Waters' executors v. McClellan
Waters' executors v. McClellan
Opinion of the Court
— 1st. It is incumbent on the plaintiff, to prove his property in the goods, which were taken by the sheriff; and to do this, he has produced evidence of a former distress and sale of the same goods, for rent due from Dewees to him. But the defendants answer, that the distress was fraudulent; because (among other reasons) the goods were left in the possession of the debtor. In the case of a voluntary sale of goods, the law, both in Pennsylvania and England, regards the continuance of the debtor’s possession as a badge of fraud. In England, the law is the same, where the sale is made by the sheriff ;
2d. It has been objected, for the defendants, that the plaintiff was bound to show, that the distress was made on the premises; whereas, at least, a part of the goods appears to have been distrained elsewhere. However available this objection might have been, upon a replevin between the original parties, we do not think, that third persons can take advantage of it.
3d. It is urged, that there were a number of young cattle taken on the distress ; and that as these have been fed and reared, by the care and cost of Dewees, he had acquired a property in their increased value. Of the truth and operation of this allegation, the jury will consider; and if they are of opinion, that the expense of maintaining, has exceeded a fair compensation for the use of the cattle, they will make a reasonable deduction from the plaintiff’s demand.
Verdict for the plaintiff.
This was an erroneous statement; see Sturtevant v. Ballard, 9 Johns. 342.
The defendant’s counsel cited the following cases on this point: 3 Co. 81; 2 T. R. 594, 5, 6; 1 Wils, 44. But see Levy v. Wallis, ante, p. 167-8; Chancellor v. Phillips, post, p. 213; United States v. Conyngham, post, p. 358; s. c. Wall. C. C. 178
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.