Vandalia Railroad Co. v. Indiana, 207 U.S. 359 (1907)

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Vandalia Railroad Co. v. Indiana


No. 26


Argued October 18, 1907
Decided December 16, 1907
207 U.S. 359

ERROR TO THE SUPREME COURT
OF THE STATE OF INDIANA

Syllabus

The construction of a pleading, the meaning to be given to its various allegations, the determination of the validity of a contract in reference to real estate within the state, and whether the form of remedy sought is proper are, as a general rule, local questions.

If the judgment of the state court is based on a decision placed upon a sufficient nonfederal ground, this Court has no jurisdiction to review it.

While this Court is not concluded by the judgment of the state court, and must determine for itself whether a federal question is really involved, and may take jurisdiction if the state court has in an unreasonable manner avoided the federal issue, the writ of error will be dismissed where no intent to o avoid the federal question is apparent.

Writ of error to review 166 Ind. 219 dismissed.

The facts are stated in the opinion.