Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

16 Johns. 222

Walter v. Dewey

New York Supreme Court

Decided May 15, 1819

New York Supreme Court · decided 1819-05-15

THIS was an action of covenant. The declaration stated, that on the 7th of June, 1815, at Homer, in the county of Cortland, by an agreement under seal, between the parties, bearing date on that day, the plaintiff agreed to let to the defendant, his half of the clothier’s shop, tools, fulling mill, privileges, &c. in which the parties had previously been partners, for the term of three years, from the 5th of Ocioher. 1815, for the sum of 900 dollars, to he paid by the de« . .…

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently January 1953

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1819-05-15

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

Spencer, Ch. J. delivered the opinion of the Court.

¶1The grounds of the demurrers are, 1. That the facts pleaded do not amount to a tender, and are not a sufficient avoid- ‘ anee or excuse for the non-performance of the covenants. 2. That the pleas are not issuable.

¶2The pleas I consider correct, in point of form, and they are taken from 2 Chitty Pl. 499. The question arising on them is this: whether the rent was payable on the premises, or whether the lessee was bound to seek the lessor, and tender the accounts. It is a well settled principle, as to rent, payable in money or kind, that where the contract is *224silent as to the place of payment, a tender on the land is good, and it is not required of the lessee to make a tender to the person; and the reason is, that rent issuing out of the land, savours so far of the realty, that it is payable on the leased premises. (Bacon, title Tender, 6, 7, 8, 9. 1 Co. Inst. 210. Woodfall, ch. 10. s. 2. 268.) The precedent found in Chitty averring a readiness to pay on the land leased, relates to rent payable in money.

¶3The conclusions of the pleas demurred to vary from the precedent in this, that the latter not only states th.e bringing the money into Court to be paid to the plaintiff, but it prays judgment, whether the plaintiff ought to have or maintain his action to recover any more or greater damages than the money admitted to be due; thus, in effect, protecting the defendant from all damages and costs. In the 4th plea demurred to, there is an offer to pay according to the covenant, and the accounts are stated to be brought into Court, though I think it unnecessary in such a case to make a proferí. The pleas could not conclude as in the precedent, for no judgment can be given to recover the sum stipulated to be paid in accounts against other persons. What is to be the effect of a readiness to pay on the day, and a neglect to make the demand need not be considered in this case.

¶4Judgment for defendant, with leave to the plaintiff to amend, on payment of costs.

/16/johns/222 · .json · Public domain