Riggles v. Erney
Supreme Court of the United States
APPEAL FROM THE SUPREME COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. This was a bill in equity for the specific performance of an oral contract for the sale of land.
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APPEAL FROM THE SUPREME COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. This was a bill in equity for the specific performance of an oral contract for the sale of land. The bill made substantially the following case: Thomas Higgles, ancestor both of plaintiffs and defendant, died .in 1863, leaving a will in which he made the following devises: “ I will and devise that my house and premises which I now occupy, situated in the city of Washington in the District of Columbia, being lot numbered seven (7) and part of lot numbered eight (8) in square numbered one hundred and ninety-nine (199), together with all…
1Opinion of the CourtJustice Brown
The sole question is whether the plaintiffs have made out such a case as entitles them under the statute of frauds to. a specific performance of the alleged agreement- for the sale of-the homestead property in square 199, and an equal division of the proceeds.
Thomas Niggles, the ancestor, ivas possessed of two parcels of land in Washington, viz.: Certain lots in square 199, containing the homestead, worth from six to eight thousand dollars; and a large number of lots in square 179, then unimproved, and worth about forty thousand dollars.
TJie lots in square 199, the homestead, he left to his…
2Cases cited7 opinions
- Colson v. ThompsonSupreme Court of the United States · 1817
- Neale v. NealesSupreme Court of the United States · 1870
- Grafton v. CummingsSupreme Court of the United States · 1879
- Purcell v. MinerSupreme Court of the United States · 1867
- Hardesty v. RichardsonCourt of Appeals of Maryland · 1876
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3Cited by31 opinions
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- Hancock v. MelloySupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1898
- Molokai Ranch, Ltd. v. MorrisHawaii Supreme Court · 1942
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