Case Name: Hannah McClure v. Letitia McClure
Court: Supreme Court of Indiana
Jurisdiction: Indiana
Decision Date: 1881-06-21
Citations: 1 Ind. L. Rep. 680
Docket Number: 
Parties: Hannah McClure v. Letitia McClure.
Judges: 
Reporter: Indiana Law Reporter
Volume: 1
Pages: 680–681

Head Matter:
Hannah McClure v. Letitia McClure.
1. Interrogatories—Conflict.—The answer to a single interrogatory will not be permitted to disturb the general verdict unless it is on a vital point and cannot be reconciled on any reasonable hypothesis consistent with the issues.
2. Infant—Affirmation of Contract—Wrongful Detention.—An infant will ratify his contract by retaining the property obtained thereby ten months after reaching his majority. Infancy is not a defense to a suit for wrongful detention of property.
3. Notice to Quit—Evidence.—Where the evidence shows a tenancy for a time certain, no notice to quit is required.
Filed June 21, 1881.
Appeal from Dearborn Circuit Court.

Opinion:
Opinion of the court, by
Mr. Justice Elliott.
The appellee recovered judgment against appellants for the possession of real estate and damages for its detention.
Appellant, Frank McClure, asks a reversal, as to himself, upon two grounds, which we will consider in the order in which they are discussed by counsel. One of these grounds is, that upon the answers to interrogatories he was entitled to judgment, notwithstanding the general verdict against him and his co-appellant, and that the court did wrong in overruling his motion for judgment.
It is only in cases where there is a direct and irreconcilable conflict between the general verdict and the answers to interrogatories, that the latter will prevail against the former. There is no such conflict here; upon the contrary, taking, as must be done, all the an swers together, they lend strong and full support to thé general verdict. Where interrogatories cover the whole case, and taken together sustain the general verdict, parties cannot single out one of a series of answers, and ask judgment upon that alone. Of course, if the answer is upon a vital point, and is distinct from and independent of other answers, it would be otherwise, provided always that the conflict between it and the general verdict cannot be reconciled upon any reasonable hypothesis consistent with the issues.
Holman & Bainbridge, for appellant.
Another ground relied upon, and which is presented by Frank McClure's motion for a new trial, is, that he was not of age when the premises were leased to him and his co-appellant. The original lease was a written one and was executed in January, 1877; the second was a verbal one and was entered into in the spring of 1878. Upon the trial, which took place on the 30th day of December, 1879, the said appellant testified that he was " twenty-two years old last May," and this.would make him of full age in May, 1878. He, in conjunction with his co-appellant, retained possession for at least ten months after this date, and thereby ratified the original contract. There was not only no disaffirmance, but there were such acts as affirmatively indicated an intention to adopt the contract as it was originally executed. Infancy would not constitute a defense to the charge made in the complaint that the appellant, Frank McClure, in conjunction with his co-appellant, wrongfully detained possession of the demised premises from the appellee, and for such tortious detention, conceding the said appellant's infancy. The appellee was entitled to some damages, and we cannot say from the evidence that the amount assessed by the jury was excessive.
Both the appellants joined in a motion for a new trial, and a reversal as to both is asked upon the ground that this motion was wrongly overruled. In support of this position it is urged that the evidence shows a tenancy from year to year, and that no notice to quit was ever properly given. We have carefully examined the evidence and are satisfied that it clearly shows a tenancy for a time certain, and, therefore, no notice was required.
Judgment affirmed at costs of appellants.