Ingersoll v. Horton

Martin Ch. J.: The contract between the parties in this case evidently was, that Horton should sell the land in question to Ingersoll for the government price, with interest from the time of Horton’s purchase. The defendant alleges in his answer, and attempts to prove, that the bargain embraced more than this, viz.: the payment of taxes, and the keeping a tavern thereon. But while all the testimony agrees that the price to be paid was ten shillings per acre, with interest, it fails to show any further, or other agreement, and the facts which surround the case repel the presumption that any such contract as the defendant now claims to have been made, was made. Horton’s object was to secure settlers in the neighborhood, and • Ingersoll’s was to have access to the Saginaw turnpike if he could purchase the forty acre lot lying back of this fraction; and his contract with Horton was contingent upon said purchase. This was in 1836, and Ingersoll, having made the purchase of the forty acre lot, entered shortly after into possession of the land in question, and has sincé occupied it. This land appears to have been in the immediate vicinity of Horton’s residence, and he seems to have had actual knowledge, from the first, of Ingersoll’s possession. Ingersoll erected a log house and out-houses, and Horton assisted him. He has set out an orchard, and made other improvements, with Horton’s knowledge, and it is hardly consistent to suppose that, if the keeping of a tavern entered into the consideration of Horton’s sale, that he would [408] silently have permitted Ingersoll’s possession without complaint, in this particular, until this litigation. Nor is there anything in the case to warrant the inference that the payment of taxes entered into the. contract. There is no testimony to show that any taxes were paid by Horton, and the evident expectation of the parties in making the contract was, that Ingersoll’s purchase would be made immediately after he acquired the forty acres. There was then no occasion for contracting- respecting taxes, unless some had -been paid before the contract; and Horton has made no proof of any such. The testimony of Drake and Downey, and the written demand of September Vth, 1853, repel any presumption that either the payment of taxes or the keeping a tavern were parts of the contract. The demand testified to by Drake, and the written demand, were for payment generally; while in the interview in Downey’s presence, Horton did not pretend, nor claim, that keeping a tavern, or the payment of taxes, were a part of the contract, but only that he ought to have the taxes unpaid — probably in consequence of Ingersoll’s delay. The sum of thirty dollars, tendered by Ingersoll, was sufficient, and more than sufficient, to pay for the land at the contract price, with interest; and as we have no proof that taxes were paid, or their amount, that subject must bo excluded from consideration. We think, therefore, that the contract set out in the bill is substantially proven, and that the facts of the case, and particularly the long possession of the land, and its improvement by Ingersoll, with Horton’s acquiescence, entitles the complainant to the relief asked. And we think this to be a case which very properly calls for the interference of equity. The whole case shows that Horton permitted Ingersoll to occupy and improve the land, under the impression that he might pay for it when demanded, or if not so, at least that he held it under the contract. Horton himself actually regarded such [409] to be the fact (for in 1853 he demanded of him payment for the land, or a surrendry of the possession). Immediately after such demand, Ingersoll tendered to him thirty dollars in money, and presented a deed of the land for execution. This occurred, according to the testimony of Downey, within less than a week after Horton’s demand of payment. We have found the contract to be as complainant charges, and also that the tender was sufficient to cover it; and it follows that such tender was, in law, a payment of the purchase price, a full performance on Ingersoll’s part; and we must hold that it would be a gross fraud, under all the circumstances of this case, in Horton to refuse to convey. Nor do we think that laches, sufficient to bar the relief) are imputable to the complainant in this case. The occupancy, by the complainant, of the land, without performing his contract, appears to have been by sufferance — Horton making no objection, nor demanding the contract price. No demand or refusal is shown, and when the demand of September 7th, 1853, was made, it was immediately responded to. Although, as claimed by the defendant’s counsel, the party seeking performance of a contract must show that he has not been in fault, but has taken all proper steps towards performance on his part, and has been desirous, ready, and prompt to perform, yet the demand of September 7th estops the defendant from alleging a want of promptness before that time, and the promptness of the complainant afterwards satisfies the law. The decree of the court below must be affirmed with costs. Chpjstiancy and Campbell JJ. concurred. Manning J. did not sit, having been of counsel.