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181 N.C. 238

106 S.E 764

Lemmons v. Sigman

Supreme Court of North Carolina

Decided April 20, 1921

Supreme Court of North Carolina · decided 1921-04-20

Appeal by plaintiff from Ray, J., at November Term, 1920, of DAVIDSON. Civil action to recover of defendant, Register of Deeds of Davidson CountyJ the penalty of two hundred dollars allowed by sections 2500 and 2503, Consolidated Statutes, for issuing a marriage license to one John W. Galloway and plaintiff’s daughter, Alma Lemmons, without tbe consent of ber parents and without reasonable inquiry as to ber age, sbe being at tbe time under tbe age of eighteen.

Decided 1921-04-20

•Stacy, J.

¶1The testimony as to the appearance of the girl, with respect to her age, is conflicting; and, upon the question of reasonable inquiry, the facts are not admitted. Hence, considering the evidence in its most favorable light for the plaintiff, the accepted position on a motion to nonsuit, we think the case should have been submitted to the jury under proper instructions. Snipes v. Wood, 179 N. C., 349; Julian v. Daniels, 175 N. C.; 549; Gray v. Lentz, 173 N. C., 346.

¶2As said in Furr v. Johnson, 140 N. C., 157: “Where there is a conflict of evidence, whether there has been reasonable inquiry is to be submitted to the jury upon all the evidence under proper instructions; but if the facts are agreed, it is a matter of law,” citing Joyner v. Roberts, 114 N. C., 389. The jury alone may pass upon the weight of the evidence or the credibility of the witnesses. .

¶3The judgment of nonsuit will be set aside and the case referred to another jury.

¶4Reversed.

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