Case Name: Z. Blythe v. H. Hardy et al.
Court: Kentucky Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Kentucky
Decision Date: 1870-03-05
Citations: 3 Ky. Op. 693
Docket Number: 
Parties: Z. Blythe v. H. Hardy et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: Kentucky Opinions, containing the unreported opinions of the Court of Appeals
Volume: 3
Pages: 693–694

Head Matter:
Z. Blythe v. H. Hardy et al.
Pleading — Answer Insufficient as a Bar.
An answer, simply charging usury without facts, is insufficient as a bar, and subject to a judgment as by default.
APPEAL FROM CALLOWAY CIRCUIT COURT.
March 5, 1870.

Opinion:
Opinion of the Court by
Judge Robertson:
Though there is no formal bill of execptions, yet the agreement of the parties shows all the evidence on the trial. And we cannot affirm the judgment for the following reasons:
Holt, Stubblefield, for appellant.
Sims, for appellees.
1. The answer, simply charging usury without facts, is radically insufficient as a bar, and the circuit court ought to have treated it, and might have rendered a judgment as by default.
2. We construe the answer as charging usury except as to $500, in each note. The appellant was, of course, entitled to a judgment for- $2,000, uncontroverted. Nevertheless, after a judgment for only $500, verdict and judgment were rendered in bar of the action.
3. The trial was erroneously forced and the appellant taken, apparently, by surprise.
Wherefore, the judgment is reversed and the cause remanded for a new trial.