Schroeder v. Reinhardt Bros.
Schroeder v. Reinhardt Bros.
Opinion of the Court
This, suit is for the yalue of certain household goods belonging to plaintiff and alleged to have been converted by. the defendants. The defendants were, on the 15th day of March and at other
According to plaintiff’s evidence, on about the said 5th day of April, when he went to his home from his business he found that his wife had left and taken all the goods he had at that place with her. It then occurred to him that she might also have taken the goods stored with defendants. He went to their place of business and was informed by one of the defendants that his wife had presented the warehouse receipt and taken the goods, and that they were taken by his wife to a man by the name of Merriweather, who was what he called a “second-hand man,” that is a dealer in second-hand goods as we understand the term to mean. He then went to Merriweather and asked for the goods, who told him they had. not been sold; that he told him that it was possible that his wife might return, in which case he would like to purchase them back if the price was not too exorbitant; that a part of the goods were already disposed of at "that time; that there was nothing left of any value; and that he said to Merriweather that considering the amount his wife got he had got out of it pretty cheap, but that this was said sarcastically. He placed the value of the goods at $250.
Upon cross-examination, he stated that his full name was Harry Gustave Charles Schroeder; that he did not tell one of the defendants that he was satisfied
The defendants’ testimony, as stated by them, in substance was as follows: “About forty-eight hours after the goods were delivered to Merriweather, the buyer, the respondent appeared at the defendants’ warehouse office and met John J. Rheinhardt, one of the appellants, who informed the respondent that his (respondent’s) wife had sold a portion of the goods a day or so before to MerriAveather, at which Schroeder told said appellant that he, the respondent, did not want the goods and that he would not make the storage and warehouse company any troublé whatever about the matter; and that he considered the goods well sold, as he was glad to get rid of his wife so cheaply, and that the respondents (appellants) need never fear that he would make them any trouble about the goods; and appellant (respondent) at no time made any demand for said goods, or any time said he wanted them.
There was a trial before court and jury, which returned a verdict for the plaintiff for $100, upon which judgment was rendered and defendants appealed. The respondent has filed no brief, but has filed a counter abstract in which he challenges that of defendants and asks that the clerk of the trial court be required to certify to this court a copy of the bill of exceptions in the case. Under the law, we cannot do so, as respondent tacitly admits the correctness of appellants’ abstract, and so we are compelled to determine the question of law raised by defendant-s, without the aid of respondent’s knowledge of the facts and the result of his investigation of the law of the case.
The court told the jury in proper instructions practically that if it believed the testimony offered by the defendant, plaintiff was estopped from claiming the goods and that they would return a verdict accordingly. The court adopted defendants’ theory that if the facts as stated by them were true, plaintiff was not entitled to recover. There is no complaint that there was any error in any respect except that it is insisted that under the testimony the finding should have been for the defendants. The defendants have made no objection to the instructions. They recognize the right of plaintiff to recover unless after he knew of the sale of the goods to Merriweather he made such statements which caused
With the instructions given was the following: “The jury are instructed that if they believe from the evidence that the plaintiff’s wife sold the goods in question to one Merriweather, and that plaintiff and defendant went to Merriweather’^ store together and found therein all the goods sued for in this action, then it was the duty of plaintiff to notify the defendant and Merriweather that the goods belonged to him, the plaintiff, if they did belong to him, and that he, the plaintiff, should then and there have made a demand for said goods, notified the defendants that the plaintiff intended to hold the defendants liable for said goods or their value, and if the jury believe he did not do so, then their finding will be for the defendant.”
It may be admitted that if plaintiff’s conduct was such as to induce the defendants and said M'erriweather to believe that he would not seek to recover the goods or their value and that, acting upon such understanding, the goods were afterwards sold by Merriweather, upon the principle of estoppel he would not be entitled to recover their value in this action. But plaintiff’s testimony was to the effect that he made no such statements. It was for the jury to say whether he did make such statements and their verdict was that he did not. It is true he admits that he offered to buy the goods from Merriweather after he found them in his possession, but that of itself would not have operated to estop him from his remedy against the defendants for the value of the goods. He was not bound to pursue the property in the hands of Merriweather.
The defendants make' the further contention that
The case was fairly tried and we do not feel authorized to disturb the verdict. Affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.