Sheeder v. Moseby

Opinion by Keller, J., This was an action in replevin for a cow which had broken into the enclosed lands of the defendant, and her calf, born subsequent to her impounding. The defendant did not deny the plaintiff’s ownership of the cattle, but claimed a lien for their shelter, care and feeding which he sought to recover by means of a conditional verdict as provided in Section 6 of the Act of April 19,1901, P. L. 88, relating to replevin. His offer to prove the damage done to his herbage and the money expended by him in feeding and caring for the cattle during the nine months they were in his possession, before suit brought, [164] was rejected by tbe learned trial judge because he bad not complied with tbe provisions of tbe Act of April 13, 1807, 4 Sm. L. 472, by giving notice to tbe owner or filing a description of tbe stray animal with tbe town clerk, if tbe owner could not readily be found. Tbe Act of April 13, 1807, was extended by Act of March 25,1813, 6 Sm. L. 59, so as to include what is now Fulton County. It has never been repealed and wherever operative, provides tbe only method in force for seizing and impounding stray animals damage feasant. Section 5 of said act provides: “That if any person or persons taking up any stray or strays shall neglect to give notice as is hereinbefore directed, be, she or they so offending, shall forfeit all right and title to or recovery of any sum or sums of money for any trespass committed by tbe same, but shall deliver up said stray or strays so detained to tbe owner thereof, without any recompense, fee or reward whatsoever.” Tbe defendant admitted that notice bad not been given as required by tbe Act of 1807, but claimed tbe right to recover bis expenses and damages as a conditional verdict in this action because the plaintiff bad not proceeded under tbe Stray Act but in replevin. Tbe ease of Young v. Couche, 52 Pa. Superior Ct. 592, upon which be relies, does not support bis proposition. In that case it was pointed out by our Brother Head, that while tbe Replevin Act of 1901 furnished a method of procedure to an owner for recovering bis strayed cattle, in addition to that provided by tbe Act of 1807, neither act offered any obstacle to tbe operation of tbe other. Tbe defendant, in that case, offered to prove that be bad seized tbe plaintiff’s horse while trespassing on bis enclosed lot and bad given notice to tbe owner (as required by tbe Act of 1807), that it would be held to secure compensation for tbe damage done, according to law, and claimed thereby to have acquired a lien on tbe horse which entitled Mm to tbe conditional verdict provided for in tbe Replevin Act of 1901, It thus appeared that be bad complied with tbe [165] provisions of the Act of 1807 — so far as was possible before the horse was replevied — and it made no difference with respect to his right to reimbursement, which method the owner of the horse adopted to recover his property. The learned court below correctly construed our decision in Young v. Couche, when it said in its opinion refusing a new trial: “A careful reading of the decision in that case shows that the ruling does not mean that the defendant had a lien irrespective of the Act of 1807, but that, having a lien, he was entitled under the facts of that case and the provisions of the Replevin Act of 1901, to prove his lien as matter of defense pro tanto in the action of replevin and secure his damages by the conditional verdict provided for by Section 6 of the Act of 1901. In that case the defendant offered to prove facts which under the Act of 1807 would have established a lien and the appellate court held he was entitled to do so in the action of replevin and was not restricted to the remedy provided by the Act of 1807 to secure his damages. In our case the same privilege was open to the defendant, if he had been able to establish that he had a lien. This, however, he was unable to do, as under the Act of 1807 which regulated his right to a lien, he had lost his lien by his failure to give notice or file a description of the animal as required by the Act.” Judge Head stated the situation most lucidly in his opinion in that case: “Had the present plaintiff seen fit to pursue the remedy given to her by the Act of 1807, the defendant would have been obliged to follow the procedure therein prescribed to enforce his lien. Had she permitted the horse to remain in the defendant’s possession, the same result would have followed. By electing to sue out a writ of replevin she could recover the possession of her chattel, but she could not deprive the defendant of the benefit of his lien if he had acquired one. It would simply be transferred from the chattel to the bond which stood in lieu of it”; thus asserting distinctly the necessity for the defendant therein to comply with the provisions of the Act of 1807 if he [166] intended to assert and enforce Ms lien. Had the defendant done so in this case, he conld likewise have enforced his lien upon the cattle, whether the plaintiff proceeded under the Stray Act or in replevin. But as he failed to comply with the provisions of the Act of 1807, by giving notice of the estray either directly to the owner or to the town clerk, he acquired no lien and became a trespasser ab initio: Fitzwater v. Stout, 16 Pa. 22; Irwin v. Mattox, 138 Pa. 466; and replevin was an appropriate remedy for the plaintiff to pursue to regain his property: Irwin v. Mattox, supra, p. 473. As the defendant did not claim title to, or ownership of, the cattle, but only a lien upon them, it may be doubted whether he had the right to give a counter bond and keep the cattle: Pickering v. Yates, 51 Pa. Superior Ct. 436; Singer v. Pintzuk, 53 Pa. Superior Ct. 43, p. 45; but as the plaintiff apparently raised no objection to his doing so, it is not directly before us. We are not to be understood, however, as approving the practice. The assignments of error are overruled and the judgment is affirmed.