Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1902

Dixon v. Owens

Dixon v. Owens
Superior Court of Pennsylvania · Decided November 19, 1902 · Beaver, Orrady, Porter, Rice
21 Pa. Super. 376; 1902 Pa. Super. LEXIS 361

Dixon v. Owens

Opinion of the Court

Opinion by

William W. Porter, J.,

The defendant, Owens, was the proprietor of a saloon and race track in the suburbs of the city of Philadelphia. One Fitzsimmons, a trainer, brought to the track a race horse and lodged him in a stall on the defendant’s premises. Fitzsimmons raced him under his own name and collected the winnings. The real owner of the horse was the plaintiff, Dixon, who frequently visited the track, and, after a time, notified Owens of his ownership. Owens up to this time had regarded Fitzsimmons as the owner, and had a charge for feed, etc., against the horse. Dixon, having had a disagreement with his trainer, paid Owens his charges in consideration of which, Owens agreed to deliver the horse to Dixon. He attempted to do this by directing Fitzsimmons to open the stall door. He opened it, but stood in the doorway, with pitchfork in hand, claiming that he had a lien on the horse for services as trainer. Owens thereupon withdrew, as did Dixon, who, however, in doing so notified Owens that he would hold him responsible for the nondelivery of the horse. Two days later Dixon went with a constable for the horse and found that it had been removed from the premises of Owens by Fitzsimmons. Thereupon Dixon brought this action for damages against Owens, as for a conversion, and’ recovered a verdict. The evidence in the cause would have, warranted the trial judge in permitting a recovery by the plaintiff on his title and the possession shown in Owens, since Owens was a bailee who after notice and recognition of title in another than the original bailor, permitted the, latter, who was not the owner, to remove the chattel from premises over which the bailee had control. See Robinson v. Hodgson, 73 Pa. 202, and Hindmarch v. Hoffman, 127 Pa. 284. The *378trial judge, however, thought that on the facts exhibited, a doubtful possession was shown in Owens, but submitted the case to the jury to find whether Owens, in dealing with the plaintiff, acted in good faith. There was some testimony which might lead to the inference that there was collusion between Owens and Fitzsimmons. The submission of the case was as beneficial to the defendant as he could expect. He could have prevented the removal of the plaintiff’s horse. He had received notice of and had recognized the plaintiff’s ownership. Fitzsimmons did not claim to be the owner as against the plaintiff. The defendant, after notice, permitted the removal of the horse from his premises by Fitzsimmons. The evidence made out a case of conversion under the law and the plaintiff’s recover}’- was warranted. The damages suffered were the value of the horse. These have been assessed in the trial had. No reversible error appearing, the judgment is affirmed.

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