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3 S.C.L. 80

Evans v. Terry

Supreme Court of South Carolina

Decided April 15, 1802

Supreme Court of South Carolina · decided 1802-04-15

Motion to set aside a nonsuit, and grant a new trial. The action was assumpsit, on- mutual promises of marriage, brought by the plaintiff, a young woman, under twenty-one years of age, by her next friend, against tlie' defoudanf,’who was also ail infant.

Decided 1802-04-15

Gexsikb, and Waties, Justices,

¶1inclined to consider the plea of infancy, in such case as this, insufficient to avoid the promise. They agreed, however, with the rest of the court, finally, in refusing to set aside the nonsuit. But they were of opinion, that the plaintiff might maintain an action, in another form, founded on the deceit practised on her by the defendant,*

Johnson, Tbezkvant, and Bkbvaed, Justices,

¶2were clear that the promise was voidable by the defendant at his election.

¶3The judges all agreed that the evidence of infancy had been properiy admitted under the pica of non assumpsit. '

¶4Motion overruled.

¶5Quiere de Hoc. See 1 Keb. 778, 908. 1 Siderfin, 358, 129. 3 Keble, 59. A plaintiff cannot conven an action, founded on contract, into a toit, so as to charge an infant defendant. 8 Term Rep. 3115. [An action of deceit will lie . against an infant on a warranty for the sale of a hoise. Wood ads Vance, 1 N. and M. 197.]

¶6vide Bac. Abr. Infancy and Age. I. 3. 3 Burr. 1796. 1 Lofft’s Gilb. Ev. 52. 1 Pow. on Con, 39. The contract is voidable at the election of the infant ; and, therefore, if the defendant had been of age at the time of the promise, he could have taken no advantage of the plaintiff’s minority. Holt v. Clarencieux, 2 Str. 937.

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