Case Name: Roderick McKenzie vs. Jesse Kerr
Court: Tennessee Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Tennessee
Decision Date: 1858-09
Citations: 5 Sneed 539
Docket Number: 
Parties: Roderick McKenzie vs. Jesse Kerr.
Judges: 
Reporter: Tennessee Reports
Volume: 37
Pages: 539–542

Head Matter:
Roderick McKenzie vs. Jesse Kerr.
Warranty. Soundness of Slave. Rescission. Chancery ’pleading and practice. Where a bill of sale of a slave contained a covenant of warranty that said slave was “ sound as far as the vendor knew,” and the vendee filed a bill for a rescission, upon the ground that said slave was unsound at the time of said sale, and that the vendor fraudulently made oral representations at the time of the contract, that said slave was absolutely sound but the bill purports to give said representations, which are qualified, and in substance, the same as contained in the bill of sale; it is held that no relief can be granted.
EROM BLOUNT.
This bill was filed in Chancery at Maryville, to rescind a contract for the sale of a slave upon the ground of unsoundness; that said unsoundness was known to the vendor, and fraudulently concealed by bim; and to have tbe purchase money refunded. It seems that a bill of sale was executed at tbe time of tbe sale by which tbe slave was warranted to be sensible and sound as far as “ tbe vendor knew.” Tbe bill charges, that tbe slave was unsound at tbe time of tbe sale, and that defendant made oral representations of tbe absolute soundness of said slave at tbe time. These representations are set out in tbe bill, and do not vary from tbe written warranty. The answer denies all fraud on the part of tbe defendant. At tbe May Term, 1858, Chancellor' VAN Dyke gave a decree for tbe defendant.
Bastee, and Wallace, for tbe complainant.
McG-INLEY, Bbows and Cooes, for tbe defendant.

Opinion:
WRIGHT, J.,
delivered tbe opinion of tbe Court.
After a careful examination of this record, we think tbe decree of tbe Chancellor should be affirmed.
It is argued here for complainant, that he is entitled to relief upon tbe defendant's warranty, whether be, at tbe time of tbe sale, knew of tbe unsoundness of tbe slave or not; that though tbe bill of sale only contained a warranty that she was sound, "so far as be knew," yet, in bis verbal statements, during tbe contract, be represented her absolutely to be sound. If such proof as this were admissible, against the plain language of tbe bill of sale, without an allegation of fraud, or mistake in its execution; yet the argument is sufficiently answered by the fact that the bill itself states that defendant represented her "as sound so far as he knew." And if it be said that defendant is liable upon the ground of fraud, for these unqualified statements of soundness, the same answer may be given, that the bill negatives the fact of any such statements.
But aside from this, we think the proof fails to show that this slave was unsound at the time of complainant's purchase; or that defendant perpetrated any fraud in the sale. The answer positively denies any unsoundness or fraud. And the proof is too uncertain and unsatisfactory, to base any decree in complainant's favor upon it. The slave is proved to have been an excellent cook, wash-woman and ironer, and the reason given by defendant for selling her, was her bad and ungovernable temper. That she had this temper, is proved. She had been hired for some, weeks preceding the sale, to a witness by the name of Blount, who lived within a few yards of complainant, and who carried her to him; and during this time, she manifested no symptom of disease, to witness' knowledge. The sale was made in July, 1856. Dr. Pride, a witness of complainant visited her about two years before, while she was owned by the defendant, and discovered no permanent disease or unsoundness. He was then of opinion, she only labored under some temporary illness; and this he communicated to defendant, evidently impressing him with the belief that she was not seriously diseased.
Soon after this, she had a healthy child, and it is proved to have been sound. And the whole body of the proof is, that prior to the sale to complainant, she had been sound, unless it be one or two fainting spells, which she had while defendant owned her, and which, it appears, he communicated to complainant. Whether these attacks- were feigned or real, is left in doubt by tne proof. It appears that she had, them Yery soon after complainant purchased her, but it is more than probable, if real, they were temporary in their character, and did not cause her death, which seems to have taken place in 1858.
The disease of which she died, appears to have been dropsy. But no witness traces it satisfactorily, to a period before the sale.
Decree affirmed.