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2 Thomp. & Cook 414

Wilson v. Van Pelt

New York Supreme Court

Decided December 15, 1873

New York Supreme Court · decided 1873-12-15

Justice Dwight. It was brought to compel the specific performance of a contract to convey to plaintiff 183 acres of land in Victory, in said county. The contract was a verbal one. The defendant owned at the time about 200 .acres of land, and was to take from plaintiff his farm at Brutus, in said county, in exchange, and reserve the wood upon 18 acres out of his own lot.

Relies on Cambridge Valley Bank v. . Delano · Botsford v. McLean

Decided 1873-12-15

E. Dabwih Smith, J.

¶1The findings of the judge upon the facts fully warranted the judgment rendered by him. The case presents a clear cause for equitable relief where a grantor of land is trusted to prepare the deed and untruly describes the premises sold, whether by mistake or fraud. Botsford v. McLean, 45 Barb. 478, 488; S. C. affirmed in the Court of Appeals, 1870, cited in 48 N. Y. 343; Rider v. Powell, 28 id. 310.

¶2Upon the facts found the case is a clear one for relief, on the ground of deception and fraud.

¶3The findings of the judge upon the facts are not unwarranted by the evidence. The judgment cannot be disturbed on that ground.

¶4Done of the exceptions in regard to the admission of testimony were well taken. The evidence in respect to the comparative value of the north and the south parts of the parcel was admissible, on the question of the fraud of the defendant. The suggestion that if it had been worthless it would not .be a defense may be true; but it nevertheless presented an element of evidence, relating to the situation of the property which the plaintiff was purchasing and the defendant selling, adapted to influencing their conduct in making the trade and proper for the consideration of the judge on the question of the good faith of the defendant in the transaction.

¶5The judgment should be affirmed with costs.

¶6Judgment affirmed.

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