Hudson v. Hudson
Opinion of the Court
After the defendant in error (herein referred to as the plaintiff) separated from the plaintiff in error (hereafter referred to as the defendant), about two mouths after their marriage, the former brought this suit to recover damages for the alleged conversion by the latter of described personal property, including an automobile, a piano, household furniture, and china and silverware, which it was alleged the defendant gave and delivered to the plaintiff as her separate property prior to and during the time they were living together as husband and wife. There was judg
Evidence in behalf of the plaintiff was to the following effect: About a month or six weeks before the marriage the defendant told the plaintiff that he was going to give her a car and asked her what kind she wanted, and she told him a Chandler. He bought a Chandler car, and brought it to the plaintiff’s home, saying to - her at that time that he was giving it to her as a present. From that time until the day of the marriage the car was kept in a garage at the residence of the plaintiff’s father, where she lived, and was used by her. Several weeks prior to the marriage, after the defendant had mentioned to the plaintiff that'he had children by a former wife, and that he was going to give her furniture so that it could not be taken from her in case of his death, they went together to a furniture store, and the plaintiff selected the furniture, the defendant on that occasion telling her to go ahead and get what she wanted. After the furniture so bought was delivered prior to the marriage at the residence the defendant had provided, the plaintiff went there and superintended the placing and arranging, of the furniture. The day after the marriage the defendant told the plaintiff that he had bought her a piano for a wedding present, and that, if the one he had bought did not suit her, she could exchange it for another, and the plaintiff selected another piano of the same make, but having a different polish, and the one chosen by the plaintiff was delivered at the place of residence of herself and the defendant. The china and silverware were selected by the plaintiff before the marriage in pursuance of defendant’s statement to her that he - wanted her to go and get it, to get just what she wanted; that it was hers and for her use. While the plaintiff and defendant lived together as husband and wife the articles mentioned were kept at their place of residence, the husband and wife sharing in the use made of the automobile, the furniture, and the china and silverware. When the plaintiff left she took some of the silverware with her. Thereafter the defendant refused to allow her to take the other articles. There was evidence in conflict with material parts of that above summarized.
“In this case, before the jury would he authorized to find any verdict for the conversion by the defendant of any of the property described in the plaintiff’s petition, they must find that the plaintiff has proved by a preponderance of the evidence, not only that the defendant by words said he gave her the property, but in addition to this that the defendant delivered into the actual and exclusive possession of the plaintiff the property which she alleges he gave her, and unless the plaintiff has so proven by a preponderance of the evidence you will find for defendant.”
In its oral charge the court instructed the jury to the effect that in order for such a gift as was claimed to be valid and binding upon the defendant it was necessary that the property be conveyed by a delivery of the actual control and possession of it, and that the fact that there was a joint use of the property by the husband and wife is not conclusive that there was no such gift.
The record does not show any reversible error.
The judgment is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- HUDSON v. HUDSON
- Status
- Published