The opinion of the Court was drawn up by
— This is an action of trespass quare clausum fregit. It appears, that the defendant acted as the servant and by the direction of James H. Foster, in entering the dwelling-house, alleged to be that of the plaintiff, and tearing down a partition in a bedroom therein.
The estate, which the defendant is charged in the writ with having unlawfully invaded, was that of James 11. Foster. The
The counsel for the plaintiff however contended, that he was the tenant at will of James, the owner; and that his claim in this action is founded upon that relation ; that his continued occupation for thirty-two years, a part of which was after the decease of William, with whom the contract for the use of the bedroom was made, implies in law, that his occupation was by the assent of James, and that the contract is to be considered as made between the plaintiff and the owner, the latter having acted through his agent, William. They then insist that such a tenancy is not determined till after notice to quit; and that no such notice having been given in this case, the. acts complained of are an injury to his rightful possession.
We have seen nothing from which such an implication as is contended for arises. The jury might or might not, so have found had the question been submitted to them. There is no evidence that James ever knew of the plaintiff’s possession, and from the situation of the whole building and the manner in which it was occupied by the respective tenants, such knowledge cannot be presumed. From an agreement between a tenant at will and a stranger to the owner of the estate, is the assent of the latter, that such tenant shall occupy after the relation of landlord and tenant has ceased, legally inferible ? No authorities are cited in favor of the doctrine contended for, and we see no sufficient reason for its maintenance.
All the plaintiff’s rights arose under the agreement with the
The verdict is to he set aside
and a nonsuit entered.
