Harbold v. Kuster

44 Pa. 392, 1863 Pa. LEXIS 81

• Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: March 16, 1863
• Status: Published

Opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered, by

Thompson, J.

To have admitted the evidence embraced by the first bill of exceptions would have been to disregard the established rule that parol evidence cannot be received to contradict, vary, or alter an instrument of writing: 4 W. & S. 209; 3 S. & R. 609; 7 Id. 110; 16 Id. 423; 7 Casey 252. It was not offered to reform the instrument on the ground of fraud, accident, or mistake, where such evidence is necessarily receivable: 1 W. & S. 192; 5 S. & R.421; 4 Barr 493; 9 Id. 491; 7 Casey 252; 9 Id. 386. There was no legal ground for its admission, and it was properly rejected.

The agreement for the sale of the land was merged in the deed consummating that sale; but was not merged in regard to that which Aras not to be consummated by deed, and which was of an entirely different nature, and collateral to it. This doctrine of merger, as applicable to a case of this kind, was fully examined in Backenstoss v. StaHler, 9 Casey 251, and Ave will not restate it. The charge of the learned judge being entirely in accordance therewith must be sustained, as we see nothing to retract in that case.

As we discover no error in the record, the

Judgment is affirmed.