Long v. Hammond

ANGELLOTTI, J.

This is an appeal on the judgment-roll by plaintiff from a judgment given in favor of defendant. The only question presented by the appeal is whether, under the terms of a certain lease made by plaintiff to defendant, defendant had the right to sell any of the live stock constitut

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ing a part of the demised property. If he had no such right the judgment must he reversed.

By the lease, executed May 22, 1911, plaintiff leased to defendant a tract of land containing one hundred and sixty acres, together with all farming implements and machinery on the premises, a wagon, a cart, and certain harness, and “4 cows, 12 yearlings 7 of which are heifers and 5 steers and one bull, ... 7 head of horses, consisting of 3 work horses, 1-3 year old filly, 2-2 year old geldings and one yearling filly,” for the term of five years “for the rental value of one-half the increase of said stock, i. e., that is to say that at the end of said term of five years, the said lessee shall surrender to the lessor the said premises in good condition, wear, tear, and the elements excepted, make the number of stock herein contained good, and one-half of all increase, together with all personal effects, herein described as going with the land such as wagons, harness, farming implements, etc. ’ ’

Defendant having entered into possession of the demised property, some time prior to the commencement of this action (April 13, 1912), sold the bull, three head of two year old steers, and four horses, for the sum “of about $240.00,” and, as admitted by the pleadings, appropriated the proceeds to his own use. The lower court concluded that under the terms of the lease which we have substantially set forth, defendant was authorized to sell such property.

We are unable to find in the provisions of the lease any authorization to defendant to sell any of the demised property belonging to plaintiff. We have here a lease of certain specified real and personal property, including certain live stock, for the term of five years, the rental prescribed being “one-half of the increase of said stock,” with covenants relative to the return of the property at the expiration of the term. No authority rests in a lessee to sell or otherwise dispose of the lessor’s property unless there be express provision therefor in the lease, or unless by fair implication from the terms of the lease such authority may be inferred. Certainly no such express provision was here contained, and there is no basis at all for any claim that such authorization may be inferred, except in so far as such claim may be based on the provision that at the end of the term the lessee shall surrender the premises, farming implements, etc., and “make the number of stock herein contained good.” To our minds