[327]. Only part of the case is given.
[328]. But see Davis v. Reynolds, 107 Me. 61.
In Van Epps v. Harrison, 5 Hill, 63, 70–71, Bronson, J., says: “If an affirmation concerning the cost of the property was of any consequence, I think the defendant should have taken the trouble to inquire and satisfy himself. But I cannot think it a matter of any legal importance. It was only another mode of asserting that the property was of the value of $32,000; and all the books agree that no action will lie if such an affirmation prove false. It is the folly of the purchaser to trust to it. Indeed, the representation here amounts to less than a direct affirmation of value, for it only asserts that the plaintiff and another man agreed that such was the value. It would lead to great mischief to allow men to annul contracts upon such a ground. If the defendant could make out that the plaintiff was his agent in purchasing from Van Rensselaer, then what the plaintiffs said about the price he paid might be material; but not in any other point of view.
Such are my views upon this branch of the case; but my brethren are of opinion that the false affirmation concerning the price paid for the land furnishes a good ground of action. There must, therefore, be a new trial upon this point, as well as the one relating to the condition of the land.”
As to “puffing,” see: Mumford v. Tolman, 157 Ill. 258; Miller v. Craig, 36 Ill. 109; Wightman v. Tucker, 50 Ill. App. 75; Woods v. Nicholas, 92 Kan. 258; Buckingham v. Thompson, 135 S. W. 652.
But see Pratt v. Judge, 177 Mich. 558; Adams v. Soule, 33 Vt. 538.
Statements as to value, see: Harvey v. Young, Yelverton, 21; Lake v. Loan Assn., 72 Ala. 207; Stevens v. Alabama Land Co., 121 Ala. 450; Kincaid v. Price, 82 Ark. 20; Williams v. McFadden, 23 Fla. 143; Noetling v. Wright, 72 Ill. 390; Cagney v. Cuson, 77 Ind. 494; Bossingham v. Syck, 118 Ia. 192; Else v. Freeman, 72 Kan. 666; Reynolds v. Evans, 123 Md. 365; Picard v. McCormick, 11 Mich. 68; Doran v. Eaton, 40 Minn. 35; Boasberg v. Walker, 111 Minn. 445; Union Bank v. Hunt, 76 Mo. 439; Dalrymple v. Craig, 149 Mo. 345; Dresher v. Becker, 88 Neb. 619; Sandford v. Handy, 23 Wend. 260; Ellis v. Andrews, 56 N. Y. 83; Van Slochem v. Villard, 207 N. Y. 587; Mecum v. Becker, 166 App. Div. 793; Campbell v. Zion’s Real Estate Co., 46 Utah, 1; Shanks v. Whitney, 66 Vt. 405.
Compare Moon v. Benton, 13 Ala. App. 473; Pate v. Blades, 163 N. C. 267; Crompton v. Beedle, 83 Vt. 287.
[329]. Portions of the opinion are omitted.
[330]. Gordon v. Butler, 105 U. S. 553; Kimber v. Young, (C. C. A.) 137 Fed. 744; Pittsburgh Life & Trust Co. v. Northern Ins. Co., 140 Fed. 888, 148 Fed. 674; Dotson v. Kirk, (C. C. A.) 180 Fed. 14; Rendell v. Scott, 70 Cal. 514; Wrenn v. Truitt, 116 Ga. 708; Dowden v. Wilson, 108 Ill. 257; Curry v. Keyser, 30 Ind. 214; Conant v. Nat’l State Bank, 121 Ind. 323; Scroggin v. Wood, 87 Ia. 497; Vokes v. Eaton, 119 Ky. 913; Holbrook v. Connor, 60 Me. 578; Bishop v. Small, 63 Me. 12; Donnelly v. Baltimore Trust Co., 102 Md. 1; Mooney v. Miller, 102 Mass. 217; Nash v. Minnesota Title & Trust Co., 159 Mass. 437; Lynch v. Murphy, 171 Mass. 307; Nowlin v. Snow, 40 Mich. 699; Myers v. Alpena Loan Ass’n, 117 Mich. 389; Getchell v. Dusenbury, 145 Mich. 197; Perkins v. Trinka, 30 Minn. 241; Brown v. South Joplin Min. Co., 194 Mo. 681; Ray County Bank v. Hutton, 224 Mo. 42; Fisher v. Seitz, 172 Mo. App. 162; Duffany v. Ferguson, 66 N. Y. 482; Hatton v. Cook, 166 App. Div. 257; Pritchard v. Dailey, 168 N. C. 330; Martin v. Eagle Creek Development Co., 41 Or. 448; Watts v. Cummins, 59 Pa. St. 84; Horrigan v. First Nat. Bank, 9 Baxt. 137; Jude v. Woodburn, 27 Vt. 415; Randall v. Farnum, 52 Vt. 539; Romaine v. Excelsior Machine Co., 54 Wash. 41; Crislip v. Cain, 19 W. Va. 438 Accord.