Zwisler v. Storts

30 Mo. App. 163, 1888 Mo. App. LEXIS 252

• Court: Missouri Court of Appeals
• Decided: April 5, 1888
• Status: Published

Opinion

Philips, P. J.

This is an action in trover for the' conversion of certain cattle alleged to be the property of plaintiff. The controversy grows out of the following state of facts : The plaintiff, in the summer of 1886, resided in the town of Independence, state of Kansas. He owned a farm about twenty miles therefrom, on which he had said cattle. ■ In the early part of June, 1886, one Watkins made plaintiff a proposition to trade him certain lots in said town for said cattle. There is also, evidence touching a pony owned by plaintiff being included in the negotiation, and some fence wire. The parties agreed upon terms of exchange, to be consummated, as plaintiff contends, on said Watkins making deeds transferring to plaintiff said lots. The pony and wire were delivered about that time to Watkins, who caused a conveyance of one lot to be made to plaintiff therefor. The evidence was, that Watkins was unable to make title to the other lots, as they were held by a bank in said town as security for debts owing to it; and the bank would not convey until Watkins paid off the bank debt. The cattle remained on plaintiff’s farm in charge of his agent or servant until the ninth day oí August, 1886. During that night some one, without the knowledge or consent of the plaintiff or his servant, drove' the cattle away from plaintiff’s pasture. After search made by the servant, and failure to discover the whereabouts of the cattle, he went to Independence and informed plaintiff of the disappearance of the cattle. The plaintiff at once got out handbills advertising the cattle as having been stolen, and offering a reward for their recovery. The cattle were traced to Kansas City, Missouri, whither they had been brought by railway, and sold to commission merchants by a man named Pettingill. The defendants, who resided in Saline county, Missouri, and were cattle dealers, bought the cattle from said commission merchants, and shipped them to their farm in Saline county, where the plaintiff traced them, and made claim of property to defendants. The parties came to Kansas City to see if the commission merchants would adjust the matter. Failing in this, it was agreed that plaintiff would pursue the thief, and see what he could get out of him ; and if he failed he was to return and make proof of title. The plaintiff entertaining a suspicion that said Watkins was privy or accessory to the eloigning of the cattle procured his arrest and prosecution for the theft, but without conviction. Whether this prosecution failed from lack of proof that Watkins participated in the trespass, or other ground, the evidence does not disclose. In the meantime said Pettingill had been convicted of some other crime, and plaintiff did not prosecute him. Plaintiff then brought this action, which resulted in a verdict and judgment for defendants ; from which plaintiff has appealed-.

I. The cause was tried by both parties on the theory that plaintiff did own the cattle about.the first of June, 1886. This was necessarily so because the defendants sought to justify their taking of. the cattle through said Watkins by virtue of his contract of purchase from plaintiff. Where the plaintiff is proved. or admitted to be the owner of property at a given time the presumption of law is, that he so continues to be, until there is a change of ownership by sale or other disposition. Lawson Pres. Evid. 164. And, as said by Shaw, C. J., in Magee v. Scott, 9 Cush. 150: “ Whoever relies on such change must prove it; the proof lies'on him ; * * * that presumption of ownership continues until some alienation is shown. A party having this ownership does not lose it by permitting another to be in possession. The ordinary mode of proving-property is, proving that it was purchased and paid for, and it will be deemed in law to be the purchaser’s until something,is shown to change the title, and merely parting- with the possession affords no conclusive evidence of such change. Possession is prima-facie evidence of title, good against everybody but. one proving property ; that is, against any one but the right owner.” The ownership of plaintiff in these cattle existing beyond question in June, 1886, the burden rested upon the defendants to show plaintiff had parted with the ownership.

