Burris v. Hastert

191 S.W.2d 811, 1945 Tex. App. LEXIS 884
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedNovember 28, 1945
DocketNo. 11534.
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 191 S.W.2d 811 (Burris v. Hastert) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Burris v. Hastert, 191 S.W.2d 811, 1945 Tex. App. LEXIS 884 (Tex. Ct. App. 1945).

Opinion

MURRAY, Justice.

This suit was instituted by A. L. Stroud against John H. Hastert and J. Clarence Burris, seeking specific performance of a written contract of sale dated August 10, 1944, wherein John H. Hastert agreed to sell and convey to A. L. Stroud, for a consideration of $3,000, lot S, block 2, Alta Mira Addition to the City of McAllen, Hidalgo County, Tex., on which property there was located certain improvements, consisting of a house and garage. It was further alleged that J. Clarence Burris was asserting some character of interest in the above described property, the exact nature of which was not known.

John H. Hastert answered in effect admitting A. L. Stroud’s cause of action. J. Clarence Burris answered by general denial and also filed a cross-action contending that he had contracted to purchase the property prior to the date of the contract alleged by Stroud and asked for specific performance of his alleged contract.

A jury was impaneled for the purpose of determining one issue, to-wit: Whether Charles E. Thompson was the agent of John H. Hastert. However, after hearing evidence, the jury were instructed that Charles E. Thompson was not such agent, and the jury were temporarily discharged. Thereafter, the trial court rendered judgment in effect denying J. Clarence Burris any relief on his cross-action and granting to A. L. Stroud specific performance of his contract of purchase of the house and lot herein involved.

From this judgment J. Clarence Burris has prosecuted this appeal.

It is clear from the evidence that the alleged contract of sale of J. Clarence Burris was prior in point of time to that alleged by A. L. Stroud, and if Burris’ contract was a valid contract Burris was entitled to have his contract specifically performed, thus precluding Stroud from enforcing his contract. A jury had been demanded in the case, and if the evidence *813 was sufficient to raise questions of fact the court could not properly render the judgment which he did, as a matter of law.

In the outset we are of the opinion that the telegrams which passed between G. E. Cox, who was acting for Burris and John H. Hastert, the owner of the property, were sufficient to constitute a contract of sale binding upon the parties, provided it can be shown by parol evidence that Hastert’s house on Beaumont Street is the same property as lot 5, block 2, Alta Mira Addition to the city of McAllen, Tex. Hastert resided in Minneapolis, Minn., G. E. Cox lived in and occupied a house and lot located on Beaumont Street in the City of McAllen, Tex. On the Sth day of August, 1944, Cox sent the following telegram, to-wit:

“John H. Hastert
“1417 — 26th Ave. NE.
“Minneapolis, Minn.
“Necessary I leave McAllen immediately — Have opportunity to sell my furniture if you will sell your home on Beaumont Street — Advise return wire collect if you are interested in selling and what price— Cash deal.
“G. E. Cox
“Firestone Store”
On August 6, 1944, Hastert sent the following telegram to Cox:
“1944, Aug. 6 p.m. 12 59
“CC7 18 Collect — Minneapolis Minn 6 1208P
“J. C. Cox
“2636 Beaumont St. McAllen, Texas
“Willing to sell make offer purchaser to assume unpaid balance of contract for deed about 1300 dollars.
“John Hastert.”
Immediately after receiving this telegram, and on the same day, Cox wired Hastert as follows:
“RE 8 — 6—44
“John H. Hastert
“1417 — 26 Ave. N.E.
“Minneapolis, Minn.
“Retel — Purchaser will assume deed 1300 dollars — Also cash difference 1400 offered —Net total 2700 dollars — Appreciate consideration as purchaser agrees buying my furniture which will help me — Roof and ceiling need repaired — Feel that this is a fair offer^ — -If not interested in selling would you rent it to Mr. Burris who is connected with Firestone — Advise Return Wire for handling.
“G. E. Cox
“Firestone.”
On August 7, 1944, Hastert replied ,by sending the following telegram:
“8 — 7—44 AM 10
“Minneapolis Minn.
“G. E. Cox
“Firestone Stores McAllen — Texas
“Not interested for less than 3000 as have that amount invested.
“John Hastert.”
On August 8, 1944, Cox wired Hastert as follows:
“8 — 8—44
“John H. Plastert
“1417 26th Ave. NE.
“Minneapolis, Minn.
“Purchaser agrees paying 3000 dollars total- — Advise location abstract — Also all information necessary to close cash deal immediately — Advise return wire.
“G. E. Cox
“Firestone Store, McAllen, Texas.” On the same day Hastert replied to Cox as follows:
“8 — 8—44 AM 11:55
“Minneapolis, Minn.
“G. E. Cox
“Firestone Stores, McAllen — Texas
“Abstract being sent to Charles Thompson, attorney.
“John Hastert,”

From the above telegrams it appears that on August 6, 1944, Cox, acting on behalf of Burris, wired Hastert inquiring whether he would be interested in selling his home, located on Beaumont Street in the City of Mc/illen. Hastert wired back that he was interested and asked for an offer, advising at the same time that there was a $1,300 indebtedness against the property which would have to be assumed by the purchaser. Cox wired back, stating the purchaser was willing to assume the $1,300 and pay an additional $1,400 making a total offer of $2,700. Hastert wired back that he would not consider less than $3,000. Cox replied that purchaser agrees to pay $3,000, and asked for the abstract and all information necessary to close cash deal immediately. Hastert replied: “Abstract being sent to Charles Thompson, attorney.” There can be no doubt but that both parties understood that an agreement had been entered into whereby Hastert’s house on *814 Beaumo-nt Street, McAllen, Tex., had been sold to a purchaser for whom Cox had been acting, for a total cash consideration of $3,000. This made a complete sale of real estate, provided the description is sufficient to locate the house and lot by the use of parol testimony.

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191 S.W.2d 811, 1945 Tex. App. LEXIS 884, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/burris-v-hastert-texapp-1945.