942
FEDERAL REPORTElh
vol. 59.
Wall.6Q3. · In the case above cited the chief justice said, as to such petitiQn, that: "Wbenthe court does not, of Its own motIon, order a rehearIng, it wlll be proper for .counsel to submIt, wIthout argument, as has been done In the present ID,stancEl, a brIef. written or prInted petition or suggestion of the poInt or polrltil, thought Important. If, upon such suggestion, any judge who concurred in the decision thinks proper to move for a rehearing, the motion will be considered. If not so moved. the rehearIng will be denied as of course."
That practice has been followed in the present case. The points upon which counsel have)!lUggested a reargument have been considered. In view of the fact that each point was fully presented, both in oral and printed arguments, we are ()f opinion that no benefit would result from further argument. Petition dismissed. . WENHAM v. SWITZER. (CIrcuit !Oourt of Appeals, Ninth CircuIt. No. 96. 1. SPECIFIC PEltFOIUfANCE-OONTRACTS ENFOltCEABT,E-ACCEPTANCE OF OFFER.
January 15, 1894.)
Defendant, owning a hal,f Interest in a .lode mining claim, wrote plaintiff that the other balf was for sale, but that It could not be bought for less than a certaIn sum, and that, If plaIntiff wIshed to buy, he had better send defendant such sum. Plaintiff, in answer, sent part of the amount, and gave defendant authority tn telegraph for the balance. Defendant paId more than the lIIDount named, purchasing in his own name. Held, that the. col,'respondence created no contract, agency, or trust, bInding on the parties, enforceable in equity. 51 Fed. 351, affirmed.
2.
SAME-DILIGENCE OF PLAINTIFF.
After defendant had purchased, he wrote plaintiff, offering to convey a balf interest in the claim for a certaIn sum, on plaintiff's sending enough money to amount, with hIs deposit on hand. to such sum. Plaintiff did not answer for 10 months, and then did not send the amount named. Held, that there was no contract enforceable In equity. 51 Fed. 351. affirmed. .
Appeal from the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Montana. In Equity. Suit by A. A. Wenham against William S. Switzer to compel specific performance of a contract. Bill dismissed. 51 Fed. 351. Plaintiff appeals. Affirmed. zen of Oleveland, OhIo, and respondent, SWitzer, who Is a resident and citizen of Butte, ?dQnt., In Aprll, 1888, entered into a contract to purchase the BUrner lode mining claIm, situate in Summit Valley mining. district, Silver Bow county, Mont,; 'that respondent had the sole management of the negotIations for the purehase of the property, and 'agreed to purchase the same for tbe joInt penefit of appellant and respondent each to have an undivided half interest therein; that, at the time the agree,ment was made, It was not known for what prIce the property could· be 'obtalned; that appellant advanced and pajd to respondent, on account lof said purchase, the sum of $500, which was to be applied for the purchase; that afterwards, in the month of May, 1888, appellant represented .to ,respolldent that the property
It is alleged In the blll that appellant, Wenham, who Is a resident and citi-
ThIs is a suit in equity to compel the specIfic performance of a contract.
WENHAM
SWITZER.
