Pierce v. Hosmer

By the Court, Talcott, J. This is an action known as an action of replevin. The facts were agreed upon. [346] The plaintiff’s horse was trespassing upon the premises of the defendant; whereupon the defendant took him into his possession as a trespasser about 8 o’clock A. me., and as such detained him, on the same premises. The plaintiff demanded .the horse of the defendant about noon. He refused to deliver the horse, upon the ground that he was detaining him as a trespasser, and in the afternoon of the same day the plaintiff commenced this suit. [Fourth Department, General Term, at Buffalo, January 7, 1873. The justice, at the trial, ordered a judgment for the defendant, dismissing the complaint, with costs. The only point made by the appellant is, that there was no proof of any specific damage done by the horse. The court found the fact that the horse “was trespassing and doing damage.” This the appellant claims was error, because, he says, there was no evidence of damage. But there was no error in the finding of the fact. Some damage, at least nominal, is always presumed from a trespass on land. So that an action is maintainable on mere proof of the trespass. But the finding was wholly immaterial. The second section of the act to prevent animals from running at large in the public highways, expressly provides that it shall be lawful for any person to seize and take into his custody, and retain till disposed of as required by law, “any animal which may be trespassing upon premises owned or occupied by him.” The judgment must' be affirmed. Mullin, Talcott and E. D. Smith, Justices.]