Langlini v. Broussard
Langlini v. Broussard
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court. The petition avers, that the defendant, by force and arms, took possession of twenty five horned cattle, the property of the plaintiffs, and refuses to give them up.
The answer contains a general denial, and an averment, that the defendant, as agent for one Don Lewis Bouderau, received by the consent of the plaintiff, Madame Langlini, mother of the said Don Lewis, fourteen beeves, being the supposed portion coming to him in the undivided estate held between them.
The evidence establishes, that the defendant with the consent of the wife, took fourteen head of cattle, marked with her brand:
There was judgment for one of the plaintiffs, Madame Langlini, and the defendant appealed.
The plaintiffs contend, that the judgment should be affirmed, because the testimony establishes the right of property; and they rely on the Civil Code, 334, art. 58, which provides, that the wife can neither alienate her paraphernal effects, or appear in a court of justice respecting the same, without the consent of her husband.
The defendant insists, that the beeves belonged to the minor heir and his mother in common, and that she had a right to alienate them without the husband’s consent; that the petition states, the property to have belonged to both husband and wife; and that the evidence and judgment do not correspond with that allegation.
The position of the plaintiffs’ counsel, that the husband’s approbation is necessary to render valid an alienation of the wife’s paraphernal effects, is correct, and fully supported
In regard to the variance between the allegations in the petition, and the proof given, we are of opinion, that this objection should have been made when the evidence was offered in the court below—Flogny vs. Adams, 11 Martin, 549. As it was not taken there, and the parties proceeded to investigate their rights with reference to the true capacity in which the plaintiff, who obtained judgment, should have stated her claim, the exception cannot be listened to at this stage of the proceedings—Canfield vs. M. Laughlin, 9 Martin, 303—Bryan & Wife vs. Moore’s heirs, ibid. 26. Larche vs. Jackson, ibid. 284.
The counsel for the defendant endeavoured to distinguish this case from those cited, by showing, that here there were two plaintiffs, and judgment was only given in favour of one of them: in those already decided, it
On the whole, we are all satisfied that the law authorizes, what the justice of the case requires, that the judgment of the district court he affirmed with costs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- LANGLINI & WIFE v. BROUSSARD
- Status
- Published