Beagle v. Harby

The facts in this case, so far as they relate to the questions presented on this appeal, can be briefly stated. The action was to recover damages for the breach of contract. The contract as alleged, and found by the jury, was that the plaintiff would transfer to the defendants his farm for the sum of $2,200 ; that the defendants would sell it to one Olmstead, if possible, and get the highest price.they could obtain, and divide equally with the plaintiff any sum they should receive for it in excess of the price paid. In pursuance of this agreement the plaintiff deeded his farm to the defendants, who on the same day sold and conveyed it to Olmstead. The consideration for the last transfer was $2,800, which was paid by transferring to the defendants another farm at the agreed price of $1,700, and delivering to them a bond and mortgage for $1,100. The defendants paid the plaintiff the consideration named in the deed to them, and for certain personal property purchased by them of the plaintiff, but did not pay him any portion of the amount they were to receive for the farm in excess of the price paid. This action was to recover one-half of the profits arising from such purchase and sale. If the contract between the parties was valid, the proof was suf

The-most important and the only other question raised on this appeal relates to the admissibility of the plaintiff’s evidence to establish the contract between the parties. The appellants claim that parol evidence of the contract made between the parties was inadmissible, because all their preceding negotiations were merged in the deed, and that it tended to contradict or vary its terms. If the deed between the parties embraced all the agreements and understandings made or had between them, the former negotiations would be merged in it. But the rule that all previous negotiations or conferences between the parties ’ merged in a subsequent written instrum^*- ~y __ qualification. A contract which is not required b, ovatuté to be in writing may be partly expressed in writing, and partly by an unwritten understanding between the parties, and, if so, such understanding may be proved by parol. Where a verbal contract is entire, and a part, only, in part performance, is reduced to writing, parol proof of the entire contract is competent. Hutchins v. Hebbard, 34 N. Y. 24 ; Hope v. Balen, 58 N. Y. 380 ; Brigg v. Hilton, 99 N. Y. 517 . The plaintiff’s proof in this case showed that the whole contract between the plaintiff and defendants was not reduced to writing, and that the deed was executed and delivered in part performance, only, of the entire contract between them. We think this case falls within a qualification of the general rule, and that the court properly admitted the evidence unless the defendants’ claim that it tended to contradict or vary.the deed should be sustained. The general rule which excludes parol evidence when offered to contradict or vary the terms, provisions, or legal effect of a written instrument is well settled. There are various cases, however, where this rule does not apply. “It has no application to collateral undertakings,— Lindley v. Lacey, 17 C. B. (N. S.) 578 ; Jeffery v. Walton, 1 Starkie, 267 ; Batterman v. Pierce, 3 Hill, 171 ; Erskine v. Adeane. 8 Ch. App. 756,”—Engelhorn v. Reitlinger, 122 N. Y. 80 ; 33 St. Rep. 275 ; or where the written instrument was executed in part performance, only, of an entire oral agreement. Chapin v. Dobson, 78 N. Y. 75 ; Van Brunt v. Day, 81 N. Y. 251 ; Juilliard v. Chaffee, 92 N. Y. 529 ; Brigg v. Hilton, 99 N. Y. 526 ; Ferguson v. Baker, 116 N. Y. 257 ; 26 St. Rep. 626 ; Routledge v. Worthington Co., 119 N. Y. 593 ; 30 St. Rep. 195 ; Pond v. Harwood, 139 N. Y.