First National Bank v. Krause
First National Bank v. Krause
Opinion of the Court
In 1894, the defendants Krause and Sonnenschein became the joint owners of several city lots in West Point,
The principal contention pertains to the land, plaintiff claiming $2,411 as one-half the net profits, Krause contending that the expenditures exceeded the receipts by $2,300. Briefly stated, the transactions regarding the land are as follows. The consideration given for the land was the city lots, valued at $800, a mortgage indebtedness of $1,850 assumed, cash $1,000, and a note of $1,150 given to the grantor by Krause and indorsed by Sonnenschein. The $1,000 cash payment was borrowed from a bank upon the joint note of the defendants, and Krause herein seeks to charge plaintiff with one-half thereof, claiming to have paid all of it; but it is conclusively established by the testimony of Sonnenschein, fortified by the written acknowledgment of Krause, that Sonnenschein paid one-half of this indebtedness. Much controversy arises over the $1,150 note given to the grantor. Sonnenschein testified that the note was given, not as a part of the consideration for the land, but as a special favor to Krause. In view, however, of a written contract in his own handwriting, which provided for the giving of the note as a part of the consideration, we are led to the conclusion that he is mistaken, and that the note was a just charge against the
On December 9, 1896, Sonnenschein paid Krause one-half of all moneys expended prior thereto for repairs and improvements. This settlement did not include interest payments or taxes. It is disclosed by the record that the amount then paid by Sonnenschein represented one-half of all expenditures other than interest and taxes, less $84.43 rents received. Plaintiff admits the expenditure of $407.06 in the aggregate for improvements, repairs and taxes subsequent to December 9, 1896. It* is undisputed that $844.75 Avas the aggregate rental received since December 9, 1896, and $4,665, the selling price of the land, defendant Sonnenschein expending $82.05, which the evidence clearly shows should he set off against the expenditure of defendant Krause, and $35, regarding which the evidence is not so clear. Computing interest at the rate of 7 per cent, on each payment of principal and interest on the indebtedness, taxes and repairs subsequent to December 9, 1896, from its date to the date of the sale, we find that
As to the city lots, the district court found that the defendant Krause had expended $137.62 in the payment of taxes assessed thereon, and had received $10 rent, and decreed that Krause convey a one-half interest therein to plaintiff upon the payment to him of $63.81, one-half the net loss upon the lots alone. By his ansAver Krause admitted having received $36 rent. Were avc to consider the lots alone, we Avould have to modify the judgment by decreasing the amount to be paid by the plaintiff accordingly. But considering the greater amount lost by Krause in the land transaction, he is not, by the judgment of the distinct court, reimbursed even one-half of the net loss on i be joint undertakings of the parties. And as the defendant filed no cross-appeal, but expressed himself as satisfied AAÚth the decree rendered, it is unnecessary to modify the judgment of the loiver court.
Plaintiff attacks a book account and other exhibits introduced in evidence by defendant Krause. The book account was identified as a correct statement of entries made by Krause concerning the real estate in controversy. Several of the entries therein were shoivn to be improper as charges against his co-owner, and Ave have not taken the book account as evidence, but have made our computation from expenditures admitted by- plaintiff and those proved by evidence other than the book account, such as canceled notes and receipts. Other items in the account between the parties have been called to our attention. We have carefully examined this voluminous record, and
We recommend that the judgment of the district court be affirmed.
By the Court: For the reasons stated in the foregoing opinion, the judgment of the district court is
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- First National Bank of West Point v. William E. Krause
- Status
- Published