Grayson v. Boyd
Grayson v. Boyd
Opinion of the Court
Grayson rented to Boyd a farm for the year 1914, the term expiring January 1, 1915. Cotton was raised upon the farm by the tenant, of which one-fourth belonged to the landlord as rent. On January 4, 1915, Boyd moved from the rented premises. It took him about ten days to move. At that time there was some ungath-ered cotton remaining in the fields. Subsequent to January 17, 1915, Grayson, at his own expense, gathered and marketed this cotton and appropriated the proceeds. This suit was filed by Boyd to recover the value of his share of eight bales of cotton so gathered, marketed, and appropriated by Gray-son. Boyd sought to recover upon the theory that by custom he had the right, notwithstanding his removal and the expiration of the rental period, to gather such cotton and market same, accounting to the landlord for his one-fourth thereof as rent. It was contended by Grayson that Boyd had voluntarily abandoned and relinquished his right to the ungathered cotton when he removed from the premises.
The case was submitted to a jury upon special issues, which, with the answers thereto, read:
“No. 1. Did the plaintiff, W. L. Boyd, abandon the ungathered. cotton crop raised by him upon the premises rented from the defendant at any time from the 4th day of January and before the 17th day of January, 1915? Answer: No.
“No. 2. Was it the custom in the community of the Grayson farm for the landlord to permit the tenant, after the expiration of the rental term, to gather such ungathered crop as the state of the weather and condition of the crop had prevented or made impractical to gather before the expiration of said rental term, and after he had removed from said premises? Answer: Yes.
“No. 3. What was the market price of the eight bales of cotton and seed converted, if any converted, after deducting rents and the usual and customary price of picking the same? Answer: $109.31.”
Judgment was thereupon-rendered in favor of Boyd, and Grayson appeals.
Upon the authority of this principle it is asserted the correct measure of damage was the value of the ungathered crop, as it stood in the field, rather than the measure applied in the third issue. There is a sharp conflict in the evidence as to whether or not Grayson knew or had reason to believe that Boyd intended to return and gather the cotton after he left the place. No issue was submitted or requested to be submitted bearing upon the bona tides of defendant’s action in this particular. This being the case, it will be presumed that the court resolved against defendant the issue of good faith upon his part. R. S. art. 1985. The -assignments relating to this phase of the' case are therefore overruled.
“Where plaintiff alleges that defendant converted eight bales of cotton, and the defendant, by his pleadings denied, and the evidence of one of the witnesses on the trial shows that plaintiff gave him two bales of the eight bales in question, it was error for the court, when presenting the case to the jury on special issues, to refuse to submit the question, ‘How many bales of cotton, if any, were converted by defendant?’ for same was a question of fact and an issue in the case.”
These assignments and supporting proposition are based upon the testimony of Wilmer Grayson, a son of appellant, as follows:
“Wilmer Grayson testified: ‘January 1st I asked him [Boyd] how much he lacked being through, and he said he would get through by noon. I asked him if he was going to gather the bales, and he said “No,” I could have them. There were 20 acres in the piece that he said he would give me the bales. We got two bales of cotton from this 20 acres.’ ”
Boyd denied having this conversation. The defendant, Grayson, testified:
“I heard Mr. Boyd testify about the 20 acres and that Wilmer Grayson said he told him ho could have the bales. Two of the eight bales of cotton that we got came from this 20-acre tract.”
Among other reasons which may be assigned for overruling these two assignments, it will suffice to say:
Affirmed.
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