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157 Mass. 315

Johnson v. Larson

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Decided October 21, 1892

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · decided 1892-10-21

<p>Equity — Memorandum of Sale of Land — Specific Performance.</p> <p>A memorandum, dated and signed by C., who was B.’s agent, was as follows: “ Received of A. fifty dollars as forfeit money in case he fails to accept of a deed of land upon E. Street in W. from B., for which he is to pay three hundred dollars cash down and give said B., his note at six months satisfactorily indorsed for two hundred dollars with interest; said deed is to be accepted subject to two mortgages on said estate, one for four thousand dollars and one for fifteen hundred dollars, which mortgages said A. is to assume and pay as a part of the consideration; if the deed is accepted, the fifty dollars is to be accounted as a part of said three hundred dollars, said deed to be presented on or before January 1st, 1892, or the fifty dollars is to be refunded, interest to be paid by grantor to December 1, 1891, grantee to have benefit of income from December 1,1891.” A. brought a bill in equity against B. to enforce specific performance of the agreement. Held, on demurrer, that the bill could not be maintained.</p>

Decided 1892-10-21

Field, C. J.

¶1We find it unnecessary to determine whether the memorandum in connection with the allegations of the bill shows that the land was sufficiently described to satisfy the statute of frauds, or whether the note which the plaintiff was to give must be indorsed to the satisfaction of the defendant *318Larson, or only indorsed by some person who the court may find ought to be satisfactory to him. The memorandum contains a specific statement of what the plaintiff must do if he accepts the deed; but the statement of the promise of Larson, of whom Henry S. Bacon, who signs the memorandum, is alleged to be the agent, is as follows: “ If the deed is accepted, the fifty dollars is to be accounted as a part of said three hundred dollars, said deed to be presented on or before January 1st, 1892, or the fifty dollars is to be refunded, interest to be paid by grantor to December 1st, 1891, grantee to have benefit of income from December 1, 1891.” This interest, we suppose, is the interest on the two mortgages, which the plaintiff is to assume and pay if he accepts the deed.

¶2We are inclined to the opinion that the true construction of the memorandum is that Bacon, as agent of Larson, did not absolutely agree that Larson should' give a deed of the land, but that the agreement is in the alternative; viz. that Larson should tender a deed of the land on or before January 1, 1892, or refund the fifty dollars which the plaintiff had deposited as forfeit money in case he failed to accept the deed, if tendered.

¶3The decree dismissing the bill must be affirmed.

¶4 >So ordered.

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