Case Name: James J. Smith, Plaintiff in Error, v. Daniel Eustace, Defendant in Error
Court: Illinois Appellate Court
Jurisdiction: Illinois
Decision Date: 1908-12-18
Citations: 145 Ill. App. 261
Docket Number: Gen. No. 14,216
Parties: James J. Smith, Plaintiff in Error, v. Daniel Eustace, Defendant in Error.
Judges: 
Reporter: Illinois Appellate Court Reports
Volume: 145
Pages: 261–262

Head Matter:
James J. Smith, Plaintiff in Error, v. Daniel Eustace, Defendant in Error.
Gen. No. 14,216.
Verdict—when set aside as against the evidence. A verdict will be set aside on review as against the weight of the evidence where clearly and manifestly so.
Forcible detainer. Error to the .Municipal Court of Chicago; the Hon. Mancha Bruggemeyer, Judge, presiding. Heard in the Branch Appellate Court at the March term, 1908.
Reversed and remanded.
Opinion filed December 18, 1908.
H. A. Tiffany, for plaintiff in error.
No appearance by defendant in error.

Opinion:
Mr. Presiding Justice Smith
delivered the opinion of the court.
This is a writ of error which brings before the court the record of the Municipal Court of Chicago in an action of forcible detainer brought by James J. Smith, plaintiff in error, against Daniel Eustace, defendant in error, for possession of certain premises in the city of Chicago.
The evidence shows that plaintiff was the owner of the premises in question, and in October, 1902, sold by a verbal contract the property to defendant for the sum of $900, payable in instalments of $10 per month until the whole amount was paid with interest at six per cent, on the deferred payments. The defendant with his family took possession of the premises and remained in possession thereof until the action was brought for the possession. The plaintiff paid all instalments as they fell due up to September 24, 1906, and thereafter failed to make payments until demand in writing was made by plaintiff for possession. At this time $120 was due and unpaid. Defendant refused to deliver possession of the premises on demand, and thereupon the action was commenced.
The jury returned a verdict for the defendant, and the court entered judgment on the verdict.
Tn our opinion the verdict is manifestly against the clear weight of the evidence, and the trial court should have set aside the verdict and awarded a new trial.
The judgment is therefore reversed and the cause is remanded for a new trial.
Reversed and remanded.