Downes v. Scott
Downes v. Scott
Opinion of the Court
The judgment of the court was pronounced by
The plaintiff in his own right, and as tutor of the minors of Josephus, and Samuel Sparrow, children and heirs of Samuel and Sarah Sparrow, deceased, claims title to two lots of land, about one-half of which is in possession of the defendants. The defendants, in their answer, claim title to that portion of the land in their possession, by virtue of a sheriff’s sale made in 1837, and under an agreement with Hector Phillips, whom they call in warranty. Phillips appears and defends the suit; denio
The plaintiff has satisfactorily made out the title under which he claims, and the case turns upon the validity of the private act set up by Phillips. It is manifest that the sale made by the curator of Sparrow to Daniel McEacharn conveyed no title to him, and that he could therefore convey none to Phillips; so that the only inquiry is, as to the rights which Phillips himself acquired under the act of December 29th, 1830. That act has been treated in argument as a vente á réméré, We cannot view it in that light. There is no vente á remiré without a stipulation for the return of the price. Here nothing is said about the price. The validity of the contract is made to depend on the payment of notes, which form no part of the consideration of it.
It is contended by the plaintiff’s counsel that this was not a serious contract, or that, if it was, the condition must be presumed to have been performed, as the vendor subsequently resumed the possession of the property, and the same was occupied by him and his wife until their death. Ón the application of the plaintiff, Phillips was ordered to bring into court the notes mentioned in the act, and failed to do so or to account for them. The resumption of the possession of the land by Sparrow, created such a presumption of payment as made it incumbent upon Phillips to account for the notes. But there is another
The amounts allowed for the rents and improvements appear to us justified by the evidence; and the only error justly complained of by the appellants is that, Phillips should have been adjudged to refund to them the whole amount of the fruits and revenues which the judgment condemns them to pay. Morris v. Abat et al. 9 La. 552. In this respect the judgment must be changed.
It is therefore ordered that the judgment rendered in favor of the plaintiffs be affirmed, with costs. It is further ordered that the judgment rendered in favor of the defendants against the warrantor, Hector Phillips, be reversed ; and that there be judgment in favor of the said defendants against the said Warrantor for the sum of $1,792, with all the costs of this suit in both courts.
The contract is in these words
“ Know all men by those presents, that I, Samuel Sparrow, for and in consideration of the sum of $925, to me in hand paid, by Hector Phillips and John McEacharn, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, have sold and conveyed, and by these presents do sell and convey, unto Hector Phillips and John McEacharn, a certain tract of land! [here describing it], being the land to which I am entitled to a right of pre-emption. I, the said Samuel Sparrow, do warrant and defend, for myself, my heirs, executors and assigns, unto the aforesaid Hector Phillips and John McEacharn, their heirs, executors and assigns forever. "Whereas the said Samuel Sparrow has given two notes unto the said Rector Phillips and John McEacharn, amounting to $750; the first note of $450, due 1st of January, 1832; and the other for $300, due 1st of January, 1832: Now the express condition of the above obligation is such that, if the said Samuel Sparrow shall pay, or cause to be paid, his two notes, amounting to the aforesaid sum, when they become due, then this obligation shall he null and void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 29 th day of December, in the year of our Lord, 1830.
Witness: ■ . Samuel Sparrow, [Seal.]
C. E. Crane,
Neil McEacharn.”
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