Ray v. Blue

173 S.W.2d 258, 1943 Tex. App. LEXIS 472
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJune 18, 1943
DocketNo. 2382.
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 173 S.W.2d 258 (Ray v. Blue) 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
Ray v. Blue, 173 S.W.2d 258, 1943 Tex. App. LEXIS 472 (Tex. Ct. App. 1943).

Opinion

GRISSOM, Justice.

This is a suit by Hilda Blair Ray to compel performance of an alleged contract for the conveyance by J. F. Blue to Mrs. Ray of an interest in the minerals in a section of land. Plaintiff alleged that about the 11th day of April, 1942, she entered into a written contract with defendant, whereby she agreed to purchase and Blue agreed to sell to her l/8th of the mineral in a section of land for $15 per acre. Plaintiff alleged that between the 11th and 15th days of April, 1942, she “tendered to the Defendant directly and through the First National Bank of Gordon, Texas”, the agreed purchase price for said acreage, and that Blue refused to accept the purchase money and to make the conveyance; that since April 11, 1942, she has been ready, able and willing to pay the agreed purchase price and perform her part of the contract. Plaintiff prayed that Blue be required to convey to her one-eighth of the minerals in a certain section, “or so much thereof as it is found that said Defendant owned on or subsequent to said April 11, 1942, * * ”

Blue answered by general denial. He also specially denied there was any contract between plaintiff and defendant; that there was no meeting of the minds of said parties. Defendant alleged that the correspondence between the parties constituted mere negotiations that did not result in a contract; that there was never an unconditional acceptance of any offer, if an offer was made; that the section in question contained 654.1 acres; that said land was under an oil and gas lease to Shell Oil Company; that on April 13th, before any agreement was ever consummated, defendant withdrew the of *259 fer, theretofore made, if an offer had been made by him, which he denied.

By supplemental petition plaintiff alleged that defendant had no title to a certain 65-acre tract in the section in question. Trial was to the Court. Judgment was rendered for defendant. Plaintiff has appealed.

The following constitute all the communications and negotiations between the parties.

(1)
“Hilda Blair Ray
“Lawyer
“First National Bank Building
“Midland, Texas
“March 16, 1942
“In re: Sec. 15, Sur. 46 1-S
“Winkler-Ector County, Tex.
“Mr. J. F. Blue
“Gordon, Texas
“Dear Sir:
“I am interested in purchasing some mineral acreage in the above vicinity. If you have any for sale, will you be kind enough to let me know, stating the number of acres, the area covered, and the price. I am enclosing an addressed stamped envelope for your convenience.
“Yours very truly,
“Hilda Blair Ray”
(2) “3-18-42
“Gordon Tex
“Mrs. Hilda Blair
“Midland, Tex
“In regard to your inquire I will say have some to sell But cant say how much at present, of course it would depend on Price, per acre
“Will have to make trip out there in the near future, to tend to some Business.
“Very Respt
“J. F. Blue
“P. S. You might state what you would Give per acre”
(3) “March 28, 1942
“Mr. J. F. Blue,
“Gordon, Texas.
“Dear Mr. Blue:
“Thank you for your letter of recent date in reference to mineral acreage in 15 46-1S Ector-Winkler County. There does not seem to have been any sales in there for several years and the highest was $15.00 an acre then. I would like to get about an eighth interest in there and could pay $15.00 per acre for that much. I am buying some acreage in various places, and I would therefore like to know if you are interested, as I may find some other acreage which would be cheaper. If you can sell me some, please state how many acres. Does your interest cover the entire Section 15? 'Do you have an abstract which you could loan me for examination?
“I enclose a stamped envelope for your convenience.
“Yours very truly,
“Hilda Blair Ray”
(4) “April 7, 1942
“Mr. J. F. Blue,
“Gordon, Texas
“Dear Sir:
“I wrote to you on March 28, in answer to your letter, making you an offer on some mineral acreage in 15 46-1S Ector and Winkler Counties, and enclosing a stamped envelope for your reply. Would you please let me know what you decided in reference to selling your acreage.
“Yours very truly,”
(5)
“Mrs. Hilda Blair
“Received this letter sometime ago. Will say would sell at that price The abstract is OK up to date and there in Midland Could let you have the amount you want.
“Very Resp
“J. F. Blue
“P. S. Thanks for the offer.”
(6) “April 11, 1942
“Mr. J. F. Blue,
“Gordon, Texas
“Dear Mr. Blue:
“I have your letter in answer to mine of March 28, 1942, in which I offered to buy 1/8 interest in the oil, gas, and minerals of all of section 15 46-1S Ector-Winkler Counties for $15 per acre, in which letter you state that you have that amount and that you will sell at that price.
“I enclose herewith my check to your order for $50 as earnest money on said purchase and I enclose herewith mineral deed covering said 1/8 interest in all of section 15, in which deed I have made John D. Bleecker grantee. I will let you know if I need the abstract, as it may not be necessary. You and Mrs. Blue should sign this deed before a notary, and should forward it to the First National Bank here with a draft drawn on Mr. John D. Bleecker for $1150, which will be paid immediately *260 unless I find some correction to be made in the title. Will you please authorize the bank to give me ten days as that should give me enough time to check the title. It will be necessary to attach $1.65 in revenue stapips to the deed. I would suggest you authorize the bank here to deduct that amount from the $1150.
“You state in your letter that you have as much as 80 mineral acres in this section. I had seen an abstract on this property and I thought your interest was less than that.

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173 S.W.2d 258, 1943 Tex. App. LEXIS 472, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ray-v-blue-texapp-1943.