Pilcher v. Faircloth

SHARPE, J. This suit is to recover for the alleged conversion of two mules. The evidence is without conflict and shows that in May, 1899, the mules were used by persons whose names are not disclosed, to effect a secret and unlawful removal from a distillery ware [313] house of spirits on which unpaid, taxes were imposed under revenue laws of the United States; that subsequently the mules, with other property, were seized by a deputy United States revenue collector; that the value of the property so seized was less than five hundred dollars, and was sold at auction by the collector after appraisal ent, advertisement for claimants and notice of sale under section 3460 of the United States revised statutes; that defendant bought the mules at that sale and thereafter withheld them from plaintiff, inspecting plaintiff’s title to the mules the evidehce shows that before the seizure he bought from B. B. Pilcher his interest in them, and that between the time of the seizure and the sale he bought from haircloth “ á purchase money note made by B. B. Pilcher to said haircloth for said mules which note retained the title in haircloth to the two mules.” Section 3450 of the United States Bevised Statutes declares in substance among other things, that animals used for the removal of spirits with intent to defraud the government shall be forfeited. It has been held with reference to this statute'that' it is not the purpose of the internal revenue laws to work the forfeiture of the property of any owner unless he knowingly or negligently contributes to their violation.—U. S. v. Two Barrels Whiskey, 96 Fed. Rep. 479. The plaintiff, however, can have no benefit of that principle, for if it be conceded that his failure to claim the property under the proAfisions of the federal statute did not prejudice his right to assert oAvnership after the sale — as to which Ave express no opinion — there is yet a total lack of eAddence to show'that he became the OAAner of the mules prior to their use in the rernoAul of the spirits. That use Avas under the statute referred to, clearly an act of forfeiture, and the doctrine applicable is that declared in U. S. v. Stowell, 133 U. S. 1, where it is said by the court that ‘Vhenever a statute enacts that upon- the commission of a certain -act specific property used in or connected with that act shall be forfeited, the forfeiture takes effect immediately upon the commission of the act; the [314] right to the property then vests in the United States,, although their title is not perfected until judicial condemnation; the forfeiture constitutes- a statutory transfer of the right to the United States at the time the offense is committed, and the condemnation relates back to that time and aAoids ail intermediate sales and aliena-tions even to purchasers in good faith.” See also Henderson’s Distilled Spirits, 81 U. S. (14 Wall.) 44. Appeal from the Circuit Court of Henry. Tried before the Hon: John P. Hubbard. This Avas an action of trover brought-by the appellant, G. W. Pilcher, against the appellee, J. R. Faircloth, to recover damages for the alleged wrongful conAmrsion by the defendant of - two mules. ' Sectioh 3460 of the United ’States Revised' Statutes provides that “in all cases of seizure óf any goods, wares or merchandise as being subject to forfeiture under any provision of the internal’ revenue laws, Avhich in the opinion of the collector or deputy. collector making the seizure are of the appraised value of five hundred dollars or less, the said collector shall, except in cases otherwise provided, proceed,” according to a method prescribed in -the same section, to have such goods, wares and merchandise listed and appraised, and to advertise, in a newspaper thirty days for claimants, and in case no claim is interposed within that time to sell the goods, wares and merchandise at auction after publishing notice for ten days of the sale. The term goods has often been construed as being broad enough to cover animate property.—Rapaje and Lawrence Dict.; Hafley v. Patterson, 47 Ala. 271; Weston v. McDowell, 20 Mich. 353; 14 Am. and Eng. Ency. Law, 1079. We find nothing in the language or policy of the revenue statutes 'to indicate that the words “goods, wares and merchandise” should be so restricted in meaning as to exclude property of the kind in question from the operation of provision for sale, and are of opinion that the deputy collector was authorized under that provision to make the sale. The sale was not without due process of laAv, inasmuch as the seizure and publication gave at least [315] constructive notice of the proceedings, and due opportunity was afforded the plaintiff by these proceedings and the statute, for the interposition and adjudication of his claim. The evidence showed the defendant by his purchase acquired title to the mules, and the court did not err in charging the jury according to his written request. Affirmed.