Whitney v. Dewey

158 F. 385, 86 C.C.A. 21, 1907 U.S. App. LEXIS 3997
Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit·Decided December 2, 1907·No. No. 1,416·Published·Cited by 4 cases

Opinion

HUNT, District Judge.

W. Grant Whitney, a citizen of Oregon, appellant, brought this suit against E. H. Dewey, a citizen of Idaho, appellee, praying for a decree requiring Dewey to assign, quitclaim, and set over to appellant all his (defendant’s) right, title, and interest in and to certain real estate in the counties of Boise and Canyon, Idaho, as provided in an agreement dated September 7, 1899, between complainant and one Willard White, and for such other relief as is proper. Among the defenses set up by Dewey is the statute of limitations; that an action was begun and tried in a state court of Idaho, wherein Whitney, appellant here, was the plaintiff, and Dewey, appel-lee here, was the defendant, and that a judgment of the Supreme Court of the state of Idaho in the said suit has become final, and that Whitney is now estopped, by reason of said suit and judgment, from litigating any of the questions involved in this suit; that on January 25, 1900, one Beery and wife were the sole owners and seised in fee of the property involved, and that they conveyed the property by warranty deed to White, and at the time of the conveyance, no one else had any interest in the undivided half interest in said property now claimed by Dewey; that the conveyance of warranty to White was made with the full knowledge of Whitney, and that thereafter White conveyed to Cobban and Casey, who retained possession until sale to Dewey; and that' Dewey, for a valuable consideration, became the owner of an undivided half interest in the property; and that, when the conveyances to Cobban and Casey and Dewey were made, none of said parties had knowledge of any claim or equity of Whitney or any one else; and that there never was any combination and confederacy, as charged in the bill. There was a trial and decree dismissing complainant’s bill. Complainant appeals.

The essential facts are as follows: Complainant, prior to September 7, 1899, had located a water right on the Payette river in Idaho, whereby he appropriated a quantity of water for power and irrigation purposes, and had commenced proceedings to secure title to a right of way for á reservoir site in connection with his water appropriation. Complainant then met one Willard White, whom he heard was representing capital and could be of service to him. The two looked over the ground. In order to utilize a reservoir site, it was necessary to ac[387] quire certain land on which was situated a good dam site, the general purpose in view being the utilization of water for generating power. With a view to raising funds wherewith to carry out their plans, complainant and Willard White, upon September 7, 1899, entered into the following contract:

“This agreement witnesseth: Whereas, W. G. Whitney and Willard White having acquired a dam, a log storage and power site on the Payette river, at a point called the Black Kock Canyon about six miles above the town of Emmett in Canyon county, Idaho; and
“Whereas, it is proposed to secure sufficient funds with which to erect a dam at said site, about 30 feet in height, with a view of creating a large water power to be used in sawing lumber, elevating water upon both sides of the Payette river for the purpose of irrigation, and for generating electric power to be utilized for railway and such other purposes as may be found feasible.
“Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises, each of the parties hereto agrees to give his best efforts to the immediate accomplishment of the above-mentioned project, and does agree that the parties hereto are to own an equal interest in such undertaking, share and share alike.
“It is further agreed that in the event the said White shall fail to raise sufficient funds to construct said dam or fail to make such progress as shall be satisfactory to said Whitney within one year from the date hereof, the said White agrees to assign all his right, title, and interest in the same to said Whitney.
“Witness our hands and seals this 7th day of September, 1899.
“W. Grant Whitney,
“Willard White.’’

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Whitney v. Dewey, 158 F. 385, 86 C.C.A. 21, 1907 U.S. App. LEXIS 3997 (9th Cir. 1907).

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