Court Opinion

ID: 9826025
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 15:13:15.391494+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:41:47.485387
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Fraser:
I dissent. I lay stress on the-shortage of about 2 acres. If the appellant had tendered to the respondent a deed to the land he agreed to convey, it may be that, ordinarily, a shortage in the length of a line or the number of acres might make no difference,. Ordinarily, a difference in boundaries even may be insufficient to defeat a sale. These are not the questions here. The appellant comes into Court under a rather peculiar contract. Whatever may be said of appellant’s contract, it is a lawful contract, and appellant’s rights are determined by his contract. By this contract he must succeed', or fall. The appellant agreed to sell to the respondent a. certain tract of land set forth on a plat, “for the sum of' $4,048.38 for sound and unincumbered title for the entire-property.’’ The appellant agreed to sell the entire, property,. and does not claim to have done so. The respondent pays-10 per cent, to bind the bargain, and it is specifically agreed, in the contract that if unincumbered title cannot be furnished by the 4th of January, 1921, then the appellant shall return the cash money paid. The respondent came into Court and said (and it is undisputed) :
“The appellant has not tendered me, incumbered, or unincumbered, title to the entire tract of land, and I demand a return of my money.”
Appellant in argument says:
“Wallace was unable to deliver this small triangle for the reason that he and Lowry had agreed on the new line S. 80° E. to settle the dispute between them.”
*273In other words, the seller, being unable to give a sound and unincumbered title to a portion of the land, cuts off the unsound portion and tenders a deed for the balance. 'The parties have made no such contract. The contract was to heal the diseased foot. The appellant has cut it off. The claim that this was a sale in gross is fatal to the appellant. The land was sold as .an- entirety. There must be a conveyance of all or none.
For. these reasons I dissent.
Mr. Justice Watts concurs.