943
could be bought for $3,000, and that appellant paid respondent the further Sum of $1,000 for the purchase of the property; that 'in June, ]888, the respondent purchased the property, and represented to appellant that he had paid $4,000 therefor, and that there was a balance due from appellant of $500; that respondent purchased the property, and took a deed therefor in his own name; that appellant, prior to bringing this suit, tendered to reo spondent the further sum of $500, with interest, and requested and demanded a deed for the undivided one-half interest of said property, which respondent refused to make, Respondent, in his answer, admits that he received the $500 and the $1,000, but denies that he received the same on account of the purchase of the Burner lode, or that he used the same in making that purchase. The other essential averments of the blll as to the agreement to purchase the property for the joint benefit of the parties are denied in the answer, The evidence relied npon to support the averments of the bill consists of extracts taken from general letters, written at various times by the respective parties, principally relating. to the condition of certain mining properties in which both parties had an Respondent, on the 20th day of October, 1887, being then the owner of an undivided one-half interest in the Burner lode. wrote a letter to appellant, wherein he referred to this property as follows: "Mr. Wenham: If you have a friend who desires one-half of a good claim lying alongoside of the Alta lode, which I think can be got for fiftf>en hundred dollars, I wish you would, let me know. Some time ago I bought one·half of it, It cost him about two thousand dollars, He is not a miner. * * * It slopes north to our south line of the Alta, while our ground slopes south; so sloping together. It's cheap, I think. Two large veins run lengthwise through it east and west,-same course as ours. And please let me know. From now untll spring is the time to pick up property cheap. If you think a sale can be effected, I will send you a copy or a plat of it, as it lays adjoining our grounds, -the Alta lode claim. Then anyone can come out. Or I w1ll get a deed of it in the bank, and the exchange can be made either way; and I will get it cheap, as any price can be had for it." Appellant answered this letter, making inquiries as to the property. March 7, 1888, respondent wrote to appellant: "I think you will do well to secure the interest I spoke of joining the Alta claim." In reply to this letter, appellant, on March 15th, wrote to respondent: "Now, about the claim adjoining the Alta, I want to go in with you. Could the interest be bought for one thousand dollars?" On April 5th appellant wrote as follows: "How about the claim adjoining the Alta claJm? Can you secure the % you spoke of? Let me hear from you as soon as practicable." On April 13th respondent wrote to comt;llainant in reply, as follows: "In relation to the interest nearest the Alta, it can't be had for less than about fifteen hundred dollars, if it can be bought at any price; but I shall know in about twenty days, and I will write you as soon as I can get to know what I can let you have it for. He may get excited, and ask more. * * * One thing more: If you conclude to take the interest, you had better send fifteen hundred dollars to the First National Bank of Butte, as, if you wait, it may slip into other hands. I am good for all you send me." On April 23d, appellant replied: "Yours of the 13th at hand, nnd contents noted. According to your wishes, I Inclose you five hundred dollars payable to your order. * * * Now, if you go quietly to work, and not let the party who wants to sell get excited, when he agrees to sell, give him the five hundred dollars to bind the bargain, and you can telegraph me for the other one thousand dollars, which I will send immediately on receipt of notice, and, If you can't buy all of bls interest, buy half of it. * * * In regard to the claim next to the Alta. please keep it confidential untn something is done; and, by the way, what Is the name of the cla1m? * * * P. S. If you did not want to use the money Immediately, you could make a special deposit in the bank till you needed it." On April 28th "espondent replied: "Yours of the 23d, '88, is received, with one check of live hundred dollars on the First National Bank Ohio. The mining lode claim is known as the Ontario or Burner lode mining claim. Soon as I can hear from the party, the matter
944
. FEDERAL REPORTER,
voL 59.
will be cpncluded, . The money Is In bank." On .Tune 4th appellant wrote respondeQt:, "Mr·. C. C. Frost * * * wants five hundred dollars. * * · Now, frilfud Switzer, Ir you think Mr. FrO$t can give a good deed as security, and you and sare to loan him the money, you can him the five hundfed dollars I have In your care, and I will send you more to take its place." This money was not loaned to Frost. On Jun!3 5th, respondent wrote appellant: "In relation to the Burner mining property, I b,ave got it all and paid for It, and surveyed It for patent, but am doing one hundred dollars' worth of work, so as to have oyer six hundred dol,lars'YI(orth of work, which will be a necessary improvement. I am sure of tWQ veins on the ground. But it C06t more than fifteen hundred dollars; it ,cost,JJ].e about four thousand dollars, all told; but I was determined to have it. if it cost more. It will pay to hold when patented. Property Is rising i:n Park canyon. Under the circumstances, I had to take a deed in my own:name, and of course..had to pay for it on delivery of the deed, and came' near losing .it at that. Others would have taken it at higher figures. Now, friElJildA. A. Wenham, send me fifteen hundred dollars, and I will make you a deed of one undivided one-half of the entire Burner property, free of all work excepting the one hundred which I am now doing, which work will be over six hundred dollars,-sufficitmt to get the patent. Then you will have to stand one-half the expenses of the patent, which only is the regular price in this district IlJI.d territory. As I have received five hundred dollars of you, so the balance, fifteen