Bostwick v. Stiles

Pakk, J. We have had this case under advisement for a considerable length of time, and have thoroughly considered the several questions involved, and on the whole we have come to the conclusion that the court ought to interfere in behalf of the petitioner, and allow him another opportunity to redeem the premises. It is the peculiar province of a court of equity to grant relief in cases of fraud, accident, or mistake, where there has been no fault on the part of the party seeking relief. Bridgeport Savings Bank vs. Eldredge, 28 Conn., 556 ; 1 Story Eq. Jur., sec. 439. The equitable definition of the term accident includes not only inevitable casualties, and such as are caused by the act of God, but also those that arise from unforeseen occurrences, misfortunes, losses, and acts or omissions of other persons, without the fault, negligence, or misconduct of the party. 1 Story Eq. Jur., sec. 78. Belief on the ground [199] of accident is limited to obligations imposed by law, and does not apply to contracts voluntarily entered into by the parties. In relation to the latter, no relief can be granted for their non-fulfillment on the ground of accident, for the risk was voluntarily assumed. 1 Story Eq. Jur., sec. 101. It is found as a fact in the case, that the petitioner intended and expected to redeem the premises, and never entertained the thought of allowing the time limited by the court for redemption to expire without meeting the payment. But he had but little property besides the mortgaged premises, and had to resort to his friends to assist him to the necessary funds for the purpose. The amount to be raised was a large sum for a man in his pecuniary circumstances, and, considering the great disparity between the mortgage debt and the value of the mortgaged property, it would be strange indeed if he neglected to exercise the utmost diligence to make sure of the necessai'y funds in time for the payment. He had more than eight thousand dollars worth of property mortgaged for a sum less than four thousand, and that property was nearly all he owned. Negligence under such circumstances would seem to be almost impossible. He knew that he must comply with the decree of the court or lose his property, and we should expect that he would not rest either day or night till he had secured the necessary funds to be forthcoming at the time appointed. The case finds in effect that this was true. He applied to his uncle, a gentleman of ample property, for the necessary amount, and was promised that he should have it on Saturday, the third day of August. The time limited for redemption expired on Monday, the fifth day of August. The case finds that the petitioner had good reasons to suppose that the money would be furnished in accordance with the agreement; but for some reason, not fully explained, he was wholly disappointed. It was said in the argument that the uncle was unexpectedly detained on his way home from a journey, and did not arrive in season. But however this may be, the question is, whether these facts are sufficient to show that the failure to pay the respond [200] ent on the fifth day of August was occasioned by accident, without any fault or negligence on the part of the petitioner. If the petitioner had collected the amount, and had it in his house to pay the respondent on that day, but on the night previous his dwelling had taken fire, and the money had been consumed, no one would doubt that the non-payment was the result of accident. If the petitioner had made arrangements with a bank, and they had agreed to furnish the money on certain security, and the security had been given, but owing to some sudden and unexpected revulsion in financial affairs they had refused to fulfill their agreement at the last hour, could there be any doubt that the failure to pay according to the decree was owing to accident ? Wherein does this case differ in principle ? The uncle of the petitioner was both able and willing to furnish the money. He had agreed to do so, and, looking at probabilities in relation to future events, it was as morally certain that the money would be furnished in the case of the uncle as in the case of the bank. There is a degree of uncertainty in regard to all expectations, and no more ought to be required in relation to future obligations imposed by law, than that such measures shall be taken to fulfill them as will render it reasonably certain, so far as human sagacity can foresee, that they will, be performed. If such measures are taken and they result in a failure to pay as the decree requires, how can it be said that a party has been guilty of negligence ? Even in actions at law no greater degree of care is required to avoid injuries to others while in the performance of lawful acts, and if damages result they are regarded as occasioned by inevitable accidents. Applying this rule, and considering the case at the time the promise was made, was there any reasonable doubt, that would suggest itself to a man of prudence and sagacity, that the money might not be furnished ? The relation of the parties was that of uncle and nephew. The uncle had agreed to furnish the money. The case removes all doubt of his ability to do so. He knew the importance of fulfilling his promise. He knew his nephew was depending upon him, and that it would be worse than cruelty to disappoint him at the last. Every [201] person in like circumstances would be led to suppose that the promise of the uncle was equivalent to having the money in hand. We think therefore that the petitioner was prevented from paying the respondent the- amount of his claim on the third day of August as he had intended, by the happening of some unforeseen event, over which the petitioner had no coutrol, and that he was consequently free from fault. These considerations seem to decide the case for the petitioner, for he had but' one day remaining in which to comply with the decree of the court, and it would be quite remarkable if a man in his pecuniary circumstances could raise so large a sum of money in a few hours. But it appears that he found a man by the name of Russell who had United States bonds sufficient to pay the amount due, but not the money. Mr. Russell was willing to advance the bonds, if the respondent would accept them in payment. At the request of the petitioner he went to the house of the respondent between nine and ten o’clock in the evening of the fifth day of August, and found that he had retired. He made known his business to the wife of the respondent and requested her to inform her husband that he had come at the request of the petitioner to redeem the mortgaged premises, and was prepared to do it. The message was delivered to the respondent and word was returned by him that he was sick; and the attempt to redeem the premises failed. There is no finding in the case that he was in fact sick. If he had been in that condition he would have been anxious to have shown it, and the fact would have appeared, especially after evidence had been given of the word sent to Mr. Russell. The statement was doubtless untrue, and made for the purpose of avoiding Mr. Russell. He was anxious to get the four thousand dollars worth of property in addition to his mortgage claim, and if he could obtain it by a falsehood he was ready and willing to make the statement. It is true he was not bound to take the bonds in payment; but the word that was sent by Mr. Russell was, that he was prepared to redeem the premises. The respondent therefore supposed that he had the money. [202] This conduct of the respondent is in keeping with his conduct afterwards. The petitioner informed him some time after, (how long does not appear,) that he was desirous of redeeming the premises and expressed his readiness to pay the money if the respondent would accept it. The respondent said that all he wanted was his money and interest. The petitioner then requested him to name a time for doing the business, biit the respondent never fixed any time for that purpose. The sum to be paid was large, and the request was reasonable if the respondent was sincere in what he stated. But it is easy to see there was no sincerity in it. If he had been willing to accept the money he would have named a time, for he would have been anxious to have the business closed. The motive that induced him to give a false account of his condition, in order to avoid receiving payment from Mr. Russell on the evening of the last day of redemption, was actuating him now. He had got more than eight thousand dollars worth of property for considerably less than onelialf of its value, and he intended to keep it. He did not think it advisable to say so directly, and thought it expedient to deceive the petitioner for a time by the show of willingness to take the money, but took good care not to name a time when he would accept it. If the petitioner had tendered the amount the day after the time limited for redemption had expired, it is clear he would have refused it, and the tender would have been useless. This conduct of the respondent does not entitle him to favor in a court of equity, and on the whole we are of the opinion that the prayer of the petition should be granted, and so we advise the Superior Court. In this opinion the other judges concurred.