Pratt v. Cox
Pratt v. Cox
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
It is now too late to question the constitutionality of the legislative enactment under which the land in controversy was decreed to be sold by the chancellor. This court in several previous adjudications on the subject has determined in favor of the exercise of this power by the legislature. In the case of Thornton vs. McGrath, 1st Duvall, page 354, this court decided that the legislature had the power to enact laws authorizing the courts of the county by a proper proceeding to confirm defective sales of infants’ real estate and that too, in cases where the sale under the original judgment, did not divest the infant of title. We are of the opinion that the legislature could confer upon a court of equity the power to execute and consummate a parol contract as against infants, made by the father if from all the proof the court deemed it beneficial to the infant. The statute of frauds is subject to be repealed at any time by the law-making power and the parol contract for the sale of land, can be enforced like any other contract. A parol sale of land is not void.
The statute only declares that no action shall be brought upon such contracts, and they are valid for many purposes. Morrow vs. Johnson, 3 Met. 578. In this case Edwin Ruby, the ancestor of the appellants, was the owner of 1,100 acres of wild and" unimproved land; he had purchased this land in 1840, at fifty or sixty cents per acre; his brother-in-law Cox, the appellee had been unfortunate in his business affairs and surrendered up to Ruby his (Cox’s), own land to be sold in order to relieve him from his liabilities. In 1841 he went upon this land of Ruby’s under a parol contract by which he was to have all of that portion of the land within a certain boundary at the same price Ruby paid for it, provided he would build a mill upon the land. Cox entered upon this boundary of land in 1841; he erected a mill, dwelling house and made other improvements, a mill there doubtless in the neighborhood was very desirable and added to the value of the land. The contract is clearly proven and also
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.