hundred dollars, will make the purchase money of your part· two thousand dollars. I will [write] you more in detl1Unext letter." Appellant testified upon the trial that he answered this .letter, asking Mr. Switzer for full description and plat and other particulars. No such letter was produced, and respondent testified that he hadnevE-'17 received any such letter. Respondent testified that, after his letter of June 5th, he wrote to Mr. Wenham "that this money must be paid within ,thirty days." Appellant testified that he never received the letter. The next letter that appears in .evidence Is written April 6, 1889, by appellant to respOndent,-10 months. after the letter of June 5, 1888,-and reads as follows:' "Not having heard from you since some time last April or May, I have felt as though you had rather neglected my last letter, written to you some tim,e JI) the early part of June last. H()wever, as you are the senior, I accept· tb.esituation. I inclose check on N. Y. for one thousand· dollars. Please me know how much you figured to be the balance. You now have fifteen hundred dollars In total from me. I have thought it quite strange that I had not heard from you. However, I suppose you would write when you were ready; bUt, as it was a matter of business, I thought it my duty to write to you now, as time was drawing close." On May 20, 1889, appellant wrote as follows: "On Apr. 6th I sent you by letter one thousand dollars, to apply on my half of the Burner lode claim, together with the five hundred dollars I advanced you some time ago. Please let me know if you received the draft all right, and the amount due you still, and I will remit you so you can mall mt> deed of same. Please let.me hear soon as possible, so I may know that the draft arrived safely." On. May ,30, 1889, respondent wrote to appellant: "Your note of April 6, '89, containing one check of one thousR,nd, which I deposited in the First National Bank ,for safe-keeping untl!you call for it; also your five hundred check is in bank subject to your order. .Now, the best investment I can make with the mOlley for you is in the Monitor property, which I think will be safe. By your request, and :Mr. C. W. Pomeroy's request, I will ll)ake you a deed for hundred shares of the M;onitor, shares at one dollar per share. I can't make you any deed to or in the Burner ground." Upon this evidence the circuit court dismissed the bill, and entered judgment in favor of respondent for his C06ts.
R. r". Word and Rober,tB. Smith, for appellant. Aaron H. Nelson, for appellee. Before and Circuit Judges, and HAWLEY, District Judge.
WENHAM V. SWITZER.
945
lHAWLEY, District Judge, (after stating the facts.) It will readily be G'een from the facts that the proofs made do not correspond with the allegations of the bill to the effect that respondent agreed to purchase the Burner lode for the joint benefit of the parties. Respondent was the owner of an undivided one-half interest of the Burner lode claim at the time of the commencement of the correspondence between the parties in relation thereto, and the negotiations had reference only to the purchase of the other undivided one-half interest. But, notwithstanding this variance between the pleadings and the proofs, we shall consider the case upon its merits. What was the contract, if any was made, between the parties? Are any facts shown that entitle appellant to a decree? The voluntary offer or suggestion of respondent, which constitutes the basis or origin of any agreement between the parties, is contained· in the first letter, informing appellant that respondent knew of an interest in a mine (not naming it) which he thought could be bougltt for $1,500, and wanted to know if appellant knew of any friend that would .like to buy it. Subsequently, in :March, respondent suggests that appellant would do well to secure the interest mentioned in the former letter. Appellant replied, expressing a desire to obtain the interest, and wished to know if it could be bought for $1,000. Then comes the reply that the interest could not be had for less than $1,500, if it could be bought for any price, with the suggestion that, if appellant should conclude to take the interest, he. had better send $1,500, because, if delay was made, the interest might slip into other hands. Instead of sending this amount of money, appellant sent a draft for $500, and suggested to respondent that he should give the owner, when he agreed to sell, the $500 to bind the bargain, and then telegraph for the other $1,000; and upon the receipt of this letter the respondent said that, as soon as the party could be heard from, the matter would be concluded. This, in substance, was the extent of the negotiations prior to the time respondent purchased the property. There was no contract created by any or all of the letters up to this time. The minds of the parties had never met upon any mutual understanding as to the price which was to be paid for the undivided onehalf interest in the Burner lode. The respondent had stated that it could not be bought for less than $1,500, but he never stated that it could be bought for that sum. Respondent had never agreed to advance any money to appellant in making the purchase. On the other hand, he informed appellant that, if he wished to buy, he had better send $1,500. This suggestion was answered by sending only $500, with authority for respondent to telegraph for $1,000 more, and, if he could not buy the interest for that, to buy half of it, without stating what sum should be given for the half. If, up to this time, any contract could be inferred, it would only be to purchase the undivided one-half interest in the Burner lode for $1,500. Appellant had never authorized the respondent to pay any more. The minds of the parties had never mutually come together v.59F.no.9-60
946
FEDERAL REPORTER,
