Howe v. Collins
Howe v. Collins
Opinion of the Court
Replevin of ten tons of hay in the bay of the upper barn of defendant. Defendant claims title to it.
Shortly prior to July 9, 1902, defendant entered into negotiations for the purchase of a farm, the title to which stood in the name of Flora E. Hawes, daughter of the plaintiff and her husband David M. Howe. All these parties participated in the transaction. Mrs. Hawes and her parents were in the occupation of the farm. The result was a sale of the farm to the defendant. The deed bears date July 9, 1902, and was delivered on that or the succeeding day. The
The last clause, as to hay, is the only one in controversy here. To ascertain precisely what the pai-ties intended by this provision, it is necessary to view it from their then standpoint. There were two barns on the farm, — the one nearest the dwelling-house was called the “home barn,” and the other farther away the “upper barn.” At the time of the trade there was in the upper bairn a quantity of old hay, and some old hay in the home barn. Before the deed was delivered, the old hay in the home barn was removed to the upper barn. This hay had been cut in 1900 and 1901 from two lots of land owned by the plaintiff, Mrs. Howe. These lots did not belong to Mrs. Hawes, and were not conveyed to the defendant. The Hawes had a horse and eight head of cattle, and about one hundred and sixty sheep. When these should come to the barn in the autumn hay would be needed. Mrs. Hawes could not sell the hay owned by Mrs. Howe without her authority, and it cannot be presumed she attempted to do so, unless upon clear evidence, which is lacking here.
All the reservations and provisions in the deed following the description of the land conveyed looked to the future use and product of the farm for that season, — a future occupation by the grantor,— future pasturing, — future product of the land, corn, etc., — future products of the garden, — future strawberry crop, — the wood on hand for future use, — and then follows the phrase, “Collins is to have all the hay.” It would seem to be clear that the parties had only in mind the product of the' farm to be received, and that the hay
This construction is aided by the acts of the parties after the deed was given. Mr. Howe began to haul the old hay from the upper barn on August seven. Mr. Collins’ son helped about the first load. The next load was taken on August fifteen. Mr. Collins’ daughter helped about that. The next load was taken on August sixteen. The defendant knew of these haulings, amounting to four or five tons, and made no objection, nor any claim of ownership. On September 25, Mr. Howe went for another load of hay from the upper barn, and was forbidden to take it. Mrs. Howe says that Collins said,— “Uncle David, what are you going to do today? What is the program today? You ain’t going to haul this hay. This is mine. Don’t you know that I have bought the whole?” To which Mr. Howe said, — “I was to have the old hay, and you know it, and I have hauled part' of it away and you never opened your head. Why didn’t you?” Collins answered, — “because I thought I wouldn’t.” Mr. Collins does not deny this conversation. It is beyond belief that if Collins supposed he owned the old hay, he would have allowed Howe to haul away four or five tons of it without objection. His present claim appears to be an afterthought, based upon the wording of the last clause in his deed.
But if the phrase in the deed, — “Collins is to have all the hay,” taken in connection with the immediately preceding reservations and provisions, raises an ambiguity, that may be explained by oral evidence as to what hay it applied to. There was old hay, and hay being then cut from the farm. The oral evidence is convincing that
Judgment for plaintiff.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.