Lee v. Lee

83 Iowa 565 | Iowa | 1891

Robinson, J.

In September, 1888, the plaintiffs' made t<? the defendant a lease in writing for the premises in controversy for the term of five years, to commence on the first day of March, 1889. At that time the premises were owned by a Mrs. Humphreys, but in October, 1888, she conveyed them to the plaintiffs. When the lease was made the defendant was living on the premises, and has occupied them since that time. The plaintiffs claim that the lease has been materially altered by the defendant since it was made, and that they had no authority to make it for a term longer than one year.

1. Landlord and tenant: alteration of lease by lessee. I. The alleged alterations consist principally of changes in certain dates which refer to the time when the lease was made, and, if the claim of the plaintiffs in regard to them were true, they would not affect the right of the defendant to occupy the premises. That right was given by the lease as originally made, and has not been abandoned.

2.-: authority to lease: estoppel. II. The plaintiffs complain of the rulings of the court in excluding evidence which tended to show that the defendant knew when the lease was made that the plaintiffs had no authority make it for a longer term than one year. The rulings in question were correct. The evidence offered was incompetent to defeat the lease, and the plaintiffs cannot be heard to deny their authority to make it, especially as they afterwards acquired, and now hold, the absolute title to the leased premises.

3 _. lease: evidence. III. Complaint is made of the ruling of the court in excluding evidence to show that the lease was made on Sunday. It purported to be made on Monday, and no issue was raised by the pleadings as, to the actual date of execution. The evidence in question was, therefore, properly excluded.

4__: action for possession of leased premises. IV. The plaintiffs could not in any event have succeeded in this action, for the reason that they do not ask any relief in their pleadings. But, conceding that it is an action for the recovery of real estate, they must fail. On their own showing the defendant was in possession of the premises when the lease was made, and we must presume that his possession was lawful. No sufficient notice to terminate the tenancy is shown. The petition alleges that a notice, as required by the statute, was served upon the defendant, and there is some evidence which tends to show that a notice was served, but the date of service is not shown. The allegations of notice in the petition are denied by the answer. Ve 'find a paper printed in the record entitled, a “Notice to Quit,” and the statement, “Duly served March 14, 1890,” printed below it, but it is not set out as an exhibit attached to a pleading; it is not set out as a part of the evidence, nor is it identified in any manner by the evidence submitted; and it is not shown when this action was commenced. Therefore, if it were true that the lease in question is void, the plaintiffs could not recover, because it is not shown that the right of possession of the defendant has been terminated in the manner required by law. "We find no ground for reversing the judgment of the district court. It .is, therefore, aeeibmed.