Case Name: Snideman v. Rinker
Court: Supreme Court of Indiana
Jurisdiction: Indiana
Decision Date: 1873-05
Citations: 42 Ind. 223
Docket Number: 
Parties: Snideman v. Rinker.
Judges: 
Reporter: Indiana Reports
Volume: 42
Pages: 223–224

Head Matter:
Snideman v. Rinker.
Jurisdiction.—Common Pleas Court.—Specific Performance.—Where in an action in the court of common pleas for specific performance of a contract . for the sale and conveyance of real estate, the court overruled a demurrer to the complaint for want of jurisdiction;
Held, that as it did not appear that the title to the property would be involved, and as the proper course, if such had been the case, would perhaps have been a motion to transfer the cause to the Circuit Court, there was no error.
Same.—Trial and Judgment.—An answer of general denial was filed, not sworn to, and the court tried the case and rendered judgment for specific performance .
Held, that it could not be said that the court erred in entertaining jurisdiction.
APPEAL from the Henry Common Pleas.

Opinion:
Downey, J.
The only question in this case is, whether the common pleas had jurisdiction in a suit for the specific performance of a contract for the sale and conveyance of real estate. The question arises upon the overruling of a demurrer to the complaint for want of jurisdiction in the court. Appellant refers to 2 G. & H. 6, sec. 5; also, id. 22, sec. 11; Clark v. Trovinger, 8 Ind. 334; Dixon v. Hill, 8 Ind. 147; Livesey v. Livesey, 30 Ind. 398; and Mason v. Weston, 29 Ind. 561. The appellee relies on Wolcott v. Wigton, 7 Ind. 44; Holliday v. Spencer, 7 Ind. 632; Carpenter v. Vanscoten, 20 Ind. 50; and Macy v. Allee, 18 Ind. 126.
y. Brown and R. L. Polk, for appellant.
D. W, Chambers and E. Saint, for appellee.
The question is not clear of doubt and difficulty. But suppose, when the issues are formed, the only question in dispute should be, whether the purcha'se-money had been paid or not; would the title to real estate be then in issue ? We think not. Upon a demurrer to the complaint, it did not necessarily appear that the title would be in issue. If it did, .perhaps the proper course would have been a motion to transfer the cause to the circuit court. 2 G. & H. 22, sec. 11. The answer was the general denial, not verified by the oath of the party. The court entertained jurisdiction and decreed specific performance. We can not say that there was any error.
The judgment is affirmed, with costs.