The circuit court, as indicated by the amendments made by the court to plaintiff’s instructions, as well as those given on behalf of defendant, tried the case on the theory that there was evidence tending to show that Watkins was the person who removed the cattle from plaintiff’s pasture, and that defendants acquired their possession through him. It is error to submit a case to the jury on a theory not supported by the evidence. White v. Chaney, 20 Mo. App. 389-97; Boatmen's Savings Bank v. Overall, 16 Mo. App. 570; Skyles v. Bollman, 85 Mo. 35. There was absolutely no evidence to warrant such instructions. To assume that Watkins carried away the cattle and'sold them is to indulge in sheer speculation and conjecture, which courts in dealing with property interests should never permit. It cannot be maintained that this misdirection, or assumption was not hurtful to the plaintiff. As said in Willis v. Stevens, 24 Mo. App. 505: “The jury, being •unlearned in the law and looking with reliant respect to the directions of the court, may have accepted unchallenged the existence of such fact as being somewhere in the case, otherwise the court would not have adverted to it.”

II. "Was there really any substantial evidence presented at the trial to justify the verdict of the jury ? The only evidence of any contract of sale between plaintiff and Watkins is to be found, if at all, in the evidence of the plaintiff or his admissions. If the defendants rely for a divestiture of plaintiff’s title upon his own testimony, they must accept that evidence as it is. The plaintiff’s testimony was, that he did have a contract with Watkins about the purchase of fifteen head of cattle, and no more, whereas the defendants got hold of nineteen head. By the plaintiff’s evidence, he agreed only to let Watkins have fifteen head of cattle in exchange for certain lots in the town of Independence. His statement is as follows: “I made an agreement with Watkins, provided he would make me a deed to the lots, I would let him have the cattle. He agreed to give me nine lots for the cattle; other property was with the lots. I got one lot from Watkins. Watkins agreed to give me the lot or pay the money for the pony. I took the lot for the pony and some barbed wire. The pony was worth about forty dollars; the barbed wire was worth about fourteen and ninety-eight hundredths dollars, which I gave for the lot. * * * Watkins and I went-to look at the cattle about the eighth of June. I never had any talk with Watkins about the trade for the lots until we went and looked at the cattle.” In his direct examination he further testified: “ I ■owned the cattle to the ninth of August (the night they were taken away). They were not taken with my knowledge or consent. I never delivered them to the defendants. They never paid me anything for them. No one ever paid me for them. Eight of the lots were in the name “of the Commercial Bank, and they would not make a deed to them until Watkins paid what he owed them. * * * They (the bank) said they would not make a deed until Watkins paid what he owed them. The fifteen steers were to be delivered to Watkins when he gave me a warranty deed to the lots. He never gave me the deed.” (This was about the first of July, 1886). “I never gave Watkins possession of the cattle. I told my man if Watkins came, he could give him the cattle. I told him this because Watkins told me he would bring his wife in three days and make me a deed to the lots.” (This was about the first of July). This evidence only shows an executory agreement, but not a bargain and sale. Benj. on Sales, part 1, chap. 1, and book 2, chap. 1, sec. 308. “In the one case A sells to B, in the other he only promises to sell. In the one case, as B becomes the owner of the goods themselves as soon as the contract is completed by mutual consent, if they are lost or destroyed, he is the sufferer. In the other case, as he does not become the owner of the goods, he cannot claim them specifically ; he is not the sufferer if they are lost — cannot maintain trover for them, and has not, at common law, any other remedy for breach of the contract than an action for damages.” The contract here was but conditional, to be complete on Watkins making deed or title to the lots, and until he performed, the title remained in plaintiff. Ridgely v. Kennedy, 52 Mo. 25.

III. The defendants claim that further evidence against plaintiff is to be found in a former deposition given by him, which defendants introduced in evidence. There is a question made here by defendants’ counsel that a part of this deposition read in evidence was omitted from the bill of exceptions, and we are asked to consider the omitted part. For the purposes of this inquiry we will concede to defendants all they claim in this respect. The full deposition is as follows:

“Q. Mr. Zwisler, when was it you and Watkins traded cattle for the lots you mentioned? A. I was with him on June 8, but we did not make any bargain; be made some kind of a bargainhe said be would leave tbe cattle there until be made a deed; it was some time in July ; tbe lots were not in bis name; some were in tbe Commercial Bank’s name.”

