Case ID: ill-app_54/html/0566-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Mr. Justice Gary", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Caroline Stier v. Henry Harms.
    1. Verdict—Instructions for Defendant.—If there is no evidence fairly tending to support the action, it is not error to.instruct the jury to find against the plaintiff.
    Memorandum.—Trespass. Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County; the Hon. Elbridge Haneoy, Judge, presiding.
    Heard in this court at the March term, 1894.
    Reversed and remanded.
    Opinion filed March 29, 1894.
    H. S. Mecartney, attorney for appellant.
    Elbert H. Gary and Parke E. Simmons, attorneys for appellee.
   Mr. Justice Gary

delivered the opinion of the Court.

The appellant sued the appellee in trespass, and at the close of the evidence the court instructed the jury peremptorily to find against her. If there was no evidence fairly tending to support the action this was not error. Milburn Wagon Co. v. Stevens, 43 Ill. App. 508; Purdy v. Hall, 134 Ill. 298. Here the evidence was that the appellant resided in a certain house; the alleged trespasser, a son of the appellee, brought to, and left at, the premises, a written demand signed by the appellee, addressed to the appellant and others, for immediate possession of the premises; that at the time of the alleged trespass, two wagons with lumber came to the premises accompanied by several men, one of whom, it was rather vaguely testified, worked for the appellee; that those men began digging and breaking the house; that the appellee came to the place, and one of the men said, “ I don’t want to get arrested so I am going away;” that the appellee talked with him, gave him some money, and the man began work again.

Without commenting upon this evidence, we only say that the inference to be drawn as to the connection of the appellee with the alleged trespass was for the jury. The judgment must be reversed and the cause remanded.