Van Valkenburgh v. Peyton

The Opinion of the Court was delivered by Treat, J.* This was, an action brought by Van Valkenburgh against Peyton. The declaration was in trespass for .taking and carrying away a stack of oats. Plea, not guilty. Trial by the Court. The facts of the case are these: In April, 1838, Peyton leased a farm to Van Valkenburgh until the first of September following, for the rent of fifty dollars paid in hand. The lessee had the right to go on the premises after the expiration of the term, to harvest and take away his crops. The lessee covenanted to deliver up the premises in good repair, and not to permit “any other person to reside upon or occupy the said premises or houses” without the express permission of the lessor. The lessee took possession of the farm under the lease, and surrendered it to Peyton in September. He sub-let a portion of the premises to various persons, some paying a money rent, others a share of the crops, one of whom raised the oats in question. The oats were stacked on the farm in September, as the property of Van Valkenburgh, and remained there till the spring following, when they were threshed out and sold by Peyton. There were one hundred and three bushels, worth thirty five or forty cents per bushel. Oti'this evidence the Court rendered a judgment in favor of Peyton; that decision is here assigned for error. As appears by the bill of exceptions, the Circuit Court held that Peyton became entitled to the oats left on the premises, because the lessee had violated his covenant not to sub-let the premises. This was erroneous. There is no' condition in the lease, imposing a forfeiture on the lessee for a violation of its terms. If the lessee has violated the provisions of the lease, Peyton has a perfect remedy by sueing on the covenant. The evidence clearly shews that the grain was the property of the plaintiff in error, and the defendant, by appropriating it to his own use, has made himself liable for its value. The plaintiff having the right to enter on the premises, and take away his crops after the expiration of the term, can maintain trespass. The judgment of the Circuit Court is reversed with costs, and judgment will be rendered here in favor of the plaintiff in error for forty dollars, the value of the property as shewn by the evidence. Judgment reversed. Footnotes [*] Wilson, C. J. and Justices Young and Koebneb did not take part in the decision of this cause.