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21 Wend. 636

North's Administrators v. Pepper

New York Supreme Court

Decided October 15, 1839

New York Supreme Court · decided 1839-10-15

Demurrer to declaration. The plaintiffs in the first count of the declaration set forth an agreement under seal between the intestate, Robert North, and the defendant, Elijah Pepper, bearing date 15th December, 1837, whereby the intestate agreed to sell and convey to the defendant a farm for the sum of $3200, and that on the first day of May, then next, he would execute to the defendant a proper conveyance of the farm in fee, containing a general warranty and the usual full…

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1839-10-15

How this case has been cited

Cited by 12 later decisions — most recently February 1925

1 federal appellate · 10 state decisions

301839184018501860187018801890190019101920decided

Later decisions citing this case, by decade. The current decade is in progress, and our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so the latest bars are undercounted — not a real decline.

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¶1By the Court,

Nelson, Ch.-J.

¶2In the first count there is no averment of a tender of the deed, or readiness to deliver it; but it is averred that before the first day of May, to" wit, on 6th January preceding, the defendant by writing gave notice-to the plaintiff that he had determined not to take his farpa, had abandoned ¡the agreement and refused to perform, &c. Upon well settled rules of pleading, this dispensed with an offer or readiness to perform on the -part of the plaintiff, as it showed; that’such step would have been but an idle ceremony. 1 Chitty, 318. Dougl. 684. 1 T. K 683. 5 Cowen, 506. Concedinglhat the defendant might recall this discharge of performance before the time for the execution of the deed, he must.set it up by. way of plea; or on a denial of the alleged rescindment, he might, I think,, give it in evidence at the trial, and thus disprove the discharge in legal effect. But unless he avails himself of the *639locus peiiitentim in some' way, it is clear that proof of the averment in the declaration would dispense with performance on the part of the plaintiff. ,

¶3The second count avers the execution of a deed agreeably to the terms of the covenant, ready to he delivered to the defendant at the stipulated time; also that notice was given to him, demand of the money and refusal. This is abundantly sufficient, as.it is substantially an averment of a tender, and refusal to perform. The better opinion seems to be, that it is enough to aver a readiness to perform, as under it an actual tender would be required in proof, if essential to maintain the action. Rawson v. Johnson, 1 East, 203. 2 Bos. & Pull. 448. 1 Saund. 320, (c). 2 id. 352, (z). 1 Chitty, 318. 5 Johns. R. 179. .

¶4It is said the plaintiff, in cases like this, should aver title in himself at the time of conveyance. This has been done here, if the covenant on the part of the intestate implies so much. Besides, the defendant may raise the question by putting in the proper plea. 17 Wendell, 376.

¶5It is further urged, that the readiness to deliver the deed by the plaintiffs, who are administrators, as set forth in the second count, shows no authority on their part to deliver it. This averment, as it respects the. plaintiffs, may be rejected as surplusage, as the count is complete without it; the testator having done every thing necessary to give the right of action. ‘

¶6Judgment for plaintiff."

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