Welcome v. Labontee

63 N.H. 124

• Court: Supreme Court of New Hampshire
• Decided: June 5, 1884
• Status: Published

Opinion

Blodgett, J.

Whether the circumstances attending the occupancy of the shop by the defendant from the fall of 1877 to the commencement of this proceeding were such as to warrant an inference that he was to pay the plaintiff for its use, is a question of fact (Bank v. Getchell, 59 N. H. 281, and Chamberlin v. Donahuer 44 Vt. 57) which we refuse to consider. Fuller v. Bailey, 58 N. H. 71; Lefavor v. Smith, 58 N. H. 125.

The shop was a personal chattel (Dame v. Dame, 38 N. H. 429) ; and we discover no ground for holding that it “ became the property of the defendant, or of his wife, by the plaintiff’s neglect to remove it in January, 1875.” So far as appears, he was not even asked to remove it.

Nor does the amendment present any difficulty. More than six years before the date of the writ, the defendant promised to pay the plaintiff rent for the shop; but within six years he refused to fulfil his promise, claimed the shop as his property, and converted it to his use. Under these circumstances, the plaintiff was properly allowed to amend his declaration by adding a count in trover (Rutherford v. Whitcher, 60 N. H. 110) alleging a conversion within six years. On that count, and upon competent evidence, the court found the fact of conversion, not before but within the time alleged, and assessed the plaintiff’s damages at §300, and for that sum he is entitled to judgment.

Judgment for the plaintiff accordingly.

Smith, J., did not sit:-the others concurred.