Loring v. Taylor

Gill, J. — On the twenty-third day of June, 1890, the plaintiff commenced his suit against the defendant before a justice of the peace upon the following account: John Taylor, to S. G. Loring, Dr. To rent of the west one-half of lot number 8, in block number 17, in the original town (now city) of Maysville, Missouri, from December 13, 1889, to June 13, 1890...$10.00 To rent of the same half lot from June 13, 1890, to December 13, 1890. 10.00 Total...$20.00 Taylor admitted owing the rent from said December 13, 1889, to the time the suit was brought, and tendered the same at the rate of $20 a year, to-wit, $11.25, with costs then accrued. The cause was tried before the justice, where judgment was rendered against defendant for the $11.25, but costs subsequent to the tender were adjudged against the plaintiff. The cause was appealed to the circuit court where, on a trial before the court without a jury, the same result was reached, and plaintiff has appealed to this court. [83] The substantive facts are about these: Loring owned an unimproved lot in Maysville, Missouri, and it had been leased to and occupied by the Chicago Lumber Company whose term expired December 13, 1889. This lessee had constructed on the lot a cheap wooden building on the west half of the lot. Just before the termination of this lease the lumber company sold the building to this defendant. A few days after the lumber company’s lease had expired (and it had vacated the premises) the plaintiff, observing the occupancy of the building by Taylor, wrote the following letter to said defendant: “Maysville, Mo., December 20, 1889. “Mr. John Taylor, Maysville, Mo. “Sir: — I am informed that you occupy the building standing on the west half of lot number 8, in block number 17, in the original town of Maysville, Missouri. All the right of the Chicago Lumber Company to lots 1 and 8 in said block terminated December 13, last passed. The rent of said west half for one year will be $20, the rent payable every six months in advance, and, unless you vacate said premises or remove said building immediately from said portion of said lot number 8, I shall understand that you have rented from me said west half for one year from December 13 on said terms. “Respectfully. “S. G. Loring.” Taylor received this letter but made no answer, either verbally or in writing, but continued to occupy the lot with his building. In relation to the letter the defendant testified: “I got a letter from Mr. Loring telling me that if I didn’t move off he should consider I had rented it (the lot) at the rate of $20 a year. “Q. Did you consent to those terms? A. I was perfectly willing to pay him that for it. I didn’t write to him; I didn’t answer him back at all.” [84] It will be seen by the terms of Loring’s letter to Taylor, that be (Taylor) was to pay $20 a year for the use of the lot, $10 in advance, each six months. Taylor failed to pay anything the first half year, and in June, 1890, while occupying the lot on the second half year, plaintiff brought this suit. The court below gave plaintiff judgment for the rent for that portion of the year that bad expired when the suit was instituted, but not for the entire year as claimed by plaintiff. I. Under the facts here disclosed, plaintiff was manifestly entitled to judgment against the defendant for a full year’s rent. This is not a case of a yearly tenant holding over beyond bis term. Taylor was not occupying Loring’s lot by virtue of any lease to the former tenant. It amounts to nothing more than this: Taylor entered upon Loring’s lot and continued to occupy it under an express statement from Loring that if be did so it would be on certain definite terms, to-wit, $20 annual rent, $10 of which to be paid half yearly in advance. Taylor bad no rights there as tenant except by the consent of Loring, unless indeed to remove the building which be bad purchased from the former tenant. He was then a mere trespasser, unless there by the assent of the owner. In the beginning of his occupancy Taylor was notified on what terms be could use the lot. Being so advised, his continued use and occupancy without manifesting any dissent or objection to the terms stipulated in Loring’s letter was tantamount to an express assent thereto. Hunt v. Bailey, 39 Mo. 257; Witte v. Witte, 6 Mo. App. 489; Kerr v. Simmons, 9 Mo. App. 382. On the twentieth day of December, 1889, the defendant was informed by the owner upon what terms he could occupy the lot, and he assented. Hence, the defendant is liable on his contract for the full sum of $20. [85] The judgment then will be reversed and the cause remanded, with directions to the circuit court to enter a judgment for plaintiff for the full sum of $20 with six-per-cent, interest from the institution of this suit and all costs. All concur.