Appeal from tbe Circuit Court of tbe United States for tbe District of Montana.

In Equity. Suit by Á: A. Wenbam against William S. Switzer to compel specific performance of a contract. Bill dismissed. 51 Fed. 351. Plaintiff appeals.

This is a suit in equity to compel the specific performance of a contract.. It is alleged in the bill that appellant, Wenham, who is a resident and citizen of Cleveland, Ohio, and respondent, Switzer, who is a resident and citizen of Butte, Mont., in April, 1888, entered into a contract to purchase the Burner lode mining claim, situate in Summit Valley mining district, Silver Bow county, Mont.; that respondent had the sole management of the negotiations for the purchase of the property, and agreed to purchase the same for the joint benefit of appellant and respondent,' each to have an undivided half interest therein; that, at the time the agreement was made, it was not known for what price the property could be obtained; that appellant advanced and paid to respondent, on’ account of said purchase, the sum of ipoOO, which was to be applied, for the purchase; that afterwards, in the month of May, 1888, appellant represented to respondent that the properly could bo bought for $3,000, and that appellant paid respondent the further sum of $1,000 for the purchase of the property; that in June, 1888, Hie respondent purchased the property, and represented to appellant that he had paid $4,000 therefor, and that there was a balance due from appellant of $500; that respondent purchased the property, and took a deed therefor in his own name; that appellant, prior to bringing this suit, tendered to respondent the further sum of $500, with interest, and requested and demanded a deed for the undivided one-half interest of said property, which respondent refused to make.

Respondent, in his answer, admits that he received the $500 and the $1,000, but denies that he received the same on account of tire purchase of the Burner lode, or that he used the same in making that purchase. The other essential averments of the bill as to the agreement to purchase the property for the joint benefit of the parties are denied in the answer. The evidence relied upon to support the averments of the bill consists of extracts taken from general letters, written at various times by the respective parties, principally relating to the condition of certain mining properties in which both parties had an interest.

Respondent, on the 20th day of October, 1887, being then the owner of an undivided one-half interest in the Burner lode, wrote a letter to appellant, wherein he referred to this property as follows: “Mr. Wenham; If you have a friend who desires one-half of a. good claim lying alongside of the Alta lode, which I think can be got for fifteen hundred dollars, I wish you would let me know. Some time ago 1 bought one-half of it. It cost him about two thousand dollars. He is not a miner. * * * It slopes north to our south line of the Alta, while our ground slopes south; so sloping together. It’s cheap, I think. Two large veins run lengthwise through it east and west, — same course as ours. And please let me know. From now until spring is the time to pick up property cheap. If you think a sale can be effected, I will send yon a copy or a plat of it, as it lays adjoining our grounds, —the Alta lode claim. Then any one can come out. Or I will get a deed of it in the hank, and the exchange can he made either way; and I will get it cheap, as any price can be had for it.”

Appellant answered this letter, making inquiries as to the property. March 7, 1888, respondent wrote to appellant: “1 think you will do well to secure the interest I spoke of joining the Alta claim.” In reply to this letter, appellant, on March 15th, wrote to respondent: “Now, about the claim adjoining the Alta, I want to go in with you. Oonld the interest he bought for one thousand dollars?” On April 5th appellant wrote as follows: “How about the claim adjoining the Alta claim? Can you secure the % you spoke of? Let me hear from you as soon as practicable.” On April 13th respondent wrote to complainant in reply, as follows: “In relation to the interest nearest the Alta, it can’t be had for less than about fifteen hundred dollars, if it can be bought at any price; but I shall know in about twenty days, and I will write you as soon as I can get to know what I can let yon have it for. He may get excited, and ask more. * * * One thing more: If you conclude to take the interest, you had better send fifteen hundred dollars to the First National Bank of Butte, as, if you wait, it may slip into other hands. I am good for all you send me.” On April 23d, appellant replied: “Yours of the 13th at hand, and contents noted. According to your wishes, I inclose you five hundred dollars payable to your order. * * * Now, if you go quietly to work, and not let the parly who wants to sell get excited, when he agrees to sell, give him the five hundred dollars to bind the bargain, and you can telegraph me for the other one thousand dollars, which I will send immediately on receipt of notice, and, if you can’t buy all of his interest, buy half of it. * * * In regard to the claim next to the Alta, please keep it confidential until something' is done; and, by the way, what is the name of the claim? * * * P. S. If you did not want to use the money immediately, you could make a special deposit in the bank till yon needed it.” On April 28th "espondent replied: “Yours of the 23d, '88, is received, with one check of uve hundred dollars on the First National Bank of Cleveland, Ohio. The mining lode claim is known as the Ontario or Burner lode mining claim. Soon as I can hear from the party, the matter will Be concluded. The money is in hank.” On .Tune 4th appellant wrote respondent: “Mr. O. C. Frost * * * wants five hundred dollars. * * * Now, friend Switzer, if you think Mr. Frost can give a good deed as security, and you think best and safe to loan him the money, you can give him the five hundred dollars I have in your care, and I will send you more to take its place.” This money was not loaned to Frost.

