Field v. Bogie

Gill, J. This is an action in replevin for the recovery of some hogs. The litigants own and occupy adjoining farms in Olay county where the “stock law” (R. S. 1889, ch. 5, art. 2), is in force. Along the line dividing the two farms, there is, and had been for many years, a partition fence, which the parties by agreement had divided into two parts, each undertak-' ing to maintain and keep in repair his respective portion. Defendant’s part of this partition fence was a hedge, which, although high enough to resist horses and cattle, was vet insufficient to keep out hogs; there were spaces and gaps through which swine could readily pass. [187] The hogs in question — and which are conceded to •belong to plaintiff — passed through this insufficient fence into the defendant’s premises; he proceeded to impound and restrain them, and plaintiff brought this action. On a trial by the court without a jury plaintiff had judgment and defendant appealed. This controversy is in every substantial particular like that of Hopkins v. Ott, 57 Mo. App. 292. As in that case, there was a partition fence by agreement of the adjoining landowners, and to each was assigned a portion of the fence which he undertook to maintain and keep in repair. But because of defendant’s failure to maintain a fence sufficient to keep out stock, plaintiff’s hogs escaped from his premises- and passed through this inferior fence onto the premises of the defendant. According then to the doctrine of the case above cited, defendant could base no right to impound plaintiff’s hogs which escaped into his (defendant’s) field when said escape was caused by defendant’s failure to comply with his agreement. As was said by this court, speaking through Judge Ellison in the case cited, we repeat “that the provision of- the stock law restraining animals from running at large do not prevent such arrangements between adjoining proprietors. '* * * Plaintiff and defendant agreed upon a division fence, and upon the portion each should keep up and maintain. Jn such case either owner may turn his stock into his own fields, and if they escape into the fields of the other, on account of a defect in the portion of the fence which that other should have maintained under the agreement, he can not complain, since the injury is the result of his own fault.” See, also, Selover v. Osgood, 52 Ill. App. 260; D’Arcy v. Miller, 86 Ill. 102. [188] The authorities cited are decisive of the ease at bar. The judgment of the circuit court is clearly right and will be affirmed. All concur.