Dukes v. Bash

64 N.E. 47, 29 Ind. App. 103, 1902 Ind. App. LEXIS 111
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 20, 1902
DocketNo. 3,730
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 64 N.E. 47 (Dukes v. Bash) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dukes v. Bash, 64 N.E. 47, 29 Ind. App. 103, 1902 Ind. App. LEXIS 111 (Ind. Ct. App. 1902).

Opinion

Henley, J.

The only question'presented by this appeal is as to the sufficiency of the third and fourth paragraphs of the appellant’s complaint. The question is whether or not appellant can enforce the specific performance of a certain contract entered into between Eobert' Simonton and the appellees, Bash, Paul, and McCulloch. This contract was assigned by the said Simonton to appellant Dukes. Appellant filed four paragraphs of complaint, but the first and second paragraphs were dismissed. In his third paragraph of complaint appellant avers that on the 12th day' of September, 1899, appellees, Charles S. Bash, Charles McCulloch, and Henry O. Paul, by the name of Bash, Paul, and McCulloch, executed to one Eobert Simonton, of Huntington, Indiana, a written proposition in the words and figures following, to wit: “Fort Wayne, Ind., Sept. 12, ’99. Mr. Eobert Simon-[104]*104ton, Huntington, Ind. Hear Sir: We propose to secure the canal right of way for you from the north line of the corporation limits of Roanoke to the right of way of the P. P. W. & C. Ry., west of this city, with the exception of the right of way through the Rockhill land (about 100 rods), said right of way to be only the canal proper and not to include any bayous or land north of the berm bank. The consideration for the above right of way is to be $4,500; $500 to be paid down and the balance to be paid on or before six months. In case the balance of $4,000 is not paid within six months, the $500 paid on this proposition shall be forfeited as liquidated damages, and this proposition shall be null and void. Resp’y, McCulloch, Paul, and Bash.” Appellant further avers that thereafter, on the 16th day of September, 1890, said Simonton duly accepted said proposition, and paid to Bash, Paul, and McCulloch, in cash, the sum of $500, as in said proposition provided, and according to the terms of a receipt therefor executed to him by said Bash, Paul, and McCulloch at the time of such payment, which is as follows: “Fort Wayne, Ind., September 16, 1899. Received of Robert Simonton the sum of $500 as part pay on contract dated September 12, 1899, and signed by McCulloch, Paul, and Bash, for canal lands as per said contract; a description of lands to be deeded to said Simonton, or his assigns, on or before six months from date. McCulloch, Paul, .and Bash, by C. S. Bash.”

Appellant further avers in said paragraph that the land that said Bash, Paul, and McCulloch proposed and intended to secure for said Simonton under said proposition is in that part of what was formerly known as the Wabash & Erie Canal, from the north line of the corporation limits of the town of Roanoke, in the county of Huntington, Indiana, to the right of way of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway, west of the city of Fort Wayne, Allen county, Indiana, with the exception of that part thereof owned by Howell C. Rockhill, lying in the northwest quarter of section [105]*105nine, township thirty north, range twelve east, in Allen county, Indiana, and being about 100 rods in length (said premises so intended to be conveyed to include only the canal proper, and not any bayous or land north of the berm bank) ; that said Wabash & Erie Canal is the only canal between said town of Roanoke and said city of Eort Wayne; that, prior to the execution of said contract, said Simonton had been the owner in fee simple of said land, and had conveyed the same to said Bash, Paul, and McCulloch as tenants in common; that, at the time of the execution of said contract, said Bash, Paul, and McCulloch represented to said Simonton, who relied upon such representations and did not have reason to believe the contrary, that they still owned said land in fee simple; that, at the time of the assignment of said contract by said Simonton to appellant as hereinafter stated, said Simonton repeated said representations to appellant, who took said assignment relying on the truth thereof, and did not know or have reason to know that said Bash, Paul, and McCulloch did not own all of said land in fee simple, and did not discover that they did not own all of it until long after said assignment was made; that said Bash, Paul, and McCulloch now own all of said land in fee simple, except five miles and 1,050 feet thereof; that appellant is willing to accept a conveyance of the portion of said land so owned by said defendants, and to pay for the same according to the contract price; that on the 16th day of September, 1899, said Robert Simon-ton, for value received, in writing assigned and transferred to appellant all his right, title, and interest in and to said contract so made between- him and said Bash, Paul, and McCulloch, of which fact, the latter at the time had knowledge; that said Simonton is made a party to said action to, answer as to said assignment.

Appellant further avers in said paragraph that on the 12th day of March, 1900, and within six months from the -time of the execution of said contract, he requested said [106]*106Bash, Paul, aud McCulloch to convey to him said land according to the terms of said contract, and at said time offered, and was able, ready, and willing to pay to them the balance of the purchase price therefor, but that said Bash, Paul, and McCulloch then refused to make said conveyance or to accept said offer, and still refuse so to do; that ever since said time appellant has been, and still is, able, ready, and willing to pay the balance of the purchase price of said land upon said appellee executing to him a conveyance therefor according to the terms of said contract; that on the 12th day of July, 1900, at the request of said Bash, Paul, and McCulloch, he paid to them the further sum of $500 in part payment of the balance of the purchase price of said lands, whereby the time of said contract was extended for a reasonable time thereafter, to wit, for a period of six months from said 12th day of Luly, 1900. It is further averred in said paragraph that he has duly performed all the conditions of said contract on his part to be performed; that on the 11th day of December, 1900, he tendered to said Bash, Paul, and McCulloch the balance due under it, to wit, the sum of $3,500, with interest thereon at the rate of six per cent, per annum from the 12th day of March, 1900, and requested them to convey said land to him according to the terms of said contract, which they refused to do; that said Bash, Paul, and McCulloch still refuse to accept said tender or to execute said conveyance, and appellant brings into court the balance due them under said contract, to wit, the sum of $3,615, and offers the same to them upon their executing and delivering to him a conveyance of said land according to the terms of said agreement, or a proportionate amount „ thereof for a conveyance of such portion of said land as they now own in fee simple as aforesaid.

He further avers in said paragraph that said Bash, Paul, and McCulloch entered into an agreement with appellee Townsend, Eeed & Co., a corporation, to convey said land to it, and, unless enjoined by the court from so doing, [107]*107they will carry out such agreement; that, at the time said corporation and said Bash, Paul, and McCulloch entered into said agreement, to wit, on November 28, 1900, said Townsend, Reed & Co. had full knowledge of the rights of appellant in said land; that said corporation intended to take said land for the benefit of, or to convey the same to itself, George Townsend, William S. Reed, Charles O.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
64 N.E. 47, 29 Ind. App. 103, 1902 Ind. App. LEXIS 111, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dukes-v-bash-indctapp-1902.