Orth v. Pease
Orth v. Pease
Opinion of the Court
This action was commenced by plaintiff to recover the possession of certain farm produce. Defendant alleged that he was in possession as sheriff under a writ of attachment issued in an action against one Thompson. Verdict for defendant, and plaintiff appeals from an order denying a new trial.
The sheriff being in possession, the burden of proving ownership or right of possession was on the plaintiff. The only evidence in support of plaintiff’s claim was his own testimony. He testified that he held a lease of certain premises, and that he sublet them to Thompson. His statement of the contract was in these words:
“The conversation was this: Mr. Thompson told me that he would farm that land, and out of the proceeds of the farm, after paying the expenses o.f running it, I was to receive, over and above the expenses of running it, to apply on the indebtedness that I had against him, all that was received from the farm, and, after that was paid, the balance to be Mr. Thompson’s.”
The court instructed the jury that this contract meant that plaintiff employed Thompson to cultivate the land, and that plaintiff would apply Ms share of the crop, or proceeds thereof, to the payment of any indebtedness that might be owing from Thompson to him; the balance, if any, to belong to Thompson. The jury were instructed to find who was the owner of the property levied upon, and what, if anything, had been paid plaintiff out of the crop. The court then stated to the jury that they were the judges of the facts, that they might have understood the plaintiff’s statement differently, that it was not very clear, and to rely on their understanding of the facts. The only exception taken was that the charge ought to have been qualified, to the effect that when plaintiff proved he was the owner of the property, it was incumbent on the defendant to prove that such ownership had ceased.
Order affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- E. W. ORTH v. E. A. PEASE
- Status
- Published