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54 Mass. 385

Morton v. Dean

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Decided October 15, 1847

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · decided 1847-10-15

Assumpsit. The plaintiffs’ declaration alleged that they, as assignees of the Taunton Iron Company, exposed certain real estate for sale, on the 5th of April 1843, and that the same was struck off to the defendant, who was the highest bidder therefor, for the sum of $30,300; that they executed; and tendered to the defendant a good and sufficient deed of said estate; that the defendant refused to receive the deed,, and to pay for the estate, according to the terms of the sale…

Decided 1847-10-15

By the court.

¶1A sale at auction is within the statute of frauds, and the auctioneer, who makes the sale, is the agent of both parties, and his memorandum will take the case out of the statute, as well when lands as when chattels are sold. But the memorandum of sale must refer to the conditions of sale, or the case will be within the statute. Where the connexion between the memorandum and the conditions is to be proved entirely by parol evidence, it is within the mischief intended to be prevented by the statute. The terms of the agreement, which are material, must be stated in writing. As the memorandum, in this case, does not refer to the conditions of sale, the sale itself cannot be enforced. The authorities are conclusive on these points.

¶2Verdict set aside.

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