MISTAKE. Smine unintentional act, omission, or error arising from ignorance, sur prise, imposition, or misplaced confidence. Story, Eq. Jur. 110.
That result of ignorance of law or fact which has misled a person to commit that which, if he had not been in error he would not have done. Jeremy, Eq. Jur. 'b. 2, pt. 2, p. 358.
2. As a general rule, both at law and in equity, mistakes of law- do not furnish an ex cuse for wrongful acts or a ground of relief from $he consequences of acts done in conse quence of such a mistake. 6 Clark & F. Hou. L. 964-971 ; 9 Mees. & W. Exch. 54; 5 Hare, Ch. 91 ; 8 Wheat, 214 ; 1 Pet. 15 ; 9 How. 55 ; 7 Paige, Ch. N. Y. 99*, 137 ; 2 Johns. Ch. N. Y. 60 ; Story, Eq. Jur. ei 125— 138. See 2 M'Cord, Ch. 4.55 ; 6 Harr. & J. Md. 500 ; 25 Vt. 603 ; De Gex, M. & G. 76 ; 21 Ala. N. s. 252 ; 13 Ark. 129 ; 6 Ohio, 169 ; 11 id. 480; 21 Ga. 118 ; Beasl. Ch. N. J. 165.
An act done or a contract made under a mistake or ignorance of a material fact is voidable and relievable in equity. Story, Eq. Jur. 140. The rule applies to eases where there has been a studied suppression of facts by one side, and to cases of mutual ignorance or mistake. 3 Burr. 21 ; 26 Beav. Ras, 454 ; 12 Sim. Ch. 465; 9 Ves. Ch. 275 ; 3 Chanc. Cas. 56 ; 2 Barb. N. Y. 475 ; 1 Hill, N. Y. 287 ; 11 Pet. 71 ; 8 B. Monr. Ky. 580 ; 4 Mas. C. C. 414 ; 5 R. I. 130. But the fact must be material to the contract, i.e. essential to its character, and an efficient cause of its concoction. 1 Ves. Ch. 126, 210 ; De Gex &
S. 83 ; 6 Binn. Penn. 102 ; 11 Gratt. Va. 468; 2 Barb. N. Y. 37 ; 2 Sandf. Ch. N. Y. 298 ; 13 Penn. St. 371.
3. An avvard may be set aside for a mis take of law or fact by the arbitrators appa rent on the face of the award. 2 Bos. & P. 371 ; 1 Dall. Penn. 487; 1 Sneed, Tenn. 321. See 6 Mete. Mass. 136 ; 17 How. 344 ; 6 Pick. Mass. 148 2 Gall. C. C. 61 ; 4 N. H. 357 ; 3 Vt. 303 ; 6 id. 529 ; 15 Ill. 461 ; 2 Barnew. & Ald. 691 ; 3 id. 237 ; 1 Bingh. 104 ; 1 Dowl. & R. 366 ; 1 Taunt. 152 ; 6 id. 254 ; 3 C. B. 705 ; 2 Exch. 344 ; 3 East, 18.
The word which the parties intended to use in an instrument may be substituted for one which was actually used by a clerical error, in equity. Adams, Eq. 169 et seg. ; 13 Gray, Mass. 373 ; 6 Ired. Eq. No. C. 462 ; 17 Ala. N. s. 562.
As to the rule for the correction of mistakes in wills, see Story, Eq. Jur. 179; 2 Ves. Ch. 216; 3 id. 321 ; 1 Brown, Ch. 85 ; 3 id. 446; 1 Keen, 692 : 2 Kay & J. Ch. 740 ; 1 Jones, Eq. No. C. 1.10; 22 Mo. 518 ; 2 Stockt. Ch. N. J. 582.
A mistake sometimes prevents a forfeiture in cases of violation of revenue laws, Paine, C. C. 129 ; Gilp. Dist. Ct. 235 ; 4 Call, Va. 158 ; breach of embargo acts, 3 Day, Conn. 296 ; Paine, C. C. 16 ; 7 Cranch, 22 ; 3 Wheat. 59; 11 How. 47 ; and some other cases. 1 Bishop, Crim. Law, 697 ; 4 Cranch, 347 ; 11 Wheat. 1; 12 id. 1; 1 Mass. 347.