York v. Wallace

Adams, J. 1. contract: evidence: variance. The defendant assigns a's error the giving of an instruction which is in these words: “If the jury find from the evidence that the defendant Wallace made an oral contract with H. M. Weeks, that the said Weeks should file his election to redeem the land described in the petition, and that, upon Weeks so doing, Wallace would assume and pay off the judgment against Weeks, and take the laird, and that by the terms of the contract the same was to be performed within one year, and that the said Weeks filed said election in performance of his part of the contract, and you further find that the defendant failed to perform his part of the contract, that is, failed to pay off the judgment against said Weeks, and you further find that Weeks has duly assigned to plaintiff his right of action: if you find these facts the plaintiff is entitled to recover. ” The defendant insists that there was no evidence tending to prove such contract as is described in the petition and in the instruction. To prove the contract the plaintiff called Weeks, who testified in these words: “In the spring of 1871, the defendant and an old gentleman came to have me elect to redeem the land. I told him that I did not wish to — did not feel able, did not expect to, and would rather have it sold subject to appraisement, thinking that more would be realized, and having no other means to pay the claim. They went on to state that I could have the use of the place one year, and I said I wanted nothing to do with the farm if I could only get clear of the judgment, and I proposed to give immediate possession if he would assume the debt in place of having the farm sold subject to redemption, and he said he would do so. ” The contract, as shown in evidence, it will be seen is different from that declared on. As shown in evidence, the consideration of the defendant’s promise was the ’farm itself, with the immediate right of possession. As shown in the petition, the consideration was merely -the filing an election by Weeks to have the land sold subject to redemption. As shown in evi [308] dence, it appears to have been provided that the land should not be sold subject to redemption. The evidence, therefore, does not establish the contract declared on, but shows terms inconsistent with it. The instruction assumed that the jury might find from the evidence that the contract had been established, and in this we think that the instruction was erroneous. Some confusion seems to have arisen by an attempt to show a contract made later, and by letter. Weeks testified that, after the oral contract was made, he received from the defendant a letter (which he has since lost), in which defendant requested that Weeks should file an election for redemption, and stated that defendant would see that the judgment was paid. This letter to Weeks seems to be relied upon by plaintiff, and yet it is evident that it cannot be, properly. In the first place, the plaintiff declares upon an oral contract, and proves an oral contract previously made. In the second place, it does not appear that Weeks notified defendant that he would assent to the defendant’s proposition as contained in the letter. Indeed, it appears that not a word, by letter or otherwise, passed between Weeks and the defendant until long after the execution sale, and the expiration of the time of redemption. An interesting question has been presented by counsel in regard to the nature of the consideration of the defendant’s promise as averred in the plaintiff’s petition. It is insisted by the defendant that the filing of an election fpr redemption cannot be regarded, in contemplation of law, as suffering a disadvantage, and so would not constitute a sufficient consideration for the defendant’s promise. With the view we have taken of the case, it is unnecessary to deter, mine this question. The oral contract testified to by Weeks excluded such consideration, and set up a different one, to-wit: an agreement to grant the farm. Had the averment been such as to admit evidence of an agreement to grant the farm, the defendant contends that the evidence offered wae [309] fatally defective in that it was not in writing, and this posi-, tion, we think, is well taken. The plaintiff contends that the filing of an election for redemption was a part performance. In our opinion it could not have that effect. -It was not a part of the contract, so far as shown in evidence, and what was done does not appear to have been done with reference to it. Sweeney v. O’Hora, 43 Iowa, 36. We are aware that Weeks reiterates that he would not have filed an election but for the contract. But the contract, as testified to by him as made prior to the receipt of the letter, was designed to obviate the necessity of a sale, and, of course, the necessity of filing an election for redemption. We think that the judgment of the District Court must be Beversed.