Verlinden v. Godberson

The action is one of forcible entry and detainer wherein Ben Verlinden, the owner and plaintiff, brought suit against Martin S. Godberson, a tenant, to recover possession of certain property 'owned by plaintiff in Sioux City, Iowa.

Plaintiff based his action on the claim that the tenant, holding under an oral lease, had committed waste, damaging and injuring the property. The defendant denied that he was a tenant and alleged that he was simply holding the property for his two sons and that they were tenants under a written lease with plaintiff. Defendant did not deny plaintiff’s claim that…