Eaton v. Richeri

Hayne, C. This was an action to recover for services rendered. The trial court gave judgment for the plaintiff, and the defendant appeals.

It is admitted by the pleadings that the defendant [186]agreed to pay plaintiff at the rate of three dollars a day, such payment to be made in provisions and supplies, “and for any balance that might be due plaintiff, plaintiff was to wait until the mining property aforesaid was sold, or until a sum sufficient to pay plaintiff said balance was realized from said mine.” If the contract stated in the findings is any different from the foregoing, it is to be disregarded, and the one admitted by the pleadings is to govern.

The plaintiff rendered services during a long period, and only a portion of the price was paid, leaving a balance of $1,490.05. After the services had ceased, a contract of sale was made of the mine for fifteen thousand dollars, which contract was signed by the defendant, and the sum of five thousand dollars was paid on account.

We think that the time of payment specified in the contractjrad arrived when the action was brought. The word “sold” does not necessarily, and in all connections, mean that a conveyance must be made, or that the title must pass. (See, generally, Blackwood v. Cutting Packing Co., 76 Cal. 218.) And we think that it does not have such meaning in the contract above stated. In our opinion, the time of payment arrived when the contract to sell was made and the five thousand dollars paid on account of the pnrehase-money.

It is argued, however, that the defendant was not the owner of the mine, and did not receive any of the purchase-money paid. But there is no merit in this contention. If defendant’s contract is to be construed as meaning that he was the owner, he will not be allowed to contradict such statement for the purpose of evading payment. If, however, the contract is not to be construed as meaning that he was the owner, then the fact that he was not the owner is immaterial. Parties may adopt any event as fixing the time for their obligations to mature, just as they may fix a date therefor. In this view, the contract simply means that the money was to be paid [187]when the owner, whoever he was, sold the mine, etc. No other point is made.