on any otllerpropositioriJ The parties had never assented to the same thing, in the same. sense, in any other way or manner. . If respondeJlt paid more than $1,500 for the interest, he could not, under any agreement or contract then existing between the parties, have compelled appellant to pay more than $1,500, and it would have been optional upon the part of appellant to take the interest, or refuse to take it, if any greater sum ·had been paid. Respondenthadriever agreed to·advance any money to make the purchase. He had $500 of appellant's money that could be applied for the purchase of the interest, and he was only authorized to telegraph for $1,000 more. If he paid more, the purchase would be on his own account. Unless both parties were bound by the contract, it could not be enforced in a court of equity. "To entitle a party to specific performance, there must not only be a "'mid and binding agreement, but, as a rule, the contract, at the time it was entered into, must have been capable of being enforced by either of the parties against the other."Wat. Spec. Perf; COnt. § 196; Bish. Cont. § 78. There was no contract, agency, or trust created by the acts or conduct of the parties prior to the purchase which would bind both parties, unless the purchase was made for $1,500. Is it not equally clear there was no binding contract made between· the' parties after the purchase' of the interest by the respondent? The letter of respondent of June 5, 1888, contains the first and 'only direct offer that was made. This letter is clear, plain, positive, and certain in all of its proposals, terms, and conditions. It is open, frank, and friendly. There is nothing ambiguous, equivabout it. It is easily understood, and it called for ocal, or a direct and positive answer. It was a Yoluntary offer on the part of respondent to convey to appellant an undivided one-half interest in the Burner lode for the sum of $2,000, with a statement of about what the other expenses in doing necessary work and procuring a patent would be. Respondent had in his hands $500 of appellant's money. This letter gave to appellant an option to purchase the interest by accepting respondent's offer, and sending $1,500 to complet@ his part of the purchase money. "Now, friend Wenham, send me fifteen hundred dollars, and I will make you a deed of one undivided half of the entire Burner property." This was the offer that was made. In order to avail himself of this offer, the law, in .the absence of any specified agreement as to time, would require appellant to send the money within a reasonable time. This was not done. There could be no acceptance of the offer without sending the $1,500. ThhJ was the consideration upon which the offer was made. The offer was made by letter sent by mail. It was duly received by appellant. No answer was made to it for a period of 10. months, and then the offer was not directly accepted, and the eonditionsof'the offer were not complied with. The letters of the appellant written on the 6th of April and 20th of :May, 1889, ignore any reference to the offer that was made by respondent in his letter of June 5, 1888. The language of these let-
947
ters, in the light of the previous correspondence of the parties, is very remarkable, equivocal, ambiguous, and uncertain. "Not having heard from you since some time last April or May." This was certainly a mistake, for appellant admitted upon the trial that he had received respondent's letter of June 5th. "I have felt as though you had neglected my last letter, written some time in the early part of June last." What letter? Was it the one about loaning the $500 belonging to appellant, in the hands of respondent, to C. C. Frost? Or is it the one which appellant testified as having written in reply to respondent's letter of June 5th, asking for plats and specifications? Then appellant inclosed a check for $1,000, and said: "Please let me know how much you figured the balance to be." Did not appellant know just how much money was required to be sent, if he accepted respondent's offer, to obtain the deed for an undivided one-half interest in the Burner lode? There is no statement even that he accepted the offer or asked for further time to pay the money. There is no pretense that respondent, for or without a consideration, ever promised or agreed to extend the time for the payment of the money. There is no claim that respondent made any misrepresentation, or that he was guilty of any fraud in the premises. The evidence fails, in every essential particular, to support the allegations of the bill. No case is made out that would justify a court of equity to compel-respondent to execute the deed as prayed for. The rule is fundamental that a party seeking the remedy of specific performance must show himself to have been "ready, desirous, prompt, and eager" to comply with the contract on his part. 3 Pom. Eq. Jur. § 1408, and authorities there cited; Penn v. Me· Cullough, (Md.) 24 Atl. 424. If appellant was ready, anxious, and desirous of availing himself of the voluntary offer of respondent, he should have been eager and prompt to perform his part by sending the money-$1,50o-upon the receipt of respondent's letter. In Mix v. Balduc, 78 Ill. 215, the court heM that, where the purchaser of land delays offering payment of the purchase money for five months after the stipulated time for payment, without any excuse therefor, his right to call for a specific performance will be thereby precluded, unless the stipulated time for payment has been waived. Specific performance of a contract is not a matter of absolute right, but rests entirely in sound judicial discretion, to be exercised according to the settled principles of equity with reference to the facts of each particular case. The facts in this case fail to show any consideration for the contract. Appellant was lacking in the exercise of good faith, and did not comply with the offer made to him with reasonable diligence. There is no clear and satisfactory evidence of any such acceptance or compliance with the terms of respondent's voluntary offer, or of the existence of any agency, trust, or contract between the parties, as would justify a court of equity in granting a decree of specific performance. Colson v. Thompson, 2 Wheat. 336; Purcell v. Miner, 4 Wall. 513,519; Williams v. Morris, 95 U. S. 456;1 Hennessey v. Woolworth, 128 U. S. 438,9 Sup. Ct. 109; Walcott v. Watson, 53 Fed. 429; Evans v. Lee, 12 Nev.
