Eveleth v. Blossom

Tapeey, J. This is an action of replevin brought by the plaintiff to recover two trunks and a chejst with their contents, committed originally to Turner’s Express for transportation from St. Johns, New Brunswick, to Monmouth, Maine. After about one year’s delay, the plaintiff found her [450] goods in the possession of the defendant, who claimed to hold them as the agent of one Williams, depot master, and express agent of the Eastern Express Co., at Monmonth; as a condition of their delivery he demanded the sum of $41,25, which he alleged was due the Eastern Express Co., for transportation and money paid on them. The plaintiff denied the right of the carriers of her goods to charge such sum, and tendered the sum of $18,50 for their release, which was refused. The plaintiff being unable to obtain her goods without the payment of the sum claimed, commenced this action, and the evidence in the case is now submitted to the Court, with power to draw such inferences as a jury might, and to render such judgment in the case as the law and the evidence require. Neither the property in the goods, the refusal to deliver, or their detention is denied, but it is claimed that the Eastern Express Co., had a lien upon the plaintiff’s goods, for the sum of $41,25, and evidence has been adduced for the purpose of proving this allegation. Upon a careful examination, we are of opinion that the goods were not subject to a lien for that amount, and that the sum tendered was sufficient to cover all charges legally existing against the goods, and that the plaintiff, upon the tender of the sum of $18,50, was entitled to the possession of her goods. It was contended, by the learned counsel for the defence, that however this may be, that inasmuch as the defendant was acting as the agent of the Express Co.’s agent, and only authorized by them to deliver upon the payment of $41,25, he cannot be held liable in this action, for he would make himself liable to the Express Company if he delivered upon the payment of a less sum. While it is not admitted that such would have been the effect of a delivery to the plaintiff of her property upon the tender of all that was due thereon, yet if such had been the effect of the defendant’s contract with the Express Co., [451] 5t could not authorize him to withhold tbe plaintiff’s goods from her after she was legally entitled to their possession. Whatever rights of holding the defendant had, lie claims from, by and under the Eastern Express Co. If they could not legally hold the goods after tender of the actual amount due, by the plaintiff, certainly their agent could not. They could confer no greater powers upon their agent than they possessed themsoives. The agent cannot withhold where the principal cannot. These principles are nowise in conflict with the cases cited by the counsel for defendants. The authority referred to in Hilliard on Torts, note to page 583, of vol. 2, is correctly quoted by the counsel as follows : — " An action cannot be sustained against a mere depositary of money, unless his situation has been changed, either by a wrongful refusal to pay the money upon proper request, or by a wrongful appropriation of it.” In other words, the depositary having received the money rightfully, is not liable to an action until lie does something wrong, which may be done by " refusal to pay the money upon proper request.” So, in the case at bar, the goods Slaving come to the possession of the defendant rightfully, ¡no action could be maintained against him until he had done something wrongful concerning them. They were under his control. He had the power to deliver. He was the keeper. If the amount demanded by him had been paid, he would have delivered. That amount not having been paid, or tendered, he chose to retain them. This was wrongful as to this plaintiff. It was the retention of her goods after she was entitled to the possession. Whether wrongful, or rightful, as between the agent and his principal, will depend upon their contract, and however it may be, it cannot affect the plaintiff’s rights. The eases cited relative to conversion are in perfect harmony with these views. In the case of Fernald v. Chase, 37 Maine, 289, cited by defendant’s counsel, Sheplbt, C. J., says, "to make out a conversion, there must be proof of a wrongful possession, or of tbe exercise of a dominion over [452] it in exclusion of the owner’s rights, or of an unauthorized and injurious use, or of a wrongful detention after demand.” Applying this rule to the case at bar, we find the defendant exercising a dominion over the plaintiff’s property in exclusion and defiance of her rights. He tells her, pay me $41,25 and I will deliver you your property, otherwise, I will retain it. We find him detaining after tender and demand. Now it can make no difference with the plaintiff-, that the defendant thus exercises dominion over the plaintiff’s property, and thus detains it, by virtue of a contract and engagement with the Express Company, so to do. It is as wrongful to her and as injurious to her as if there was no such engagement.' His contract is of avail between him and them, and not between him and persons not parties to it. Replevin lies by our statute for a wrongful detention as well as a wrongful taking, and either is sufficient to maintain the action. No other tortious act need be proved but the wrongful detention. Seaver v. Dingley, 4 Maine, 306; R. S., c. 96, § 8. Such were the decisions in Massachusetts,— Badger v. Phinney, 15 Mass., 359; Baker v. Fales, 16 Mass., 147; Marston v. Baldwin, 17 Mass., 606. The case of Woodward v. Grand Trunk Railway Co., 46 N. H., 524, cited by the counsel from the Law Register for April, 1867, simply decides that, at common law, to maintain replevin there must be an unlawful taking, with the single exception of a distress of cattle damage feasant, or of chattels for rent in arrear. The doctrine of the common law is adhered to in New Hampshire, except as modified by statute in relation to beasts impounded and goods attached in mesne process. N. H. Comp. St., 520. Therefore, when the goods came into the possession of defendant lawfully, detention would not sustain the action. It is otherwise in this State, the common law rule being modified by statute so as to include unlawful detention as a cause. The defendant having wrongfully detained the plaintiff’s [453] goods after the tender and demand, she is entitled to recover. Upon the proofs here adduced she will be entitled to nominal damages only. Judgment for the plaintiff, and for one dollar as damages. Apple TON, C. J., Cutting, Walton, Dickeeson and Baebows, JJ., concurred. •