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16 Bosw. 372

Wright v. Weeks

The Superior Court of New York City · decided 1858-07-03

This action was tried at Special Term before Ob. J. Duer (without a jury), on the 5th November, 1857. The action was brought to compel the specific performance of an alleged agreement by the defendant Weeks, to convey to the plaintiff three lots of ground in the city of New York, with the buildings thereon.

Decided 1858-07-03

¶1By the Court.

Pierrepont, J.

¶2—The question in the case is, whether the agreement is void by the Statute of Frauds. Upon this trial the complaint was dismissed, and (as we think), properly. Every agreement of this kind is void unless in writing and “expressing the consideration."

¶3The expression “six thousand five hundred dollars upon the terms as specified,” presents an ambiguity, patent upon the face of the contract, and which parol evidence is not admissible to explain, and being unexplained, the contract is void, the consi deration not being fully expressed in writing.

¶4It is only partially expressed in writing, and the writing furnishes no means of discovering the full consideration.

¶5This can only be ascertained by a resort to unwritten evidence which is not admissible. (Weed v. Clark, 4 Sand. S. C. R., 31; 2 R. S., 135, § 8.)

¶6Judgment affirmed, with costs.

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