Case Name: WILLIAM GAMMON, Appellant, v. MARY E. BUNNELL, as Administratrix of the Estate of Thomas Gammon and Elizabeth Gammon, deceased, and MARY E. BUNNELL and MARTHA ANN GAMMON ROBERTS, heirs at law of and to the Estate aforesaid, Respondents
Court: Utah Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Utah
Decision Date: 1900-11-24
Citations: 22 Utah 421
Docket Number: 
Parties: WILLIAM GAMMON, Appellant, v. MARY E. BUNNELL, as Administratrix of the Estate of Thomas Gammon and Elizabeth Gammon, deceased, and MARY E. BUNNELL and MARTHA ANN GAMMON ROBERTS, heirs at law of and to the Estate aforesaid, Respondents.
Judges: Bartch, C. J. and BaskiN, J. concur.
Reporter: Utah Reports
Volume: 22
Pages: 421–431

Head Matter:
WILLIAM GAMMON, Appellant, v. MARY E. BUNNELL, as Administratrix of the Estate of Thomas Gammon and Elizabeth Gammon, deceased, and MARY E. BUNNELL and MARTHA ANN GAMMON ROBERTS, heirs at law of and to the Estate aforesaid, Respondents.
Pleading — Complaint — Contract — Action for Specific Performance — Sufficient Allegations — Contract Escrow Agreement — How Enforced — Sec. 3935, R. S. 1898 —Time of Performance — Not Fixed in'Contract — Reasonable Time— Default — Demand. Deed in Escrow — Delivery—Fulfillment of Condition — Demurrer—Withdrawal of — Cannot be Compelled — Admissions — Election to Stand on Demurrer — Equivalent to What — Power of Supreme Court — Under Sec. 655, R. S. 1898 — Entry of Judgment — Practice.
Pleading — Complaint—Contract—Action for Specific Performance— Sufficient Allegations.
A complaint, in an action for specific performance, which alleges a legal contract; part payment óf the consideration; the placing of the title papers in escrow; the tender of the balance of the consideration and its refusal; the hostile attitude of the one receiving the money tendered and the possession of the lands by plaintiff since the date of the original contract, states a cause of action. .
Contract — Escrow Agreement — How Enforced — Sec. 3935, B. S. 1898.
The depositary of an escrow is the agent of both parties and an escrow contract is not revocable at the will of either party or their representatives, but may be enforced under the provisions of Sec. 3985, R. S. 1898.
Time of Performance — Not fixed in Contract — Seasonable time — Default — Demand.
Where no date is fixed for the performance of the contract a reasonable time is intended, and no default can attach until after a demand and failure or refusal to perform.
Deed in Escrow — Delivery—Fulfillment of Condition.
The delivery of a deed in escrow renders it absolute when the condition upon which it was made is fulfilled, and the deed takes effect from the date of the first delivery.
ON REHEARING.
Demurrer — Withdrawal of — Cannot be Compelled — Admissions.
The withdrawal of a demurrer cannot be oompelled by the court, and while it remains it is an’ admission of the facts alleged in the complaint demurred to.
Election to Stand on Demurrer — Equivalent to What.
The election to stand upon a demurrer is equivalent to a refusal to plead over, and to abide by the final result, even to judgment.
Power of Supreme Court Under See. 655 JR. S. 1898 — Judgment— Practice.
Under Sec. 655 R. 8. 1898, when a demurrer interposed to the complaint in the court below is overruled, and the plaintiff elects to stand upon his complaint, and the defendant elects to stand upon his demurrer without filing an answer, and judgment is entered for the defendant with execution, on appeal to this court, the facts being admitted, and it appearing that no request was made to file an answer in case the demurrer was overruled, or to withdraw the demurrer. Held, that this court has power to order judgment entered for the plaintiff on the demurrer in the court below.
( Decided Nov. 24, 1900.)
(Rehearing denied and judgment modified Dec. 15, 1900.)
Appeal from the Fourth District Court Utah County. Hon. J. E. Booth, Judge.
