Dewey v. Hastings
Dewey v. Hastings
Opinion of the Court
This action of replevin was commenced in justice’s court, where defendant had judgment for the value of the property, the return of which was waived, for $318. From this judgment'plaintiff appealed to the circuit court for Wayne county, where the cause was tried before a jury, and defendant again prevailed, and had judgment for the value of the property at $330.84 Plaintiff brings error.
On the trial the plaintiff gave evidence tending to show these facts, and claimed that the goods taken were those described in the bill of sale, memorandum, and writ of replevin. The defendant gave evidence tending to show that the goods actually taken were not the same goods so described, but were other goods of the defendant, and which neither Mills nor plaintiff ever had any claim upon, and claimed the right to recover their value on the trial, he waiving a return. The issue thus made was submitted to the jury, the court charging:
. “It is asserted by the defendant that these goods were not enumerated in the bill of sale, not mentioned in this bill of sale, and that they were his goods,' * * * and, if you find that to be the fact, * * * you will have
Plaintiff assigns error upon this part of the charge. This constitutes the only claim of error in the case insisted upon here. On the argument of the case in this Court it is admitted that the officer did not take under his writ the goods mentioned in the writ of replevin and bill of sale, but other goods similar in character and description. It is, however, claimed by counsel for plaintiff that the court was in error in the charge; that under the undisputed evidence the plaintiff had the right of possession of the goods described in the bill of sale and writ of replevin, which the defendant refused to surrender on demand, and the fact that the officer took and delivered other goods not described in the writ did not debar the plaintiff in having judgment for the goods demanded, and which were described in the writ; that, if goods were wrongfully taken under the writ, — goods not described therein, — the remedy of the defendant was a separate action against the plaintiff for their return or value, but that this question was not in litigation in the suit then being tried.
There was no error in the charge as given, and counsel are in error in their claim that the defendant must, under such circumstances, be remitted to separate action. The goods were actually replevined, taken under the writ, and turned over to the possession of the plaintiff by virtue of the writ. He used the writ to obtain possession of the property, and, failing to establish his right of possession to the property, or his title, the defendant, upon showing he was the owner of the property replevined, had his election to take return, or waive return and take judg
There is no error appearing in the record, and the judgment must be affirmed, with costs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- James Dewey v. William Hastings
- Status
- Published