Riddle v. Parke

Hanna, J. This was an action by Parke against Piddle, to recover a certain article of personal property, to-wit, a piano forte. The complaint alleges that the plaintiff is the “owner and entitled to the possession” of the property which the defendant has “possession of without right, and unlawfully detains.from the plaintiff.” The defendant answered that he “does not unlawfully detain the said piano, but that the same is the property of one John S. Detweiler, and that,” &c., the same was levied upon as his property by Riddle, as sheriff, &c. [90] There was no reply filed to the answer. The evidence disclosed the fact that the instrument had been sent by the plaintiff to his daughter, the wife of Detweiler, but whether as a gift absolutely, or merely to be used, and the title to remain in the plaintiff, was a disputed question, and does not clearly appear. The Court, sitting as a jury, found for the plaintiff; and as the evidence tends to sustain that finding, we cannot disturb it, in accordance with repeated decisions upon that point. It is insisted that, as there was no reply filed, the trial was without an issue, and was, therefore, a mistrial. • It will be observed that the defendant denies, directly, a material averment in the plaintiff’s complaint, to-wit, that he unlawfully detains, &c., and in making that denial, he gives the reason, namely, that the property belonged to John Detweiler, and was, by the defendant, as sheriff, levied upon as such. In giving this reason, we think he argumentatively denies another material allegation of the plaintiff’s complaint—that he was the owner, and entitled to the possession. If we are correct in this, the issue would be complete without a reply. That this view of the law is correct, we believe is established by the following authorities: ^ “ If the defendant confesses the caption, and pleads property in J. S., this is in bar of the action, as well as in abatement; for this not only shows that the plaintiff had no right to a deliverance -of the goods, but also, that he has no cause to complain of' the caption and detention against his pledges, which is in bar of the action. And this is not only a justification to cover the defendant from damages, but for the return of the beasts, for he doth not admit property in the plaintiff, but disaffirms it, and therefore, the beasts ought to come back to the defendant, who ought to retain them against every one but I S.” Wilk. on Repl. 48.—Gilb. on Repl. 168. “ Where the defendant pleads property in a stranger, or in the defendant, these pleas disaffirming the property of the plaintiff, are, by verdict, found for the defendant, or [91] upon demurrer adjudged for him; in these cases the defendant shall have return,” &c. Wilk. on Repl. 95.—Gilb. on Repl. 319. See, also, Gentry v. Bargis, 6 Blackf. 261. J. Byman and T. Gazlay, for the appellant. P. L. Spooner and A. Broiver, for the appellee. Per Ciiriam. The judgment is affirmed with costs.