Franklin v. Laubach
Franklin v. Laubach
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The plaintiff leased a farm to the defendant by a contract dated March 11, 1907. The term granted was one year from the following April 1. The lessee was to render to the lessor “one-third of all grain and potatoes raised; one-half the hay; one-half the fruits; and all of said products are to be gathered by the party of the second part and housed until called for. The grain and part of the fruit to be delivered at Shickshinny freight depot if desired, the said J. E. Franklin to pay all turnpike toll incident thereto.” The lease also contained the following provision: “On failure to pay the rent shares as aforesaid the party of the second part stands bound in the penal sum of $500 and confesses judgment for that sum waiving exemption, appraisement, appeal and release of all errors.” The-tenant took possession of the farm and
The case was disposed of in the court below on the conclusion that the evidence did not establish a default on the defendant’s part. The particular complaint which the plaintiff undertook to make good was that the lessee had not delivered the crops at Shickshinny as covenanted for. It will be observed on an examination of the lease that the only part of the crop covered by this provision was the grain and part of the fruit. The grain was shown to have consisted of oats and buckwheat. The plaintiff sold his share of the oats and gave an order on the defendant to the purchaser for it. The oats was not dedelivered because as the defendant informed the purchaser ■ it was not yet all thrashed and he was, therefore, not prepared to make the delivery. Part of the oats had been thrashed in the summer but only one-third of that at the most was the property of the plaintiff and, indeed, it may be doubted whether until the whole crop was thrashed and its amount ascertained the plaintiff could be said to have a divisible interest in the portion thrashed. We have examined the evidence carefully and agree with the court below that there is not such evidence of a breach in this respect as to support the judgment against the defendant for damages. And this is true also with reference to the fruit. The fruit more particularly referred to was a small quantity of harvest apples growing on one tree on the farm.
There was some evidence that the defendant promised to pay rent after the eviction set up and which would require the submission of the case to the jury on that subject, but we need not consider that in view of the conclusion reached on the first branch of the case.
Judgment affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.