Sharp v. Babcock , 49 Ill. App. 404 ( 1893 )

Opinion of the Court,

Harker, P. J".

This is a scire facias to foreclose a mortgage given by appellants upon real estate situated in the city pf Gales-burg, to secure the purchase money for the same to appellee and others, heirs of Alfred Babcock, deceased. The note secured by the mortgage was for $5,100, and interest at seven per cent from November 13,188G. All had been paid except §100 and the interest on that sum. Payment of that was refused, upon the ground that appellee had falsely represented to appellants at the time of the sale of the land, that he and other grantors were absolute owners of a strip of groiind five feet wide on the south side of the tract sold, and that that strip could be sold to one John Wax for §250, and that on such representations they had purchased the strip for $100, which constituted that much of the note for $5,100. The defense interposed to the foreclosure of the mortgage was upon that line. The court found against appellants and entered a decree of foreclosure for amount due, as principal, interest and attornejr fee, §169.92.

The evidence shows that negotiations were pending sometime between the parties for a sale of a piece of ground inherited by appellee and others. Appellants had agreed to pay §5,000 for it, but broke their agreement and refused to take it at that price. Appellee then came from his home at Des Moines, Iowa, and had the land surveyed and platted into lots, preparatory to putting it on the market. Appelants a.gain offered §5,000 for the land. Appellee agreed to sell, as he testified, on their paying $100 additional for the expense and trouble he had been put to by their breaking their agreement. He testified that the price then agreed upon was $5,100; that the land was sold for that sum, a 'warranty deed being executed for it, and that no part of the $5,100 Avas in consideration of a purchase of the five feet strip Avhich Avas quit-claimed at the same time. He Avas corroborated by his agent, EdAvard Tajdor. He also denied that he represented to appellants that he and the other grantor owned the strip and that it could be sold to John Wax. for $250. He was contradicted by both of the appellants, who testified that they Avould not have made the trade but for such representations.

We think the court could rightfully find that the truth was with appellees.

In the conflict, it was his peculiar province to decide between them, and we do not feel warranted in disturbing! his finding. Decree affirmed.