Henry v. Cleland — 14 Johns. 400

Majority

p. 402

Henry against Cleland.

NEW YORK ,

October, 1817.

Headnote

In an declaration an ssarySto"Lyt pants,5Uo?“arts mentfas relate assigned. 'hes 11' a material part of an agree •omitted to he declaration, the defendant cannot take advantdge of the om isanee aum¡erViihe ■fadvm imtinuat deinur”161’ a"d

THIS Was an of action covenant, and was tried before Mr. J. T/afi, at the Steuben circuit, in June, 1817.

The declaration set forth an agreement between the parties, by which the defendant covenanted, by a certain day, to build, finish, and put into operation, a saw-mill, to be erected in the . . . . ~ . . most advantageous situation, on the river C onhocton^ on lot number 45, in the town of Conhocton. Oyer was given of the agreement, and the defendant pleaded non est factum. The agree-1 v ° ment given in evidence at the trial corresponded with that set e° e * f01’^ *n the declaration, in every respect, except that in the former there was a note written over the signature of the subscribing witness, in the following words : “ N. B. It is understood between the aforesaid parties, that the mill is to be seated on the east side of the river Conhocton, near the south line of the said lot, No. 45.’’ The articles of agreement were objected to on the part of the defendant, on the ground that there was a variance, and the judge holding that the variance was material and fata!, nonsuited the plaintiff.

The plaintiff now moved to set aside the nonsuit, and the case Was submitted to the court, without argument.

The only question at the trial was as to an alleged variance between the covenant declared on, and the one produced in evidence. It does not appear, from the case, what was the breach alleged. So far as the covenant appears to-be set out in the declaration, there is no variance. The variance stated is in matter omitted to be set out in the declaration. But if this is matter not necessary to be set out, for the purpose of assigning the breaches relied on, it is no variance. The plaintiff is not obliged to set out the whole agreement: it is enough for him to state so much as constitutes the agreement, the breach of which is relied on. (6 East, 569.) If he had undertaken to set it out, and a variance appeared, a different question might be presented. (1 Chitty, 302. Doug. 642.) The variance alleged in this case, is omitting to state, in the declaration, what appears in a note to the agreement, more particu

p. 403

■larly designating the place where the saw-mill was to be built, This may, probably, be considered a part of the agreement; and if the breach assigned was in not building the saw-mill in the place agreed on, this might have been a material part. But if the breach did not arise under this part of the agreement, and we must presume, from the case, that it did not, then it was unnecessary to set it out in the declaration; and, if not set out, then there is no variance. This is an objection that ought not to be encouraged. The defendant has not been surprised. He had oyer of the whole agreement; and, if there was a material variance, he should have demurred for that cause. In? stead of this, he has pleaded non est factum. ( 8 Johns. Rep. 410 .) But there is no material variance. The nonsuit must be set •aside, and a new trial granted.

New trial granted.