“Q. After June 8, when did you have anymore talk witb Watkins in reference to this trade? A. He said be would make deed; when I came to Commercial Bank they said I could not trade witb bim. Mr. Guernsey said I bad better not trade, as Watkins could not have tbe lots until be paid for them. Watkins gave me an order on them for tbe lots, but they said be must pay them first.”

“ Q. Did you ever give any one any permission, directly or indireótly, to take these cattle away from your farm ? A. If be would give me' what be said be would, be could take them away. He said he would not take them away unless be did give me something, or, some nine lots. I mean Watkins.”

££Q. Did Watkins give you these lots or convey them to you, or any one of them for you ? A. No, sir,' be did not.”

“Q. Did you ever deliver him these cattle, or direct any one else to deliver them to bim ? A. He promised me from one time to ■ another that be would give me the' deed; be never gave me the deed, so tbe cattle were mine; he never gave me tbe deed or any money. I told Fleener that I said if- be would give me tbe deed, be (Watkins) could have the cattle.”

“ Q. Did Watkins ever give you a deed to these lots you refer to, or any money or other thing of value for these cattle ? A. No, sir; nothing at all.”

££ Q. Did you ever receive any money, or any other thing of value from either of tbe defendants, or from any one else for these cattle ? A. No, sir.”

There is absolutely nothing in all this to warrant a jury in finding there was an unconditional sale of tbe cattle, and that plaintiff bad parted with bis ownership. Tbe fact that’Watkins gave an order on tbe bank for tbe deed furnished no proof of a completed sale, unless the ■court is to permit the jury to wantonly reject the whole ■■evidence bearing on the contract, which was that Watkins was to “leave the cattle there until he made a ■deed.” The bank holding the title as security for its ■debt against Watkins would not make a deed until the ■debt was paid. If the mere giving an order on the bank was understood and intended by the parties as the ■completion of the sale, why were the cattle left in plaintiff ’s possession for a month afterwards ?

IY. Nor can any reasonable inference be indulged in favor of. a consummated contract of sale, from the fact that plaintiff, on the assurance of Watkins that he would bring his wife in in three days and make the deed, fold his servant in charge of the cattle to deliver them to Watkins if he came for them. This was a private ■direction to plaintiff ’ s servant based on the assurance of Watkins that he would perform on his part by making ■the deed, and on the assumption that Watkins would not •go out after the cattle until after he had so made the deed. Watkins did not comply, and that was the end ■of the authorization given the servant, and while, if Watkins had applied to the servant and obtained from him the possession of the cattle, in ignorance by the servant ■of the fact that Watkins had not complied with his contract, it would have been a complete justification for the servant, as between him and his master, that, by no principle of law, would have passed the title between plaintiff and Watkins. As to what would have 'been the effect on the title of defendants had the servant so delivered the cattle to Watkins on his demand, . and the defendants had taken title under Watkins, it is not necessary to decide, for the reason that the servant did not turn over the cattle to him, never acted on the authority from plaintiff, and Watkins did not .acquire possession thereunder.

