Ward v. Wilson

45 S.W. 8, 92 Tex. 22, 1898 Tex. LEXIS 143
CourtTexas Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 28, 1898
DocketNo. 646.
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 45 S.W. 8 (Ward v. Wilson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Texas Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ward v. Wilson, 45 S.W. 8, 92 Tex. 22, 1898 Tex. LEXIS 143 (Tex. 1898).

Opinion

GAINES, Chief Justice.

The following statement of this case is taken from the opinion of the Court of Civil Appeals, and we deem it sufficiently full for the purposes of this opinion;

“M. A. Boone, under her former name of M. Á. Wilson, conveyed to one M. J. Tompkins five quarter sections of land lying in Clay County, Texas, for which on September 21,1891, he executed his five promissory notes, each in the sum of $960, payable to Mrs. M. A. Wilson, and numbered 3, 7, 9, 11, and 14. The notes were payable on the 21st of September, 1901, hut it was provided that each should hear interest at 8 per cent per annum, payable on the 21st day of September of each year, and that if the interest should remain unpaid for ten days after maturity thereof, the legal holder could at once declare the entire obligation due and payable.

“A default having been made in the payment of interest as thus stipulated, plaintiff exercised the option provided for, and brought suit on February 2-2, 1896, against divers parties claiming interests in the sections, including J. C. Ward, the plaintiff in error. The latter was duly cited, and from his answer filed at the succeeding March term, 1896, it appears that he claimed an interest of 60 acres out of the south one-half of the northwest one-quarter of section 53, and also an interest of 80 acres out of the north half of the northeast quarter of section 58; his claim in each instance being by purchase from J. J. and Emma Pond, to whom M. Brooks, the vendee of Tompkins, had. sold 60 acres out of the south half of the northwest quarter of section 53 and all of the northeast quarter of section 58. It was alleged that J. J. and Emma Pond, in consideration of this conveyance, had assumed to pay $360 of note 11 and interest, and all of note 14, and that Ward did not assume to pay any part of the indebtedness. Of note 11, the sum of $640 was alleged to have been assumed by one T. B. Gill, a purchaser of 100 acres off the north end of the northwest quarter of section 53.

“At the same term of the court the following agreement as to the matters in controversy between the plaintiff and J. 0. Ward was signed by the attorneys for the parties respectively:

*25 “ 'M. A. Wilson v. T. B. Gill et al. — In District Court of Clay County, Texas, March Term, 1896.

“‘In the above entitled cause it is agreed that, whereas J. C. Ward claims a part of the land in controversy herein, which he purchased from J. J. and Emma Pond, viz., 60 acres off the south end of the N. W. ¿ of sec. 53, and 80 acres off of the north end of the N. E. J of sec. 58; which land is more particularly described in said J. C. Ward’s pleading; and whereas said land is subject to plaintiff’s lien to secure notes Nos. 11 and 14, given by M. J. Tompkins for said quarter section of land respectively, which notes are sued on herein; and whereas, said J. C. Ward has paid a part of the interest due on said notes, and desires to continue to pay his pro rata part of said notes, for which the land held by him is equitably bound according to the terms of the original contract between plaintiff and said Tompkins.

“ ‘Now, therefore, it is hereby agreed by and between the plaintiff herein and said J. C. Ward, that said J. C. Ward shall have the right to continue to carry out said original contract, in so far as the incumbrance equitably chargeable against the land so held by him is concerned, and said plaintiff hereby agrees to permit said defendant to make the payment of the amounts, principal and interest, of said indebtedness, which is equitably chargeable against said land so held hy J. C. Ward according to the terms of the original contract of sale. And said J. C. Ward hereby agrees and binds himself to make the remaining portion of the said quarter sections of land sell for enough to pay off and satisfy all that part of the indebtedness above mentioned, which is properly chargeable against the same, or upon his failure to make said land bring said amount so properly chargeable against same, the said J. C. Ward agrees to pay such balance, and upon so doing he shall be entitled to and may have an assignment to him of a pro rata part of the judgment which he may have to pay in order to protect his interest herein. That is to say, all of such indebtedness other than the indebtedness properly chargeable against the land so held by said J. C. Ward; and it is agreed that the remaining portion of said quarter section may be first sold to satisfy the said indebtedness against same, and that the lands so held by Ward shall only be liable for the balance due after such sale. And as to such balance, payment thereof shall be made as above specified.

“ ‘But it is expressly understood that this agreement 'shall not have the effect to waive or in any manner impair the plaintiff’s lien against said quarter section of land for the full amount of said note until same is fully paid.

“ ‘It is also understood and agreed that this agreement shall not be taken or construed as in any manner affecting the plaintiff’s rights against any of the remaining defendants herein, or against lands held hy them respectively, and the court in the decree to be rendered in this cause shall have full power to adjust all of the. equities of the various parties, to the same extent as be could do were no such agreement *26 made; but in so far as this agreement can be enforced and carried out by the court, without affecting the interest of the plaintiff as against the remaining defendants, same shall be done.

“ ‘M. A Boosts, née M. A. Wilson, Plaintiff,

“ ‘By J. A. Templeton, Attorney for Plaintiff.

“‘J. C. Wabd, by J. H. Cobb, his Attorney/

“Thereafter, at the same term, the cause was continued. At the succeeding September term the plaintiff filed a second supplemental petition, purporting to be in reply to the answer of the defendant Ward, in which she declared upon the written agreement already referred to, alleging the maturity of the notes 11 and 14, on account of the failure to pay interest as therein stipulated, and praying a personal judgment against Ward, in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

“On October 14, 1896, the court entered judgment reciting the appearance of ‘both parties;’ that they announced ready for trial, waiving a jury, and submitting the matters of fact as well as of law to the court; and further reciting that the court heard the pleadings, evidence, and argument of the counsel. The court, among other matters, rendered a personal judgment, by virtue of the agreement referred to, in the sum of $2376 against Ward.”

The trial court seem to have held Ward liable as upon an assumpsit for the entire purchase money of the two quarter sections of land in controversy; but the Court of Civil Appeals were of the opinion that under the written agreement he was liable only for the purchase price of those portions of the two tracts which had not been conveyed to him. They reformed the judgment accordingly and reduced the recovery to the sum of $1377.98.

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Bluebook (online)
45 S.W. 8, 92 Tex. 22, 1898 Tex. LEXIS 143, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ward-v-wilson-tex-1898.