Case Name: Engler and Another v. Collins
Court: Supreme Court of Indiana
Jurisdiction: Indiana
Decision Date: 1861-05-31
Citations: 16 Ind. 189
Docket Number: 
Parties: Engler and Another v. Collins.
Judges: 
Reporter: Indiana Reports
Volume: 16
Pages: 189–190

Head Matter:
Engler and Another v. Collins.
Friday, May 31.
A plea of usury must specify the particulars of the contract upon which the usurious interest is alleged to have been taken or reserved.
APPEAL from the Shelby Common Pleas.

Opinion:
Davison, J.
Collins, who was the plaintiff, sued David Engler and Jacob Bush, upon a promissory note for the payment of $210. Defendants' answer, contains four paragraphs. The first, second, and fourth led to issues of fact; to the third there was a demurrer sustained.
The action of the Court in sustaining the demurrer raises the only question in the case.
The third paragraph alleges that " the note, when it was given, contained the sum of $50, illegal and usurious interest, which the plaintiff took and received from the defendants on said note; wherefore they demand judgment for $50, for said illegal interest, and other relief," &c. This defense is fatally defective, because it is couched in general language; not specifying the particulars of the contract upon which the usurious interest was included in the note. 1 Yan Santvoord's PI. 468-469; Fay v. Gumsteed, 10 Barbour, 321. The demurrer was therefore well taken.
M. M. Bay and T. McFarland, for the appellants.
J. Harrison, for the appellee. 5 1 r
Per Curiam.
The judgment is affirmed, with 5 per cent. damages and costs.