V. It is also claimed by defendants that plaintiff, in a conversation had. with one Wyman, admitted enough to entitle them to the opinion of the jury as to whether or not the sale was complete. This witness--, testified as follows: That he was constable, and went out with plaintiff to see Watkins. Plaintiff told him on this trip that he had traded a lot of cattle to Watkins for nine lots in Independence; that a good manycattle had died, and for that reason he had wanted Watkins to take the cattle and be responsible for them ; that he wanted Watkins to settle for the cattle. “I was constable and wanted him to get a warrant and have - Watkins arrested. He said he had made a pretty good trade, and wanted Watkins to clear up the title to the lots ; that Watkins had eight hundred dollars in bank and could pay it if he would. He said there was a: mortgage on the lots which Watkins was to pay up and that Watkins had not done so,” etc. On cross-examination the witness said, that plaintiff told him he had some cattle stolen, and that Pettlngall had shipped', them, and he had information that Watkins was con-. nected with it, and he wanted to see him, and if he did not settle with him, he was going to prosecute him. This evidence is wholly inconsistent with the inference-sought to be drawn by defendants. If the cattle-belonged to Watkins, why was plaintiff charging him: with the theft, and talking about, ha vipg him prosecuted' as a criminal? If the constable understood plaintiff as admitting the sale, why did he suggest to him to get" out a warrant for Watkins? If the cattle belonged to-Watkins why was plaintiff concerned about them dying, when the loss would fall on Watkins ? If they belonged to Watkins why did plaintiff say he wanted him to take-the cattle and be responsible for them ? This shows he-had not taken them.

VI. If this sale was completed it was, at least, as-early as the first of July. Why, then, was plaintiff keeping the cattle for a month ? There is not one word of explanation. The possession of plaintiff at the time* the cattle were taken from his pasture, was prima-facie evidence of title. If Watkins took the cattle under. •color of Ms contract, why did he take them away in the night time ? It is answered, because the weather was hot, and the night was the more favorable time for such removal, and driving to the shipping point.' But why was nothing said to the servant in charge when they went after them ? If Watkins took the cattle, why was •no explanation made by him when the country was being flooded with handbills advertising the eattle as stolen,?

VII. Would any court, on the evidence disclosed by this record, permit a jury to find that if these cattle had died in plaintiff ’ s pasture on the ninth day of August, 1886, the loss would have fallen on Watkins ? If not, how can this verdict be sustained that finds that on that day the cattle belonged, not to plain? tiff, but to Watkins ?

VIII. We recognize, in all its breadth, the rule that in trials before juries, where there is any evidence ■which tends to establish the complaint or defence, from which the jury might reasonably infer the essential fact, the court should not take the case from the jury. ■ But it is as equally true, that where there can be no reasonable inference drawn from the facts proveía to uphold the claim or defence, it is the clear duty of the court to say so to the jury, and not permit them, against'law and reason, to confiscate private property.

IX. The instructions given on behalf of defendants, and the amendments already noted as made to the plaintiff’s instructions, improperly placed the case before the jury. For instance, they speak of an “understanding that Watkins was to take possession of said cattle and be responsible therefor;” and “delivered the possession of said cattle to said Watkins under said contract;” and if the cattle were “ taken out of the possession of the plaintiff by one Watkins,” and the like. There ■was no evidence to justify such submissions.

The sixth instruction given for defendants was wrong .as applied to the facts of this case, because it authorized the jury to find the fact of a completed sale, if they found that the parties had agreed upon a sale and purchase, “nothing remaining to be done by the seller in order to identify the said cattle in. case of a sale under such circumstances, the title to the cattle will rest in the buyer without actual delivery.” This is an abstraction. It might well enough apply to a contract touching specific property, where no act of segregation by the vendor was necessary to identify it in order to complete the sale. But the question here is, was the contract an executed or executory agreement; was it to be complete on the making of title by Watkins to plaintiff for the lots, or without plaintiff having a deed? That was the. issue, and the instruction should have been directed to the facts of the case on trial; and avoided mere abstractions which are calculated to mislead.

X. Unless the defendants can materially strengthen their evidence, it would be the plain duty of the court to instruct the jury, to the effect that if they found that plaintiff was the owner of the cattle when negotiations between him and Watkins began respecting the change of the lots for the cattle, the presumption of law is, that he so continues to be such owner; and it devolves on the defendants to show affirmatively that plaintiff has since unconditionally parted with his title therein ; and there is no such proof in this case.

The other judges concurring, the judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.