Bowen v. Chandler

138 N.W. 247, 172 Mich. 678, 1912 Mich. LEXIS 969
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 8, 1912
DocketDocket No. 38
StatusPublished

This text of 138 N.W. 247 (Bowen v. Chandler) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bowen v. Chandler, 138 N.W. 247, 172 Mich. 678, 1912 Mich. LEXIS 969 (Mich. 1912).

Opinion

Kuhn, J.

This is an action brought in assumpsit to recover the value of an engine and boiler, which, it is claimed, was exchanged by the plaintiff with the defendant for certain real estate. The declaration filed in the cause contains the following count :

“For that whereas, said defendant, before the commencement of said suit, was indebted to plaintiff in the sum of $300 lawful money of the United States for divers [680]*680goods, wares, and merchandise of the said plaintiff, to wit, one engine and boiler, theretofore delivered to the defendant at his special instance and request under contract of exchange of property in that said defendant then and there promised to deed to said plaintiff certain real estate situate in the county of Cheboygan and State of Michigan, and in exchange therefor plaintiff was to deliver said engine and boiler, and that said plaintiff did deliver said engine and boiler to said defendant, and then and there on numerous occasions requested said defendant to transfer said real estate to said plaintiff, and that he then and there neglected and refused so to do, and has ever since retained said engine and boiler, to plaintiff’s damage of $300, and therefore said suit is brought.”

In addition to this, the declaration contains the common counts. The bill of particulars filed also claimed taxes for the year 1885, amounting to $55. The defendant pleaded the general issue and the statute of limitations as to the item of taxes. No evidence was offered with reference to the taxes. On trial had, a verdict was rendered in favor of the plaintiff in the sum of $280.25, and defendant reviews judgment had thereon in this court by writ of error.

The deal which gave rise to this controversy was had some time in 1908. There is considerable conflict in the testimony as to what the understanding of the parties was. At that time the engine and boiler was at the foundry and machine shop of Henry Deane for repairs.

David Bowen testified with reference thereto as follows:

“I met Mr. Chandler, and I told him that I would like to trade him this engine for a quitclaim deed of the S. i of the N. E. ^ of section 36, town 35 N., range 1 E. He said he would send Mr. Minnick to look at the boiler and engine, and, if it suited Mr. Minnick, that he would make a trade. He sent him, and I went down with Mr. Minnick, who looked it over and said that he would take it out and try it for five or six days, and, if it did the work, that they would keep it, and they did keep it for about three years. I was not there at the time Mr. Chandler’s man took the boiler and engine away. I told Mr. Deane to deliver it to him. The boiler and engine was at the foundry, and Deane was the foundry man. It has been there practically all winter. * * * I agreed, [681]*681if he would deed this land over to me, to turn over to him this engine and boiler any time for it. That was the talk I had with him. That contract between Chandler and myself was not in writing. I expected him to turn the deed over every day. I never had any contract in writing with him in regard to the engine and boiler. When I had this talk with Chandler, there was nothing said about the price of the engine. He was to deed me that piece of land, and give me enough to straighten up with Deane if it suited him. And he kept it.”

Merritt Chandler, the defendant, testified as follows:

“Q. Did you ever have an agreement with Bowen by which you were to deed him a description of land which he mentioned and take in pay therefor this boiler and engine ?
“A. Not completed; no, sir, not completed.
“Q. Did you ever have any agreement by which you purchased this boiler and engine ?
“A. No, sir; anything further than talking of doing it, or taking it.
“Q. What talk did you have with Mr. Bowen in regard to the engine and boiler, and this land ?
“A. I don’t remember that we had any until after the engine had been taken out to the farm; but it was about that time — soon afterwards, and possibly before, as he states.
“Q. Do you remember the circumstances?
“A. Oh, yes; I remember the circumstances. I know it was to be taken there — I don’t know when it was taken —didn’t know until it had been there several days.
“ Q. Go on with your statement of your talk.
“A. Why, after, if the engine proved satisfactory, we was to make a deal on the land. The engine was tried for about a week, or three or four days, sawing wood, and then my foreman told me, I asked him if it was satisfactory, and—
The Court: State whether or not it was satisfactory to him.
“A. It was not satisfactory.
The Court: I quote his testimony correctly, do I— that his conversation with Mr. Bowen was that it should be satisfactory? Is that what Mr. Chandler swore to? What did he say his conversation with Mr. Bowen was ?
“Mr. Hull: That the engine was to be satisfactory?
[682]*682“A. Yes, sir; that the engine was to be satisfactory. I never had a contract with Bowen in writing.
“Q. Was there anything further said in regard to this deal of the land ? Was that the complete deal which you have stated ?
“A. No, sir; there was an after consideration. On account of this engine not being satisfactory, I proposed to Mr. Bowen that he deed me the water privileges, water rights of flooding certain lands that he had along Black river, and that was it. I said:
“ ‘ As soon as you get that deed so that you can give me a good deed.’
(He only had a tax title at that time on part of the land.) I said:
“ ‘ As soon as you get that completed and right, we will make the deal. I will make the deed to you for the other land, and the engine could be put in as part of the deal.’
“ That is, it would be considered in the deal.
iCQ. Do you know how much the engine was used on your farm ?
“A. I don’t know of its being used only 3 or 4 days in sawing wood.
“Q. Why wasn’t the engine returned ?
“A. Nobody asked me to return it. I was not requested to return it.”

The defendant asks for a reversal of the judgment rendered, alleging by assignments of error that the court erred in four particulars:

(1) In respect to the admission and rejection of evidence.

(2) Because he denied the motion on behalf of the defendant for a direction of a verdict.

(3) Because the court erred in not requiring the plaintiff to elect whether recovery should be had under the special or common counts.

(4) Because the court erroneously charged the jury with respect to the law involved in the cause.

Admission and Rejection of Evidence,

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
138 N.W. 247, 172 Mich. 678, 1912 Mich. LEXIS 969, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bowen-v-chandler-mich-1912.