Dearmin v. Schnell
Dearmin v. Schnell
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff sued defendant for the price of digging a well on the latter’s farm. The contract between the parties was reduced to writing and was as follows:
“G-lasgow, Mo., Dec. 6, 1895.
“This is to certify I have this day agreed to let M. Dearmin bore and drill me a well on my farm two miles east of Glasgow. 35 cents, thirty-five cents, per foot for boring, and $1.00 per foot for drilling, except lime and flint rock, which I agree to pay $2.00 per foot; and I agree to board two hands and three horses, and furnish all necessary casing. M. Dearmin agrees to furnish thirty barrels of water per day, or no pay, and will do the work at once, as soon as Mr. Bentley’s work is complete.
“John E. Price,
“Agent for M. Dearmin.
“Henry Schnell.”
It is conceded that plaintiff dug the well, through earth and rock, to the depth of four hundred and thirteen feet, and that it furnished much more than thirty barrels of water per day. But the defendant refused to pay for digging the well, as provided in the contract, for the alleged reason that the water therefrom was not of the quality he desired — that it was salty.
At the trial, plaintiff introduced the contract in evidence, made proof of the digging (showing how many feet of rock, earth, etc., he bored through) and that according to the terms of the contract defendant owed him the sum of $604.16, which said defendant refused
At the close of plaintiff’s evidence the court gave a peremptory instruction to find for the defendant. The plaintiff thereupon took a nonsuit with leave; ánd after an unsuccessful motion to set the same aside, brought the ease here by appeal.
have reduced their contract to writing, it will be conclusively presumed in the absence of fraud, accident or mistake, that such writing included the whole engagement and extent and manner of the undertaking.”
The plaintiff in the case at bar undertook to dig a well on the defendant’s farm, and at such point as the latter would direct, at and for a stipulated price per foot for dirt, rock, etc., coupled with the sole condition that he would strike water flowing not less than thirty barrels per day; and that if he failed in this he should receive no pay. The defendant on the other hand agreed that if’water to that extent was reachedhe would pay the agreed prices per foot for the digging. There was no agreement as to what character of water was to be reached; any kind of water — clear, colored, mineral or fresh — answered the terms of the contract. The defendant took the chances as to'the character of water. His interpretation of the contract was correct, when, according to plaintiff’s evidence, he (the defendant) stated to plaintiff: “If you strike salt water I will get the worst of it, and if you don’t strike any water you will get the worst of it.”
This was not the purchase of an article for a particular use, made known to the seller, the buyer relying on the seller’s judgment and where in such case there may be an implied warranty that the article furnished is .reasonably fit and suitable to that purpose. .The water already belonged to the defendant and plaintiff simply agreed to sink a well at a point named by
The judgment will be reversed and the cause remanded.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- M. Dearmin v. Henry Schnell
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published