Case Name: STRONG v. WATERS
Court: New York Supreme Court, General Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1894-07-14
Citations: 30 N.Y.S. 64
Docket Number: 
Parties: STRONG v. WATERS.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 30
Pages: 64–65

Head Matter:
(80 Hun, 73.)
STRONG v. WATERS.
(Supreme Court, General Term, Third Department.
July 14, 1894.)
Evidence—Parol to Vary Writing.
Parol evidence is not admissible to vary a written contract where it was not offered to prove mutual mistake or fraud.
Appeal from judgment on report of referee.
Action by Barzell M. Strong against Cyrus Waters to recover for work done and materials furnished under a contract to drill a well. There was a judgment in favor of defendant, and plaintiff appeals.
Argued before MAYHAM, P. J., and PUTNAM and HERRICK, JJ.
S. A. Beman (Royal Corbin, of counsel), for appellant.
Shedden & Booth (L. L. Shedden, of counsel), for respondent.

Opinion:
MAYHAM, P. J.
In the month of June, 1887, the plaintiff and defendant entered into a contract in writing, of which the following is a copy:
"This agreement made and entered into between B. M. Strong, of Evans Mills, N. Y., as party of the first part, and Cyrus Waters, of Champlain, party of the second part, witnesseth: Parly of the first part agrees to drill a well for party of the second part at $2.50 a foot, and furnish pipe for pump without charge, and is to be relieved from all responsibility when he stops drilling. In case of a flowing well, to be two dollars per foot. Party of the second part agrees to pay party of the first part $2.50 for each and every foot so drilled, and purchase a pump and cylinder of party of the first part at Gould's listed prices, and pay for all casing of well at $1.00 per foot; to furnish proper wood and water for engine while drilling, and as required, and board two men while drilling said well: B. M. Strong, per J. B. Bort.
"Cyrus Waters."
Under this contract the plaintiff claims that he drilled to the depth of about 30 feet, when he struck water, but continued to drill to the depth of 90 feet, at the request of the defendant. The' plaintiff also claims that he furnished to the defendant 21 feet of casing or tubing at $1 per foot; a pump of the value of $11; and a cylinder of the value of $8; merchandise of the value of $100. There appears to be no substantial controversy over the amount of work, performed or material furnished by the plaintiff in and about this-work. But the defendant sets up in his answer various defenses, among which was an allegation of fraud and mistake in making the written contract; also, a breach and failure to perform the contract by the plaintiff. Under this answer the defendant proves, under the objection of the plaintiff, a parol contemporaneous agreement or contract greatly at variance with the written contract upon which the action was brought. There was no claim that the parol evidence so offered and received on the part of the defendant proved, or tended to prove, a mutual mistake by the parties to the written contract, so as to make it competent for the purpose of a reformation of the written agreement. ¡Nor did it prove, or tend to prove, any fraud by the defendant in procuring the written agreement to be made. The only possible effect of the evidence was to-modify or add to the written contract important provisions by av parol contemporaneous agreement. It needs no citation of authori- ties to show that that cannot be done. We think the learned referee • erred in the admission of that evidence, and that such error may have affected his determination of the action. The judgment-, should, for that reason, be reversed.
Judgment reversed, the referee discharged, and a new trial ordered ; costs to abide the event. All concur.