Anstice v. Holmes

By the Court, Bronson, Ch. J. The plea is bad in form for not showing who owned the goods. The defendants have, in effect, pleaded property in themselves or a stranger, without saying which: or if in a stranger, without saying what one in particular. The plea should have been, that the goods were the property of the defendants, or of some third person, naming him; and not the property of the plaintiff. All the precedents are so. (Wildman v. Norton, 1 Vent. 249 ; Wildman v. North, 2 Lev. 92; Butcher v. Porter, Carth. 243 1 Show. 400; 1 Salk. 94, S. C.; Presgrave v. Saunders, 1 id. 5; 6 Mod. 81; 2 Ld. Raym. 984, S. C.; Harrison v. McIntosh, 1 John. 380; Rogers v. Arnold, 12 Wend. 30 ; 8 Wend. Pl. 16, 17; 2 Lill Ent. 358; 3 Chit. Pl. 1044, ed. of ’37; Bull. N. P. 54.) It is true that the point of the issue will be on property in the plaintiff But I think the defendants could only give evidence of property in the person named in the plea. (Prosser v. Woodward, 21 Wend. 205.) If it were, however, a question of mere form, established precedents are not to be disregarded. (Titus v. Follet, 2 Hill, 318.) An unnecessary departure from precedents, whether it spring from the love of change, or be the result of negligence or ignorance on the part of the pleader, ought not to be encouraged. It can only lead to useless litigation, delay and expense. Judgment for the plaintiff.