Frechtling v. Jacobs

19 Ohio C.C. Dec. 638
CourtButler Circuit Court
DecidedFebruary 2, 1907
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 19 Ohio C.C. Dec. 638 (Frechtling v. Jacobs) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Butler Circuit Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Frechtling v. Jacobs, 19 Ohio C.C. Dec. 638 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1907).

Opinions

SWING, J.

This is an action for specific performance and is in this court on appeal. It was heard on demurrer to the petition, although an answer of the defendant was submitted and contained admitted facts which the court might consider in the event that the demurrer was overruled and leave given the defendant to answer.

Plaintiff’s right to a specific performance rests on the following agreement:

“This agreement entered into this June 5, 1889, between Elizabeth C. Jacobs of the first part and Henry Frechtling and Henry Frecht-ling, Jr., of the second part shows:
“That said Elizabeth C. Jacobs has leased, with the privilege of purchase as hereinafter stated, to said Henry Frechtling and Henry Frechtling, Jr., the following described real estate belonging to her, situate in the third ward of the city of Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio. * * *
“Said real estate is leased to said second parties for the period of fifteen years from and after this date. Said Henry Frechtling and Henry Frechtling, Jr.,, agree to pay in consideration of said rental the taxes on said real estate for the year 1889, and also for each succeeding year during the existence of said lease; they also agree to pay all assessments that may be made for city improvements on the said premises, and if new pavements are required they agree to furnish the material and to make them.
“Said second parties further agree to assume and pay William H. Campbell the principal sum of $3,000 and also interest thereon [639]*639from this date, same evidenced by note and mortgage held by William H. Campbell on said premises; the interest np to this date to be paid by said first party.
“For the first five years from this date the interest of said $3,000 is to be treated and regarded as part of the rent of said premises, and in addition thereto said second parties agree to pay to said first party as rent $125 per month, and after the expiration of said five years said second parties agree to pay to said Elizabeth C. Jacobs as rent for said premises in addition to the interest of said $3,000, which said second parties agree to release said Elizabeth C. Jacobs from paying or accounting for, the monthly rent of $110 per month during the life of said Elizabeth C. Jacobs unless the property id conveyed by her before that period as hereinafter stipulated. But if after said five years have elapsed said Elizabeth C. Jacobs shall pay to said Henry Frechtling and Henry Frechtling, Jr., said principal sum of $3,000, in that event said second parties agree to pay said first party during her said life an additional sum of $15 per month. Said second parties further agree and bind themselves to erect before the) end of said five years a substantial building of stone or brick as they deem best on said premises. The lease to John N. Hibner on said premises the first party hereby assigns to said second parties and said second parties are to receive all the rents from said Hibner from this date, and said second parties agree to assume and perform all the covenants in said Hibner lease which the first party is bound to perform, and to stand in the place of said first party, as to the stipulation of said lease from this date until the expiration thereof. The second parties agree to assume and perform all the covenants in own use with said llibner’s permission all the buildings and improvements on said premises, but said Jacobs reserves the right to remove the shelving cases and drawers at the end of the Hibner lease. The second parties agree that during the existence of this lease they will not suffer or permit any saloon business to be carried on in any part of the said premises for-the sale of spirituous, malt or vinous liquors.
“It is further agreed that if at any time during her life said Elizabeth C. Jacobs wishes to sell said premises the valuation thereof shall be fixed by an appraisement to be made by two persons of reputable character, who are agreeable to both parties, one to be selected by said first party and the other to be selected by the said second parties and if they two cannot agree they are to select a third party and then all three shall make said valuation of the ground, not including the improvements said second parties may have made thereon, and said [640]*640second parties agree to purchase the same at said valuation; and if said purchase is so made, and the purchase money paid said first party agrees to execute and deliver a sufficient deed in fee simple with covenants of general warranty for said premises to said second parties and from that period the rent herein stipulated shall cease. If said $3,000 has not been paid back to said second parties the same is to be treated part of said purchase money and this real estate is to remain liable to said second parties as security for the repayment of said $3,000; and it is further stipulated that said first party shall cause to be removed any other mortgages or liens she may have put on the said premises besides said $3,000 mortgage to said William H. Campbell before she makes the deed for the same.
‘‘If said first party shall not sell and convey said premises to said second parties during her life then the first party binds herself, her heirs, executors, administrators and assigns that upon payment of s.’id purchase money, which is to be ascertained by an appraisement mad;1 by two persons, one to be selected by the second party and one to be selected by the legal representatives of the first party, and if they cannot agree then by the addition of a third party to be selected by said two persons, that her said heirs and legal representatives shall execute and deliver to said second parties a good and sufficient deed in fee simple for the said premises with covenants of general warranty, and that out of said purchase money shall be deducted said $3,0Q0. The rent after the death of said Elizabeth C. Jacobs shall continue at the same rate as stipulated above after the expiration of the first five years, but to be paid to her heirs and legal representatives. * * *
“If said Elizabeth C. Jacobs shall die without having conveyed said property before the termination of said fifteen years, then and in that event this lease as a lease is to terminate when her youngest child arrives at full age, but all the other stipulations of this agreement shall remain in force.”

Mrs. Jacobs did not die until more than seventeen months after the expiration of the fifteen years from the date of the execution of the lease. The youngest child of Mrs. Jacobs was thirteen years at the time of the execution of the lease and would therefore become of age within five years from that time, which would have been the time when, said lease would have terminated under certain conditions.

Frechtling went into possession of the premises and complied with the terms of the lease until the fifteen years had expired, at which time Mrs. Jacobs notified Frechtling that the lease had expired and that [641]*641if he remained in possession the rent would be for a year and at $4,000 per year.

This action was brought after the death of Mrs. Jacobs and is against her heirs asking for specific performance under said agreement. The right to the specific performance must rest on clear and certain proof; if the right is doubtful it cannnot be granted. If the plaintiff is entitled to such a relief in this case the right must clearly be shown in the premises of said written agreement.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Simes v. Dayton-Xenia Ry Co.
36 N.E.2d 517 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1937)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
19 Ohio C.C. Dec. 638, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/frechtling-v-jacobs-ohcirctbutler-1907.