Action by plaintiff to compel specific performance of a contract in relation to real estate entered into by defendant’s decedent. A demurrer was interposed in the lower court upon the ground that the complaint did not state facts' sufficient to constitute a cause of action. Said demurrer was sustained and plaintiff electing to rely upon his complaint judgment of dismissal was entered and plaintiff appealed.
Reversed.
M. M. Warner, Esq., and Chas. DeMoisy, for appellant.
We contend that the' depositary of an escrow is the agent of both parties, and the contract when so made and deposited is not revocable at the mere will of either of such parties, nor will the death of either party abrogate the contract of deposit, and where no specific or definite time is fixed for the performance of any act, no default attaches until demand is made, and a refusal or failure to perform, follows. We cite the court to the following authorities to sustain plaintiff’s right' and the sufficiency of the complaint: Yol. 1, Devlin on Deeds, Sec’s 338-9 and 330 and notes; 13 John N. Y. 385; 6 Wendall N. Y. 6&6; 3 Mass. 554; 9 Mass. 301-10; 3 Am. Dec. 66; 63 Cal. 496; 48 Pac. 563.
As to demand necessary to default, see Yol. 3. Warner on Yendors, p. 774-75.
M. M. Kellogg, Esq., for respondents.
' STATEMENT- OE FACTS.
The plaintiff in his complaint alleges, in substance:
1. That Thomas Gammon died on the 37th day of July, 1897, and that Elizabeth Gammon died on the 33d day'of February, 1899.
3. That in consideration of the payment by plaintiff to Thomas Gammon and Elizabeth Gammon of one dollar, they made, executed and delivered in escrow, for the benefit of plaintiff the written instrument set forth in the complaint, which said instrument was intended by all parties thereto to be a warranty deed fully sufficient to convey title to plaintiff of all the land described therein.
3. That the deed was duly acknowledged, but by inad-vertance and mistake the officer before whom it was acknowledged neglected to attach his official seal and signature to the certificate of acknowledgment of said instrument.
4. That the further consideration for the said land was the payment by plaintiff to one Martha Ann Gammon Roberts, of Independence, Missouri, of the sum of $300, gold coin, which should become payable after the death of the grantors, and that said payment should be evidenced by a receipt signed by the said Martha Ann Gammon Roberts, which receipt should entitle plaintiff to the said intended warranty deed aforesaid.
5. That while said deed was still in escrow, an offer, by letter, was made to pay said Martha Ann Gammon Roberts the said sum of $300, and a refusal, by letter, to either accept or receipt for the same by her, or to accept less than seven acres of land covered by the deed. It is further alleged that while the petition for the appointment of an administratrix of the estate of the grantors was pending in the probate court plaintiff filed a petition in said court praying a specific performance of the contract, and that said court dismissed said petition, without prejudice, under the provision of Secs. 3935-6-7-8 Rev. Stat. Utah, 1898.
6. Plaintiff further alleges that he has deposited with the clerk of the district court, and placed in the hands of the court for the use of said Martha Ann Gammon Roberts, the sum of $301 U. S. gold coin, as a tender for the balance of the purchase money of said land.
7. A full and complete compliance by the plaintiff of all of the conditions on Bis part to be performed to fulfill the terms of said contract of purchase is alleged.
8. It is alleged that at the date of making said purchase to-wit: April 22d, 1894, and by virtue of said contract of purchase, the plaintiff went into possession of all of said land, and has ever since exclusively possessed the same, and has paid all of the taxes thereon ever since.
9. It is further alleged that the defendants are claiming to own some interest in and to the premises adversely to plaintiff, and that they will, unless restrained, put a cloud upon plaintiff’s title.
10. The complaint further alleges jurisdiction, and prays for specific and general relief, and also alleges that said deed was placed in an envelope and delivered to one Joe E. Daniels in escrow, and on the outside of said envelope was written and signed by said parties, the following contract:
“Whereas, the undersigned, Thomas Gammon, is desirous of providing out of his estate, which consists of the lands described in the within deed, the payment of $300 United States gold coin, to one Martha Ann Gammon Roberts, now of the State of Missouri, (Independence);
“ Now, therefore, the within warranty deed is placed in escrow with Joe E. Daniels, to be by him held till the grantee, William Gammon, shall exhibit and deliver to him á receipt payable, signed and witnessed by the said Martha Ann Gammon Roberts, acknowledging receipt in full of said, $300, and upon receipt of such proof of such payment of said sum of money, the within deed shall be delivered without further question to said William Gammon. (Signed) Thomas Gammon,
“William Gammon.”