948
FEDERAL REl'ORTJll:R,
399;A.gard<v. Cal. SOl; v. 553, 12 Pac. 451; Strange v. Crowley, 91' Mo. 287, 2 S. W. 421;, Durant v: Qomegye, (Idaho,) 28 Pac. 1 Chit, Cont. 11; Bish.Cont. § 327; ISwry, Eq. 764, 767; Wat. Spec. Perf. §§ 135, 138, 186, 196; 8Pom. Eq. Jur. § 1405; 5 Lawson, Rights, Rem. & Pro § 2607. The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed, with costs.
LO:t'l'G
v. MAXWELL. No. 49.
(Circuit Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. February 7, 1894.) , I
1.
A decree for specific performance, concluding all the rights of the parties, is a final decree, notwithstanding tbat a conveyance which it directs to be made is to be afterwards presented to the judges :flor their approval \ts form and terms. On appelLl. f,t:om a decretal order which, In effect, merely directs the execution . . ota former final decree, wbich bas been temporarily suspended on motion of the losing party, the court cannot consider alleged errors relating. to matters embraced in the original decree, from which no appeal has been taken. ORDER.
DECREE.
Appear from the Circuit Court of the United States for the Western District of North Carolina. Bill for specific performance by W. D. Maxwell againet Noah Long. Complainant obtained a decree, whereupon the defendant, Long, appealed. This was a bill· filed by W. D. Maxwell against Noah Long, In the clrcutt court of the United States for the western district of North Carolina, for the specific performance of the following contract: "State of North Carolina, Alleghany County. "Know all men by these presents, that I, Noah Long, of the county of Grayson and state of Virginia, am held and firmly bound unto W. D. Maxwell, of the comity of Alleghany and state of North Carolina, in the sum of twenty thousand dollars, lawful money of the United States, to be paid to the said W. D. Maxwell, his. executors and administrators or legal representatives, for which payment, well and truly to be made, I bind myself, my heirs, executors, and administrators, and every of them, firmly by these presents. Sealed with my seal, and dated this 10th day of February, 1873. ''The conditions of this obligation is such that whereas I, the said Long, hold a bond against the said Maxwell for the sum of five thousand dollars, dated the 4th of January, 1865, and also a deed from the sheriff of Alleghany county for the lands upon which the. said Maxwell and his mother now liveJp dated the 12th day of August, 1870, sold to satisfy some executions, as wilr more fully appear by reference to said deed. Now, I, the said Lo1l.g, do agree to reconvey to the said Maxwell or his legal representatives, when caned upon so to do, all the lands mentioned in said deed, and all the minerals in said lands, except one-twelfth of said minerals, instead of onefifteenth, as was the former agreelnent, upon the following conditions, to wit: That I, the said Long, am to have the above-mentioned mineral interest, to wit, op.e-twelfth, and also the debts for the land sold to C. H. Doughton for his son, ;I. A. Doughton, and the debt from D. C. Jones, upon a compromise in the Austin lands suit. all of which minel!al interest and debts I am to have In consideration for the reconveyance of the said lands and