On June 5th,' respondent wrote appellant: “In relation to the Burner mining property1, I1 have got it all and paid for it, and surveyed it for patent, but am doing one hundred dollars’ worth of work, so as to have over six hundred dollars’ worth of work, which will he a necessary improvement. I am sure of two veins on the ground. But it cost more than fifteen hundred dollars; it cost me about four • thousand dollars, all told; but I was determined to have it if it cost more. It will pay to hold when patented. Property is rising in Park canyon. Under the circumstances, I had to take a deed in my own name, and of course had to pay for it on delivery of the deed, and came near losing it at that. Others would have taken it at higher figures. Now, friend A. A. Wenham-, send me fifteen hundred dollars, and I will make yon a deed of one undivided one-half of the entire Burner property, free of all work excepting- the one hundred which 1 am now doing, .which work will he over six hundred dollars, — sufficient to get the patent. Then you will have to stand one-half the expenses of the patent, which only is the- regular price in this district and territory. As I have received five hundred dollars of you, so -the balance, fifteen hundred dollars, will make the purchase money of your part two thousand dollars. I will [write] you more in detail next letter.” Appellant testified upon the trial that he answered this letter, asking Mr. Switzer for full description and plat and other particulars. No such letter was produced, and respondent testified that he had never received any -such letter. Respondent testified that, after his letter of June 5th, he wrote to Mr. Wenham “that this money must he paid within thirty days.” Appellant testified that he never received the letter. The next letter that -appears in evidejice is written April 6, 1889, by appellant to respondent, — 10 months after the letter of June -5, 18S8, — and reads as follows: “Not having heard from yon since some time last April or May, I have felt as though you had rather neglected my last letter, written to you some time in the early part of June last. However, as you are the senior, I accept the situation. I inclose check on N. Y. for one thousand dollars. •Please let me know how much you figured to be the balance. You now have fifteen hundred dollars in.total from me. I have thought it quite strange that I had not heard froto you. However, I suppose you would write when you were ready; hut, as it was a matter of business, I thought it my duty to write to you now,.'as .time', was drawing close.”

On May 20, 1889, appellant wrote as follows: “On Apr. 6th I sent you by registered letter one thousand dollars, to apply on my half of the Burner lode claim, together with the five hundred dollars I advanced you some time ago. Please let me know if you received the draft all right, and the amount due you still, and I will remit you so you can mail me deed of same. Please let me hear soon as possible, so I may know that the draft arrived safely.” On May 30, 1889, respondent wrote to appellant: “Your note of April 6, ’S9, containing one check of one thousand, which I deposited in the First National Bank for safe-keeping until yon call for it; also your five hundred check is ■in hank subject to your order. Now, the best investment I can make with the money for yon is in the Monitor property, which I think will he safe. By your request, and Mr. O. W. Pomeroy’s request, I will make you a deed for fifteen hundred shares- of the Monitor, shares at one dollar per share. I can’t make yoti any deed to 'or im the Burner ground.”

Upon ’this evidence the circuit court dismissed the bill, and entered judgment in. favor of respondent for his costs.