Bell v. Spain

222 P. 322, 110 Or. 114, 1924 Ore. LEXIS 187
CourtOregon Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 14, 1924
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 222 P. 322 (Bell v. Spain) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Oregon Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bell v. Spain, 222 P. 322, 110 Or. 114, 1924 Ore. LEXIS 187 (Or. 1924).

Opinion

BEAN, J.

A general outline of the circumstances relating to the controversy is substantially as follows: Prior to March, 1920, plaintiff, J. K. Bell and Charles Spain were the owners as equal partners of certain real property consisting of two tracts of land, one comprising 148.50 acres situate in Wallowa County, Oregon, and the other consisting of 27.32 acres situate in Baker County, Oregon. The legal title to the larger tract was in the name of plaintiff, Bell, and the smaller tract in the name of Charles Spain. This partnership also owned certain personal property consisting of approximately 170 head of cattle, farm machinery, tools and equipment and a sum of money deposited in the bank, amounting* to $1,325. They also held a certain alleged contract and agreement to purchase, when patent should issue therefor, a tract of land embracing 160 acres known as the “Art Thompson Homestead.” These lands are situate near together in the center of a section of country along Snake River, chiefly valuable for grazing purposes.

Prior to September, 1919, Charles Spain, being the owner of the 27 acre tract of land, was running about 38 head of cattle on the adjacent range. In September, 1919, plaintiff, J. K. Bell and Charles Spain, who is plaintiff’s son-in-law, formed a partnership and acquired title to the 148 acre tract, referred to in the record as the Bell ranch. This tract was purchased of one Gr. W. Densley for the sum of [118]*118$20,000, $12,000 of which, was secured by mortgage upon the land. The title was taken in the name of plaintiff, Bell. It is in evidence that the Bell ranch, with sufficient water to irrigate it, would be worth $50,000. It is explained that the record title of the real property belonging to the partnership was held by the partners separately in order to enable the partnership to secure the maximum allotment of range on the forest reserve for grazing purposes. Bell and Charles Spain purchased an additional number of cattle, making the total number about 170 head, and for this purpose borrowed money of the Bankers’ Mortgage Corporation of Portland, Oregon, and executed a chattel mortgage in the sum of $7,500 on the 170 head of cattle. The Bell-Spain partnership existed for a period of less than five months.

In February, 1920, the defendants, W. H. Hutchinson and Fred Spain, were engaged in farming and stock-raising in Union County, Oregon. About this time Fred Spain was looking for a range for his cattle and went to the ranch of his brother, Charles Spain, and looked over the ranch with his brother and J. K. Bell. The grazing season in the locality of the Bell-Spain partnership land opened some six weeks prior to the grazing season in Union County, Oregon. An arrangement was made between these parties to permit Fred Spain to place a number of his cattle on this range. At this time negotiations were initiated for the sale of the real and personal property belonging to the Bell-Spain partnership; Fred Spain, not having capital sufficient to handle the proposition, interested defendant Hutchinson, and in March, 1920, Fred Spain and Hutchinson came to the Bell ranch and further discussion was [119]*119had between the interested parties regarding the proposed purchase of the interest of J. K. Bell in the property belonging to the Bell-Spain partnership. It appears Bell had, in addition to the $8,000 paid on the Bell ranch, invested about $2,000 in the partnership business.

Fred Spain and Hutchinson returned to Union and afterward Fred Spain visited the ranch on Snake River and plaintiff, J. K. Bell, returned with him to Union where the deal was closed upon the following terms — Bell was paid $5,000 cash and the note in suit for $5,000 was executed by Fred Spain and W. H. Hutchinson for his interest in the partnership property. The mortgage of $12,000 on the land and the $7,500 chattel mortgage on the cattle were assumed by the defendants. A deed conveying the Bell ranch to W. H. Hutchinson was- executed by Bell and wife and placed in escrow in the bank at Union until the $5,000 should be paid.

Defendants, by their answer, alleged that plaintiff, J. K. Bell, and Charles S. Spain for the purpose of cheating and defrauding defendants represented that the Bell ranch enjoyed a water right from the waters of McG-raw Creek, which was amply sufficient to adequately irrigate not only the Bell ranch but also the Art Thompson Homestead tract; and that said stream supplied sufficient water to produced a maximum crop of hay on both of said ranches; that during the preceding year the Bell ranch produced 300 tons of alfalfa hay which was a normal production of said land; and that plaintiff and Charles Spain also represented that they-were the owners of a contract for the purchase of said Thompson Homestead tract, under the terms of which said homestead would be conveyed to them [120]*120for the consideration of $3,000 when a patent should issue for said land and that a deed could be secured within seven months from the 25th of March, 1920.

Defendants allege and claim that the water in McGfraw Creek taken through the ditch, however, is sufficient to irrigate only about five acres and that the Bell ranch could not produce more than 50 tons of hay per annum; and that the Bell ranch was of no greater value than $2,000.

Defendants also assert that at the time the representations were made, as a part of the same transaction it was agreed between all of the parties, including the plaintiff Bell, that a partnership would be formed between the defendants Fred Spain and Hutchinson and the intervener, Charles Spain, for the operation of said properties; that the record title of the Bell ranch would be taken in the name of W. H Hutchinson; that the title of the Art Thompson Homestead would be taken in the name of Fred Spain, but that all of said property should belong to the new partnership and that it was understood between plaintiff and Charles Spain that this agreement would never be carried out.

It appears after the execution of the deed by J. K. Bell to W. H. Hutchinson at Union on March 25, 1920, the plaintiff J. K. Bell returned to California where he lived prior to entering the partnership with his son-in-law, Charles Spain, about five months prior to that date. He remained in California until about the time this suit was tried. Charles Spain .acted for a time with Fred Spain and W. H. Hutchinson in conducting the stock-raising business but no definite arrangements were made between them in regard to the partnership. A disagreement arose, Charles Spain claimed he should have wages for [121]*121caring for the cattle and other work, and he ceased to act with the firm. At the time of the execution of the deed at Union, plaintiff, J. K. Bell, advised Fred Spain and Hutchinson to have a partnership agreement drawn and executed between themselves and Charles Spain. This was never done.

During the season of 1920 it seems that a large part of the Bell-Spain cattle was sold by Fred Spain and Mr. Hutchinson to secure money to pay the $7,500 chattel mortgage. The cattle industry at that time was at a low ebb, the price of cattle and land was “down.”

Counsel for the defendants submit three questions. The first relates to whether the facts as stated in the answer of defendants constitute an equitable defense to the law action; second, if so, have the defendants sustained the burden of proof incumbent upon them, so as to entitle them to relief; third, if the defendants were not entitled to equitable relief, what disposition should the lower court have made of the case?

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
222 P. 322, 110 Or. 114, 1924 Ore. LEXIS 187, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bell-v-spain-or-1924.