Riley v. Littlefield

47 N.W. 576, 84 Mich. 22, 1890 Mich. LEXIS 553
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 24, 1890
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 47 N.W. 576 (Riley v. Littlefield) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Riley v. Littlefield, 47 N.W. 576, 84 Mich. 22, 1890 Mich. LEXIS 553 (Mich. 1890).

Opinions

Long, J.

This is an action of replevin of a race-horse known as “Dr. West,” and of which defendant, as sheriff of Wayne county, was in possession under certain writs of attachment issued out of the Wayne ’circuit court against the goods and property of one Clifton E. Mayne, of Omaha, Neb.

The plaintiff claimed to have obtained the horse of Mayne in May, 1888, in trade of a mare named “Delle [23]*23Murray,” valued at $1,500; the mare’s colt valued at $1,000; and a filley, valued at $1,000. After the trade, Mayne still owed the plaintiff something over $8,000, when, in June following, plaintiff claims that Mayne turned over to him two other horses, known as “Tommy Linn ” and “ Dan D.” A bill of sale was given by Mayne to him in June of all three horses. This bill of sale was recorded in the office of the county clerk of Douglas county, Neb., on June 14, 1888, being the county in which Mayne and plaintiff both resided. This bill of sale is as ‘follows:

“ Clifton E. Mayne to John Eiley.
“Know all men by these presents, that I, C. E. Mayne, of the county of Douglas, state of Nebraska, of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of $10,000, lawful money of the United States to me in hand paid at or before the ensealing and delivering of these presents, by John Eiley, of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have bargained and sold, and by these presents do grant and convey, unto said party of the second part, his executors, administrators, and assigns, the bay horse, 8 years old, known as ‘Tommy Linn;’ the dark bay horse, 10 years old, known as ‘Dan D.;’ and the dark bay horse, 8 years old, known as ‘Dr. West,’ — belonging to me, and now in the possession of James Newbro for racing purposes through the different trotting and pacing circuits. To' have and to hold the same unto the said party of the second part, his executors, administrators, and assigns, forever; and I do, for myself, my heirs, executors, and administrators, covenant and agree to and with said party of the second part, his executors, administrators, and assigns, to warrant and defend the sale of said property, goods, and chattels hereby, and unto the said party of the second part, his executors, administrators, and assigns, against all and every person or persons whomsoever.
“In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 12th day of June, A. D. 1888.
“Clifton E. Mayne.”

Under this bill of sale plaintiff claims to have taken possession of the horses at East Saginaw, this State, in [24]*24July, 1888, a week before they were taken under the writs of attachment in Detroit, and that he was in possession at the time the attachments were served, and so notified the sheriff.

The declaration is in the ordinary form in replevin, claiming damages $10,000. The horse, during the time he was detain by the sheriff, — a month lacking two days,— was kept in the livery barn of one Watson, in Detroit, and plaintiff claims that jhe did not receive proper care and attention, by reason of which he depreciated in value-It was also claimed by the plaintiff that the horse was entered before the attachment for the races at Cleveland, Buffalo, and Chicago, which occurred during the months of July and August; that he paid $200 entrance fees at Chicago after the attachment, and before the races, and was obliged to pay $100 entrance fees at Buffalo after he obtained possession of the horse, and before he could be permitted to take part in other races, and was fined $10 at Buffalo, as, under the rules of the association, if a horse was entered in the race, and did not take part, he is fined, and the owner and horse are' suspended from taking part in any race until all moneys and fines are paid, all of which moneys plaintiff claims to have lost by reason of his horse having been held under the attachments. The horse was taken into the plaintiff's possession -under the writ of replevin, and on the trial the plaintiff had verdict and judgment finding the title in him, and also damages for detention to the sum of $1,310. Defendant brings error.

The defendant's contention on the trial was that the sale of the horse to the plaintiff was a mere sham, and the bill of sale a pretext to aid Mayne, so that, if in his rounds over the trotting circuits Mayne’s horses were levied upon, the plaintiff could come forward with the pretended bill of sale and claim them.

[25]*25A great many errors are assigned, and the brief of counsel for the appellant contains many pages dwelling upon questions of fact which were properly submitted to and passed upon by-. the jury, and which it is not oui; province to consider. The whole case was submitted to the jury upon the theories of the respective parties, and we think it a fair submission as to the title and ownership of the horse in controversy. The charge put the burden of proof upon the plaintiff to establish his title, and the jury were instructed that, if the horse was. transferred to the plaintiff in good faith, he was entitled to recover.

The main question under the charge as presented by this record arises upon the question of damages which the plaintiff was permitted to and did recover in the case. These elements of dajnages have been set out as claimed by the plaintiff. The court directed the jury that if the plaintiff paid this $310, and was debarred from getting into the races by reason of the attachment, he would be entitled to recover this amount; and also, if the horse depreciated in value in the hands of the sheriff by reason of not being properly cared for, he would be entitled to recover the damages arising therefrom. Upon this last proposition there can be no question. There was some evidence to go to the jury, and we think the question fairly submitted under the charge of the court.

It is contended, however, by the defendant that the court was in error in instructing the jury that the $310 was a proper element of damages which might be awarded the plaintiff under the facts stated.1 It is claimed, first, that this element of damages could not be recovered under the ordinary form of declaration in replevin. If these damages were recoverable at all, the declaration is proper [26]*26in form to allow the recovery under the provisions of the statute. How. Stat. §§ 8337, 8341. Both these provisions of the statute were construed by this Court in Phenix v. Clark, 2 Mich. 329, and Elliott v. Whitmore, 5 Id. 537. In this last case it was said:

“Whether the goods be unlawfully taken or wrongfully detained, the declaration is in the same form, and under it every question can be tried that is triable in the action of replevin."

Plaintiff's counsel claims that the recovery was not for the fine imposed in not letting the horse take part in the races, but that, under the charge, the court confined the damages to the amount- of depreciation in the value of the horse by reason of not being properly cared for, and the entrance fees which the plaintiff lost by reason of the detention of the horse by the sheriff under the writs. This part of the charge is as follows:

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
47 N.W. 576, 84 Mich. 22, 1890 Mich. LEXIS 553, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/riley-v-littlefield-mich-1890.