Case Name: Evans v. Secrest and Another
Court: Supreme Court of Indiana
Jurisdiction: Indiana
Decision Date: 1852-12-15
Citations: 3 Ind. 541
Docket Number: 
Parties: Evans v. Secrest and Another.
Judges: 
Reporter: Indiana Reports
Volume: 3
Pages: 541–542

Head Matter:
Evans v. Secrest and Another.
A note executed to Lorena Emerine Evans, and assigned on the back thereof to the plaintiffs by George Smith and Lorena Emerine Smith, was filed before a justice of the peace as a cause of action, and a judgment rendered against the maker by default. There was no averment showing that Lorena Emerine Evans and Lorena Emerine Smith were the same person. On appeal, in the Circuit Court, the defendant moved the Court to dismiss the suit. Held, that the motion should have been sustained.
Wednesday, December 15.
ERROR to the Putnam Circuit Court.

Opinion:
Perkins, J.
Suit before a justice of the peace upon a promissory note and indorsement as follows:
"For value received, I promise to pay unto Lorena Emerine Evans the just and full sum of 48 dollars on or before the first day of January, 1849, as witness my hand and seal. Martha Evans [seal]."
Indorsement on the back thereof—
"We assign the within note to Secrest and Walls, December 27, 1849. George Smith, Lorena Emerine Smith J Judgment before the justice by default.
Appeal to the Circuit Court. Motion there by the defendant that the suit be dismissed for want of a sufficient cause of action. Motion overruled, and judgment for the plaintiffs for the amount of the note, &c.
We think the motion to dismiss should have been sus tained. It does not appear, even prima facie, by the record that the plaintiffs have an assignment of the note from the payee thereof. It should so appear. There should be an averment showing the identity of Lorcna Emerine Evans and Lorena Emerine Smith. See Vandagrift v. Tate et ux., 4 Blackf. 174.
J. M. Hanna, for the plaintiff.
J. Cowgill, for the defendants.
Per Curiam.
The judgment is reversed with costs. Cause remanded, &c.