Walsh v. Martin

37 N.W. 40, 69 Mich. 29, 1888 Mich. LEXIS 694
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 2, 1888
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 37 N.W. 40 (Walsh v. Martin) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Walsh v. Martin, 37 N.W. 40, 69 Mich. 29, 1888 Mich. LEXIS 694 (Mich. 1888).

Opinion

Long, J.

This action was brought before a justice of the peace of St. Clair county, to recover for the use and occupation of a certain store and lot in the city of Port Huron.

The declaration was upon the common counts in assumpsit—

For the use and occupation of a certain store and premises on the east side of Huron avenue in the city of Port Huron, being the three-story brick building now occupied by defendants.”

[30]*30The defendants pleaded the general issue, and gave notice—

“That they were not, and never had been, tenants of the plaintiff, or occupied the store mentioned in his declaration under him or any lease or agreement from him or with him, but are in possession of the same under one George E. Shatto, who holds a lease thereof from said plaintiff, now m full force and valid and subsisting.”

The cause was tried in justice’s court, and judgment rendered therein in favor of the plaintiff. Defendants appealed to the circuit court for the county of St. Clair, where the cause was brought on for trial, and judgment rendered for plaintiff. Defendants now bring the case into this Court on writ of error.

On the trial of the cause in the circuit, it appeared that plaintiff leased the premises in question to on§ George E. Shatto for the term of three years, by a written lease as fol-

££It is hereby agreed between P. J. Walsh, of Detroit, Michigan, of the first part, and G. E. Shatto, of Port Huron, Michigan, of the second part, as follows:
“The said P. J. Walsh, in consideration of the rents and covenants herein specified, doth hereby let and lease to the said G. E. Shatto the three (3) story brick building now occupied by him, situated on the east side of Huron avenue, Port Huron, Michigan, for a term of three (3) years from and after the fifteenth day of October, 1877, orí the terms and conditions hereinafter mentioned, to be occupied for mercantile purposes: Provided, That in case any rent shall be due and unpaid, or if default shall be made in any of the covenants herein contained, then it shall be lawful for the said P. J. Walsh, or his certain attorney, to re-enter into and repossess the said premises, and the said party of the second part, and each and every other occupant, to remove and put out.
“And the said G. E. Shatto doth hereby hire the said premises for the term of three (3) years, as above mentioned, and doth covenant and promise to pay to the said P. J. Walsh the annual rent of six hundred dollars, in monthly installments to wit: The first installment to be paid on the [31]*31fifteenth day of October, 1877, and monthly in advance thereafter; and also that he will, at his own expense, during the continuance of this lease, keep the said premises and every part thereof in as good repair, and will not re-lease or assign this lease without the written consent of the party of first part, and, at the expiration of the term, yield and deliver up the same in like condition as when taken, reasonable use and wear thereof and damage by the elements excepted.
“ And the said party of the first part doth covenant that the said party of the second part, on paying the aforesaid installments, and performing all the covenants aforesaid, shall and may peaceably and quietly have, hold, and enjoy the said demised premises for the term aforesaid.
Witness our hands and seals, this twenty-sixth day of November, 1877.”

The following indorsements appeared upon the lease:

It is mutually agreed by and between the parties hereto that the within lease is to be extended, without altering the conditions thereof, until October 15, A. D. 1884.
“Port Huron, Mich., March 1, 1879.”
“For a valuable consideration I hereby give G-. E. Shatto the privilege of occupying the store mentioned in this lease, and grounds in the rear, for ten years from 1884, the rent to be the same as at present. All buildings and improvements now on said premises, or hereafter erected, to be the property of the said P. J. Walsh, as part of the consideration for extending lease, over and above the rental specified in the within lease.
“Dated, Port Huron, August 2, 1881.”

This lease and the indorsements above set forth were signed by G. E. Shatto and Eobert Walsh, agent for plaintiff.

Mr. Shatto took possession of the premises under the lease, and occupied up to the time the defendants went into possession, about the middle of January, 1886. Mr. Shatto paid rent up to this time, when he sold out his stock and goodwill in the business to defendants, who have since occupied the premises, and paid the rent stipulated in the lease; such rent being paid under an agreement that it should not affect the rights of the parties in this action.

Within a few days after defendants went into possession of [32]*32the premises, Messrs. Atkinson & Vance, attorneys for plaintiff, wrote defendants that Mr. Walsh had consulted them about the Shatto lease, and say,—

“It appears to have expired, and he wishes to know whether you wish to rent the property, and, if so, please advise us, or notify him at Detroit.”

This letter was received by defendants, who made no reply, when they sent them the following letter:

“February 16, 1887.
“Messrs. Martin Bros.,
“Port Huron.
“Dear Sirs: On the twentieth of January we wrote you requesting 'a conference regarding the premises you occupy belonging to P. J. Walsh, Detroit, and advising you at the same time that Mr. Shatto’s lease had expired under its terms- Since that time we have called twice at your place of business, and failed to see you. You will now please take notice that the monthly rental of the premises you occupy will be $66.66, or at the rate of $800 per year. You can pay the same to us, as Mr. Walsh’s agent if you so desire. We regret your discourtesy in not answering our letter.
“ Very respectfully, Atkinson & Vance.”

On the trial of the cause Robert Walsh, who signed the lease and indorsements as agent for the plaintiff, was called as a witness for plaintiff, and testified, under defendants’ objection:

“ Mr. Shatto came to me and told me he would like to have more room; he hadn’t enough; and if I paid so much towards extending the store he would extend the store so many feet further back the full width of the store, and he wanted $150. He said it would cost so much for stone and different articles. I told him if that was the case, and they would put up a good building, we would be willing to do so. Finally I paid him $150, and he went on with the building. That was the first extension.”

Before the second indorsement was written on the lease, Shatto stated to witness that he wanted a cellar to put butter in, and have it lighted; and if they would give him an extension of the lease for ten years he would put up a build[33]*33ing there. This was in July or August, 1881. Shatto then went off, and came back with the last indorsement written on the lease,—

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Bluebook (online)
37 N.W. 40, 69 Mich. 29, 1888 Mich. LEXIS 694, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/walsh-v-martin-mich-1888.