Collins v. Leary
Collins v. Leary
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
The primary purpose of the bill in this case is to restrain an action of ejectment brought by those of the defendants who are the widow and heirs-at-law of James D. Leary, deceased, to recover from the complainant Sarah D. Collins, the widow of William A. Collins, deceased, the possession of a house and lot in the town of Bloomfield, and to compel the plaintiffs in the ejectment suit to execute a sufficient deed of conveyance of the property to Mrs. Collins. The bill also seeks to compel the defend
Our examination of the proofs satisfies us that the learned vice-chancellor was justified in his findings of fact; and we reach that conclusion without considering the testimony of Mrs. Col
But we are compelled to dissent from the view of the vice-chancellor as to the scope of the relief to which the complainants are entitled under their bill.
The contract between Mr. Leary and Mr. Collins was entirely performed by the latter. It was partly performed by Mr. Leary to this extent, that he put Mrs. Collins into possession of the Bloomfield property in execution thereof. The contract, so far as it involved matters to be done by Mr. Leary, was made up of two independent provisions — one, the eonve3rance of a specified piece of real estate, the other, the payment of a sum of money to be afterward agreed upon. So far as the first provision is concerned, it is complete and certain in all its parts. The partial performance of it is of such a character as to justify a court of equity in specifically enforcing it, notwithstanding the statute of frauds. Cooper v. Colson, 66 N. J. Eq. (21 Dick.) 328. The restraint of the action of ejectment is a corollary of the right to compel the conveyance of the property. So far, therefore, as the decree deals with this phase of the case, it is entirely unobjectionable.
But the ascertainment of the amount which should be paid in cash to the complainant as executrix of her deceased husband, as a further consideration for the right to use the dredging bucket is, in our opinion, not the province of a court of equity. Although the rights and obligations of the parties are entirely contractual, yet so far as the payment of money by the defendants is involved, that arises, not out of the express agreement of Mr. Leary to pay such sum as should be determined upon by him and Mr. Collins — • for their minds never came together upon this point — but out of the implied agreement, which the law raises up, to pay what was reasonable and fair between man and man in case Mr. Collins
The conclusion wldch we reach is that the decree appealed from, to the extent that it directs the defendants to account to the complainants for the use of the patented bucket, should be reversed, and that in all other respects it should be affirmed.
For affirmance — None.
For reversal — The Chief-Justice, Garrison, Swayze, Trenchard, Parker, Bergen, Yooehees, Minturn, Bogeet, Yre-DENBURGH, YROOM, GRAY, DlLL, CONGDON-14.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Sarah D. Collins v. Mary C. Leary
- Status
- Published