costs in this court.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.