Crist v. Brownsville Township

Davison, J. This was an action by Crist against Broivnsville township, upon an agreement in writing. The agreement bears date February 20,1856; it is alleged to be between said township and Crist; and it contains the [462] following stipulations: “ Oi'ist agrees to build a schoolhouse [describing its dimensions] on the south-east corner of Henry King’s land, to be constructed with good materials and in a workmanlike manner, to be completed on or before the first of May, 1856. And the trustees of the township agree to pay Grist 391 dollars, one-half to be paid on the completion of the house, and the balance on the 25th of December, 1856. [Signed,] John A. Sharkey, James Cunningham, trustees of Brownsville township. Christian Crist, contractor.” The complaint avers that the agreement was, on the — day of-, 1856, duly ratified and affirmed by the defendant; that the plaintiff, on his part, had fully performed it, but that the defendant had failed to pay the 391 dollars or any part thereof, wherefore the plaintiff demands judgment, &c. The defendant demurred to the complaint; but his demurrer was overruled. And thereupon he answered by a general denial. The Court tried the cause and found for the defendant. Judgment was accordingly rendered, &c. The evidence shows that at a regular session of the trustees of said township, held on the 26th of Jcmuary, 1856, the propriety of having a school-house in conjunction with Harrison township was discussed, and the construction of such house in Brownsville township, near the line of Harrison township, on Henry King’s land, was agreed on— certain citizens of the former township having agreed to build it by subscription, in the form of a donation, provided the trustees would give them, annually, receipts to the county treasurer for their portion of the building tax, &c. It was further shown that the trustees met on the 20th of February, 1856 — all of them being present — when the following proceedings were had: “ The building of the school-house in district No. 4, on the south-east corner of Henry King’s land, was let to Christian Crist, said Crist being the lowest bidder. Dimensions of house and manner of workmanship specified in article of agreement on file in the clerk’s office.” It was proved that the plaintiff [463] built and completed the house, according to the agreement sued on. The plaintiff having rested, the defendants produced two witnesses, who testified that, in their belief, the schoolhouse constructed by the plaintiff was unnecessary, there being another school-house in the center of the same district. It was also shown that Groves, one of the trustees, had opposed the erection of the house in question, and had given his written protest against the action of a majority of the trustees in respect to such building. The above is believed.to be, in substance, all the evidence in the cause. to establish and conveniently locate a sufficient number of schools in their respective townships, and to make contracts for the building and repair of school-houses. 1 R. S. p. 440. We have seen that the trustees, while in session, on the 26th of January, agreed to build the house in conjunction with an adjoining township; but the contract then made seems to have been abandoned, and therefore it has no important bearing in the consideration of the case. There was, however, a regular meeting of the same trustees on the 20th of February, at which they let the building of the house in question to the plaintiff, upon the terms and for the amount stated in the agreement sued on. We think these proceedings are consistent with the statute to which we have referred, and bind the township to the fulfillment of the written contract entered into by the trustees. The statute requires the trustees of each civil township It was for the trustees to decide whether the school-house was necessary and convenient, at the point where it was located; and, in our opinion, the evidence before us does not show their decision in this instance to have been incorrect. Nor is there anything in the fact that one of” the trustees protested against the erection of the house. Two being a majority, were competent to transact the business. The finding of the Court is, no doubt, unsustained by the evidence, and the plaintiff is, therefore, entitled to a new trial. J. Yaryan and-Bennett, for the appellant. J. S. Reid and J. F. Gardner, for the appellees. per Curiam. — The judgment is reversed with costs. Cause remanded, &c.