Source: https://chestofbooks.com/business/law/Handbook-Law-Of-Contracts/Possibility-Of-Performance.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 21:10:23+00:00

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If, upon a reasonable construction of the contract, it appears to have been understood by the parties that it was not to be performed within the year, it is within the statute.79 In order that an agreement may fall within this clause of the statute, however, the parties must contemplate that it shall not be performed within a year. The mere fact that it may not be, or is not, performed within the year, does not bring it within the statute. It must appear, it has been said, that "it is to be performed after the year."80 Further than this, the agreement must be impossible of completion within a year. If, by any possibility, it is capable of being completed within a year, it is not within the statute, though the parties may intend, and though it is probable, that it will extend over a longer period, and though it does in fact so extend.
75 See Mumford v. Whitney, 15 Wend. (N. T.) 3S0, 30 Am. Dec. 60. In the case cited the authorities are collected and discussed at length. See, also, Whitmarsh v. Walker, 1 Mete. (Mass.) 313; Johnson v. Wilkinson, 139 Mass. 3, 29 N. E. 62, 52 Am. Rep. 698; Tayler v. Waters, 7 Taunt. 374; Hayes v. Fine, 91 Cal. 391, 27 Pac. 772; Clanton v. Scruggs, 95 Ala. 279, 10 South. 757. Easement in portion of the water from a ditch. Dorris v. Sullivan, 90 Cal. 279, 27 Pac. 216. Agreement between railroads for joint use of the right of way of one not within the statute. Alabama G. S. R. Co. v. Railroad Co., 84 Ala. 570, 3 South. 286, 5 Am. St. Rep. 401. Nor is an agreement between telegraph companies for the use by one of the other's poles. Farnsworth v. Telegraph Co., 53 Hun, 636, 6 N. Y. Supp. 735. A right to drain water over another's land is said to be an interest in land. Deyo v. Ferris, 22 111. App. 154; Id., 24 111. App. 416. See "Frauds, Statute of" Dec. Dig. (Key-No.) §§ 60, 61; Cent. Dig. §§ 83-96.
76 Bonclli v. Blakemore, 66 Miss. 136, 5 South. 228, 14 Am. St. Rep. 550. See "Frauds, Statute of," Dec. Dig. (Key-No.) §§ 60, 61; Cent. Dig. §§ 83-06.
79 White v. Fitts, 102 Me. 240, 66 Atl. 533, 15 L. R. A. (N. S.) 313, 120 Am. St. Rep. 483. See "Frauds, Statute of," Dec. Dig. (Key-No.) § 1,6; Cent. Dig. ft 72.
80 Peter v. Compton, 1 Smith, Lead. Cas. 335; DOYLE v. DIXON, 97 Mass. 208, 93 Am. Dec. 80, Throckmorton Cas. Contracts, 72; Warner v. Railway Co., 164 U. S. 418, 17 Sup. Ct. 147, 41 L. Ed. 495; Bullock v. Turnpike Co., 85 Ky. 184, 3 S. W. 129; Worley v. Sipe, 111 Ind. 238, 12 N. E. 385; Jones v. Pouch, 41 Ohio St. 146; Raynor v. Drew, 72 Cal. 307, 13 Pac. 866; Sarles v. Sharlow, 5 Dak. 100, 37 N. W. 748; Warren Chemical & Mfg. Co. v. Hol-brook, 118 N. Y. 586, 23 N. E. 908, 10 Am. St. Rep. 788; Durham v. Hiatt, 127 Ind. 514, 26 N. E. 401; Sweet v. Lumber Co., 56 Ark. 629, 20 S. W. 514; Niagara Fire Ins. Co. v. Greene, 77 Ind. 590; Cole v. Singerly, 60 Md. 348; MacElree v. Wolfersberger, 59 Kan. 105, 52 Pac. 69; Richmond Union Pass. R. v. Railroad Co., 96 Va. 670, 32 S. E. 787. See "Frauds, Statute of," Dec. Dig. (Key-No.) §§ 1,9, 50, 52; Cent. Dig. §§ 74-79.
81 Kent v. Kent, 62 N. Y. 560, 20 Am. Rep. 502; Jilson v. Gilbert, 26 Wis. 637, 7 Am. Rep. 100; Updike v. Ten Broeck, 32 N. J. Law, 105; Anonymous, 1 Salk. 280; Blake v. Cole, 22 Pick. (Mass.) 97; McPherson v. Cox, 96 U. S. 404, 24 L. Ed. 746; Cole v. Singerly, 60 Md. 348; Thomas v. Armstrong, 86 Va. 323, 10 S. E. 6, 5 L. R. A. 520; Bartlett v. Mystic River Corp., 151 Mass. 433, 24 N. E. 780; Clark v. Pendleton, 20 Conn. 495. A promise by a man to marry when he recovers his health, McConahey v. Griffey, 82 Iowa, 564, 48 N. W. 983; or when he returns from a voyage from which he may or may not return within a year, Clark v. Pendleton, 20 Conn. 495 - is not within the statute. See "Frauds, Statute of," Dec. Dig. (Key-No.) § 50; Cent. Dig. §§ 75-77.

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