To this complaint the defendants interposed a demurrer on the ground that it did not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. This demurrer was sustained. The plaintiff elected to stand' on his complaint and the defendants upon their demurrer. Thereupon the complaint was dismissed-, and a judgment for costs rendered against the plaintiff. From this judgment plaintiff appeals.

Opinion:
After stating the facts,
Miner, J.,
delivered the opinion - of the court.
The only question for determination in this case is whether the complaint states a cause of action.
Sec. 3935 R. S. 1898, provides that: "When a person who is bound by contract in writing to convey any real estate, dies before making the conveyance, and in all cases when such decedent, if living, might be compelled to make such conveyance, the court may make a decree authorizing and directing his executor or administrator to convey such real estate to the person entitled thereto."
It appears that a legal contract was made to convey the land in question to the plaintiff, and that a part of the consideration was paid, and that the balance thereof was to be paid, after the death of the grantors, to Martha Ann Gammon Roberts, when she should acknowledge the receipt in full of the $300. When this was done the deed was to be delivered to the plaintiff. Plaintiff at the time entered into possession of the land, and has ever since remained in such possession. After the death of the grantors the money was offered to Martha Ann Gammon Roberts, and by letter she refused to receive the $300, or to sign or deliver a receipt therefor, and demanded in lieu thereof 7 acres of land covered by the deed.
This offer to pay the amount due, and a refusal to accept the same or receipt therefor, coupled with her alleged hos tile acts in seeking to take possession of the property covered by the deed, and her refusal to accept the tender of $301 paid into court, must be treated as a refusal on her .part to acknowledge any right in the plaintiff under or by virtue of said deed, and a refusal to accept the offer made.
The depositary of an escrow is the agent of both parties, . and a contract so made and deposited is not revocable at the will of either party or their representatives, but may be enforced under the provisions of Sec. 3935 R. S. If no date is fixed for the delivery or performance of the contract a reasonable time is intended and'ho default can attach until after a demand and failure or refusal to perform. 2 Warvelle on Vendors, p. 774.
The delivery of this deed in escrow rendered it absolute when the condition upon which it was made was fulfilled. The evident intention of the parties was that if within a reasonable time after the death of the grantors the plaintiff should pay to Martha Ann, Gammon Roberts $300, evidenced by her receipt, then the deed was to be delivered' to the plaintiff. One dollar of this contideration was acknowledged paid, and the plaintiff went into immediate possession of the premises. The object of the delivery in escrow was to secure the payment of the price to Mrs. Roberts. When that was paid, or offered to be paid, and refused, the plaintiff had a right to the deed. The purpose of the escrow having been accomplished the plaintiff held the deed in the same manner he would have held it if it had been delivered to him in the first instance. The intention was that it should be the deed of the grantee when the condition was complied with, and when complied with it would take effect from its first delivery. 1 Devlin on Deeds, Secs. 328, 329; Price v. Pittsburgh R. R., 34 Ill. 33; Bostwick v. McEvoy, 62 Cal. 496; Rug-' gles v. Lawson, 13 John 285; Davis v. Clark, 48 Pac. 563; Wheelwright v. Wheehwright, 3 Am. Dec. 66.
In onr judgment the complaint states a cause of action, that would entitle the plaintiff to recover. In the court below the plaintiff elected to stand upon his complaint and refused'to plead further, and the defendants elected to stand upon their demurrer. As the facts are not in dispute it would seem unnecessary to send the case back for a new trial.
The judgment of the district court is reversed, with costs, and the. case is remanded with directions to said court to enter judgment in favor of plaintiff ás prayed for in the complaint.
Bartch, C. J. and BaskiN, J. concur.