38 Minn. 356 | Minn. | 1888
In disposing of this case, we decline to notice appellant’s assignments of error numbered 1, 2, 4, and 5, because each is clearly insufficient, under the rules laid down in Wilson v. Minn. Farmers', etc., Ins. Ass’n, 36 Minn. 112, (30 N. W. Kep. 401,) and Dun
In passing upon defendant’s sixth assignment of error, we can say that, briefly stated, the complaint sets out the incorporation of defendant under the laws of the state of New Jersey; that it is doing business in the state of Minnesota; and that, upon plaintiff’s premises in this state, said defendant, by its agents and servants, wilfully and wantonly assaulted and beat plaintiff, to her great damage. The answer, after traversing in a general way, denies that defendant is incorporated under the laws of the state of New Jersey; denies that, by its agents or otherwise, it committed the assault mentioned.; ¡and, for a further defence, alleges that whatever was done was under license and authority granted by plaintiff to the persons who did the same; and that, if any acts of violence were committed, the persons engaged therein were in peaceful execution of said license, had authority so to do, and that the violence used was simply sufficient to meet and repel an unlawful assault then made upon them by plaintiff. A more conspicuous instance of the negative pregnant in pleading than is found in this answer cannot well be conceived; but we ■construe it — as did the trial court, no doubt — as admitting that the defendant, by its servants and agents, entered upon plaintiff’s premises under authority so to do, and that their acts upon said premises were justified by the terms of a license under which they were pro-needing, or by reason of an unwarranted assault made upon them by plaintiff, which they simply repelled. It might also be construed ¿is admitting the alleged incorporation; but it is wholly immaterial
The testimony clearly disclosed that the two men Healey and Jones -■were in defendant’s employ, — the latter as a collector in the terriritory within which the assault is alleged to have been committed, the former, elsewhere. That Jones requested Healey to go with him. That they acted in concert; Healey, with whom plaintiff had no acquaintance, going in advance, and gaining admission to plaintiff’s dwelling by representing himself as a neighbor desiring to purchase property in the vicinity, and, later, as wishing to hire or buy a sewing-machine. It also strongly tended to show, and the jurors -were warranted in believing, that Healey made three distinct assaults upon plaintiff, — one before Jones came into the house; another when the latter seized the machine; and the third in the street, when plaintiff attempted to prevent the loading of the machine into Jones’s wagon. These assaults were not specially injurious, but were of a character-deserving of severe denunciation, and were committed in furtherance of a scheme, undoubtedly concocted before either of the men entered the house, to forcibly or otherwise obtain possession of the machine in question. The license pleaded in the answer, and received in evidence, did not warrant any such transaction.
This brings us to a consideration of the legal effect of the exhibit, which is of the kind generally termed a “machine lease,” executed by plaintiff’s husband, whereby he leased of defendant the machine which was the cause of the assault complained of, and which was-carried off by the two persons mentioned, as defendant’s agents, at the conclusion of the said assault. Among other conditions was one-that the lessee should, in case he defaulted in his payments, return the machine to defendant, or it might, by its agent, “with or without, process of law, take actual possession thereof; and for that purpose, or to search for the same, may enter any premises of mine, or to-which I may have access, using such force as may be necessary.”"
As we have refused, for the reasons heretofore given, to review any part of the charge except that portion bearing upon the effect of the license found in the lease, it only remains for us to say that the amount of damages allowed by the jury does not seem excessive, nor the result of improper feeling or motive, and therefore cannot be disturbed. Du Laurans v. First Div., etc., R. Co., 15 Minn. 29, (49.)
Order affirmed.