Gullich v. Alford

Cooper, J., delivered the opinion of the court. The appellant was the owner of a steam saw and grist mill which was located or intended soon to be erected on his own land. He was indebted to the appellee in a certain amount, some of which indebtedness was evidenced by promissory notes. The appellee was a machinist, and it was agreed between the parties that the appellant should sell to him a half interest in said mill and machinery and in two yokes of oxen for the sum of four hundred and fifty dollars, [226] and the debt due to him by the appellant was to be credited as part payment of this sum. The mill or engine needed some repairs and the repairing was to be done by the appellee. "With this property the parties were to carry on as partners the milling business, each to participate equally in the profits. It was agreed that the contract should be reduced to writing. The appellee did make the repairs as agreed on, and the machinery being in running order he took charge of it and operated it as had been contemplated by the parties. On the evening of each day the toll received from the grist mill was equally divided, each party taking and using or selling for his own account his half. A gin was purchased and the profits arising from it (the toll cotton) were appropriated to the payment of the purchase-money due for it. The parties made several efforts to reduce the agreement to writing as had been agreed should be done, but owing to some dispute as to the amount due from the appellant to the appellee and which was to go as part payment for the purchase of his interest in the mill, these efforts were ineffectual. The appellee failing to get the writing contracted for abandoned the enterprise, and brought suit to recover the amount which was due to him from the appellant at the time the agreement was made, and also to recover for his labor in repairing the machinery and in running the mill and gin. As we have said, the testimony leaves it uncertain whether the mill had been located on the appellant’s land at the time the agreement of sale was entered into, the appellee testifying that it had been and the appellant that it had not. It is unnecessary to decide whether the contract of purchase would have been invalid if not in writing, because it was for an interest in machinery already erected onfheland of appellant, since it was assumed in the court below that the appellee was entitled to the writing as a part of his contract, and that its execution was a condition precedent to a consummation of the contract unless it had been waived by him. This was asserted by the appellee and seems not to have been controverted by the appellant, who depended upon the theory of a subsequent waiver by the appellee. By their verdict the jury have in effect found that though the appellee was let into the possession of the property, such possession was not accepted by him as [227] an execution of the sale; that he had not waived the written contract, and that the execution of such writing was a condition precedent to the consummation of the sale. If, as the jury has found, the parties made the writing of the essence of their contract, and the appellee did not receive possession of the property as in execution of the contract, it would seem that he had the right to abandon it oh the willful failure and refusal of the appellant to comply with its terms. Moakes v. Nicholson, 19 C. B. N. S. 290.; Falk v. Fletcher, 18 Ib. 403; Joyce v. Swan, 17 Ib. 84; Shepherd v. Harrison, L. R. 4 Q. B. 493. Electing to abandon the contract of purchase he was entitled to recover the debt due tohim from the appellant as well as compensation for the labor performed in repairing the engine, for if there was no sale of the engine this labor was done for the exclusive benefit of the appellant who is still the owner of the property repaired. But the court below, treating the agreement to form and carry on the partnership as a part of the contract of purchase, and inherent in and dependent on it, instructed the jury that unless the business conducted by the use of the machinery was carried on under a consummated contract of partnership, the appellee might renounce his position as partner and recover a reasonable compensation for his labor contributed to the business. This was error. Though it may be true that the appellee would not have entered into the partnership but for his expectation of becoming a part owner of the machinery by which its business was prosecuted, it is nevertheless true that he did assume the attitude of partner. The services for which he sues were rendered by him, not to the appellant but to the firm. The profits of the business were divided as profits. Each partner took and consumed or disposed of his portion of the corn received as toll from the mill, and the toll cotton was appropriated by the consent of both to the purchase of a gin stand, which by the purchase became the property of the two and not of Mr. Gullich. The status quo cannot be restored. There has been an absolute enjoyment of the fruits of the enterprise by the appellee as partner, and he cannot now say that he so enjoyed them intending only to be conditionally bound by their reception. [228] As to the matters arising during the continuance of the partnership the appellee must seek his remedy by a proceeding in equity for a settlement of the partnership affairs. Judgment reversed.