64 Ind. 356 | Ind. | 1878
The complaint in this case counts upon a lease executed by Lyman O. Taylor to Barney Spitznagle, for certain premises in the city of Lafayette, known as the
The appellant Stephen O. Taylor makes five points in his brief.
1. That the court erred in overruling the demurrer to the complaint:
1st. Because the written guaranty is not made a part of the complaint; and,
2d. Because the complaint contains no averment of a demand upon the guarantor.
We think the appellant is mistaken in both of these questions. The written guaranty is copied into the complaint, and a written notice to the guarantor of the failure of the lessee to pay the' rent, and a demand for the rent from the guarantor, are also copied into the complaint.
2. That the court erred in sustaining the demurrer to the amended fifth paragraph of answer.
The substance of this paragraph, before it was amended, was, that the lessee died on the 4th day of October, 1875, and the premises were not thereafter occupied by the administrator or other legal representative. In an amendment to this paragraph it is averred, “ that, after the death of said lessee, said premises were occupied by Esther L. Taylor and Lyman C. Taylor, Jr., or by one of them, by and with the consent of the plaintiff.”
There is no validity in this paragraph. "Whether the premises were occupied or not, the lessor, or his assignee, was entitled to the rent, under the law.
3. That the court erred in overruling the demurrer to the second paragraph of reply. This reply was to the fourth paragraph of answer, which was simply a denial of the guaranty, and therefore required no reply. There is no error in this ruling.
4. That the court admitted a written notice to go to the jury as evidence, without proof of its service.
This writing purports to be a notice to the appellant, as guarantor of the default of the lessee in the payment of the rent. A certificate of its service upon the appellant by delivering him a copy is attached to the notice, and signed by the sheriff. This is sufficient proof of service. Section 292, 2 R. S. 1876, p. 154 ; White v. Webster, 58 Ind. 233.
5. That the evidence is insufficient to sustain the verdict.
The defect pointed out in the evidence is, that there is none which tends to prove a demand of the rent upon the lessee. ETo such demand was, nor was any such proof necessary. The rent was payable in sums certain, and at
Esther L. Taylor has presented the question of the sufficiency of the complaint, by an assignment of error, in this court. This is the only question that is discussed in her behalf.
There is no deficiency in the complaint, of which she can complain. There is no cause charged in it against her; the appellee sought and seeks nothing against her; there is neither a verdict nor a judgment against her. Tbe verdict is against “ the defendant,” and must be held to refer to the defendant in the complaint. In rendering the judgment, the words “the defendants” are used, but in reference to the verdict which precedes; and the use of the word “ defendant ” in the singular number, which follows the use of the word “ defendants ” in the plural, is so clearly a clerical error — a mere misprision of the clerk — that we can not hold the judgment to be against any person but the defendant in the complaint. Esther L. Taylor can not
The judgment is affirmed, at the costs of the appellant Stephen O. Taylor, with ten per cent, damages.