Merrill v. How

The opinion of the Court ivas by Shepley J. The only question presented in this bill of exceptions has reference to the amount of damages, which the plaintiff is entitled to recover in an action of trespass, for taking and carrying away his horse. It appears, that the defendant, Ilow'e, as a constable for the town of Nobleborough, took' the horse on an execution in favor of the other defendant against the plaintiff, and went with the horse into the [127] adjoining town of Newcastle, and put it up at an inn, directing it to be kept there until sold, on the execution, where it remained twenty-two or three weeks; that execution was subsequently returned unsatisfied; and a new suit, against the plaintiff and á trustee, was commenced, and the debt was collected. No person appearing to pay the expense of keeping the horse, the innkeeper advertised and sold it at auction, and the plaintiff, through an agent, appears to have become the purchaser, paying as the price the amount claimed for keeping, and the expenses. In defence it is contended, that as the plaintiff has received his horse again, he can recover only the damages suffered from the taking and from the withholding of the use of him. And it is said, that the sale was illegal; that no property passed by it; and that the payment was a voluntary one. When one receives his property again, which has been unlawfully taken from him, lie is considered as having received it in mitigation of damages. This is upon the principle, that he has thereby received a partial compensation for the injury suffered. It would be unjust to permit him to recover for the whole injury suffered, without” deducting the benefits received by a return of the property. But upon no principle can he be required to deduct from the injury suffered beyond the amount of the • benefit received. Hence it is, that when he has honestly and in good faith paid a sum of money to regain his property, the benefit received by its return is but the value of the property, deducting the amount so paid to regain it. And if he might have obtained possession again by a suit at law without such payment, the wrongdoer cannot, insist, that he should be subjected to the risk, expense and delay of a suit. He would be entitled to regain his property with as little delay, expense, or risk as possible. The verdict appears to have been found substantially in conformity to these principles. It is not therefore necessary to inquire, whether there was not any legal duress or constraint upon the plaintiff, when he paid the expense of keeping by a purchase of his horse. Exceptions overruled.