Willys-Overland, Inc. v. Stry

Opinion by Keller, J., This is an action of replevin. The Practice Act of 1915, (May 14, 1915, P. L. 483), therefore, does not apply. It is governed by the Replevin Act of April 19, 1901, Pi L. 88. There is no provision in the latter act, such as is contained in the Practice Act of 1915, that every allegation of fact in the plaintiff’s statement of claim, if not denied specifically or by necessary implication in the affidavit of defense, shall be taken to be admitted. Accordingly decisions based upon that provision in the Act of 1915, such as Eberbach v. Clyde Steamship Co., 74 Pa. Superior Ct. 79, do not apply here. There was consequently no admission by the defendant in the present case that the plaintiff had ever leased the automobile in suit to Seibel Brothers in New Jersey, or delivered it to Seibel Brothers by virtue of such lease. As to all such averments in the plaintiff’s statement the defendant replied that he had no knowledge or notice thereof and if material required proof of the same. He specifically denied, however, the plaintiff’s averments that the car of which he was in possession had been stolen by said Seibel Brothers from the plaintiff and that the title, right of property and right of possession in said car was and still is in the plaintiff and averred on the contrary that he had purchased the car on or about January 29, 1919, from Morris Mann, in the Borough of Nanticoke and paid therefor the sum of $865 and that said Mann was then the owner of said car and had the right to sell the same and that plaintiff did not on said date have any right, title, or interest whatever in said car. We think this sufficiently complies with the requirements of the Act of 1901, that the affidavit of defense shall set up the facts denying plaintiff’s title and showing his own title to the said goods and chattels. [318] The plaintiff did not trace the possession of the car under its bailment to Morris Mann, from whom defendant derived his title. In that respect the case differs from Barnett v. Fein, 41 Pa. Superior, Ct. 423. And there was a clear averment of title in Mann, which was lacking in the case of Heisley v. Economy Tool Mfg. Co., 33 Pa. Superior Ct. 218. Even though Seibel Brothers may have leased the car from the plaintiff, Mann or some predecessor in title may have acquired a good title, as by sale on a distress for rent, or by purchase from one having even a superior title to the plaintiff. While it is true that an affidavit of defense is to be taken most strongly against the defendant, for it is to be presumed that he has made it as favorable to himself as his conscience will allow: Baker v. Tustin, 245 Pa. 499; yet if on consideration of the affidavit so construed there is any doubt of the plaintiff’s right to recover under the pleadings, that doubt must be resolved in favor of a jury trial of the issues involved: Wilson v. Bryn Mawr Trust Co., 225 Pa. 143. This is especially the case with respect to affidavits of defense in replevin actions, where, as here, there was no contractual relation between the plaintiff and defendant and the latter was not in a position to have accurate knowledge of the former’s alleged ownership. A defendant in possession of an article should not be summarily deprived of his possession and ownership without a jury trial where in his affidavit of defense he shows that he purchased the article in good faith, for value and without notice of plaintiff’s claim of title from a person of good repute and in possession under a claim of ownership not shown to have been derived from the plaintiff. The bond furnishes full protection pending the trial. The order of the court below is affirmed.