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39 Mo. 21

Brault v. Howard

Supreme Court of Missouri

Decided October 15, 1866

Supreme Court of Missouri · decided 1866-10-15

Louis Court of Common Pleas. This suit arises under a bond given by defendant to Virginia Brault (then King), the plaintiff, and dated 28th August, 1846, whereby it was stipulated between them that Howard bought of his sister, said Virginia King, her interest in a lot, whereof they with others were tenants in common as heirs of their mother, Genevieve Howard.

Decided 1866-10-15

Wagner, Judge,

¶2The contract under seal entered into between the parties in August, 1846, required the appellant to procure partition of the premises conveyed. No particular time was specified or designated in which the partition was to be proceeded with and obtained, but the law would imply that it should be done within a reasonable time.

¶3It seems a good and valid partition was had in 1847, and unquestionably this was a sufficient compliance with the requirement of the contract. Upon partition being made, each party was to select a person to appraise the value of the share allotted to respondents; and if the appraisers so chosen could not agree in their judgment, they were to select a third person, whose decision should be final. The covenant of agreement did not devolve the duty of taking the initiative in selecting the appraisers or arbitrators on either party, and on *24the partition being completed either party had the right to proceed and require the selection to be made; and in case of default, refusal or neglect by the other party to comply, a breach would result and a right of action accrue; and from the time of this breach, the statute of limitations (under the act of 1845, which is applicable to this case) would begin to run, and after a lapse of ten years create a complete bar.

¶4But the record does not show that any breach occurred, or right of action accrued,.at a time sufficiently remote to preclude the respondent from bringing her suit, or bar her action by reason of the statute of limitations, according to the views above announced.

¶5The judgment is therefore affirmed.

The other judges concur.

¶6Motion for rehearing overruled.

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